Quito, Feb 18 (Prensa Latina) The Carnival holiday, celebrated in Ecuador from February 14 to 17, yielded positive results for national tourism, generating over $81 million in revenue for the sector, official sources reported today.

The Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment, and Fisheries, Luis Alberto Jaramillo, highlighted on his social media account that hotel occupancy reached 49.6 percent nationwide, representing a five percentage point increase compared to 2015.

Regarding domestic travel, the official expressed that over 1.284 million trips were recorded, six percent more than in previous years.

As for the economic impact, Jaramillo reported that total tourism spending reached $81.9 million, a 12 percent increase compared to 2015.

This figure includes spending on lodging, transportation, food, recreation, and local commerce. The highest occupancy rates were concentrated in the provinces of Bolivar and Tungurahua, home to some of the most traditional Carnival celebrations.

Others preferred to visit Santa Elena or the Galapagos Islands, known for their beaches, while the fifth most visited province was Pastaza, in the Amazon, renowned for its natural attractions.

According to the minister, these results reflect a positive trend and the strengthening of a tourism model aimed at boosting the national economy and distributing income across different regions of the country.

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