Paraguay has achieved a landmark position in the international meetings and events sector, securing sixth place in Latin America and the Caribbean according to the GlobeWatch 2025 continental rankings published by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). This marks the first time the country has entered the top ten for meetings and events tourism in the region, as announced by Jacinto Santa María Ammatuna, Paraguay’s Minister of the National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur).
GlobeWatch is ICCA’s annual business analytics report, which provides country and city rankings for international association meetings based on thousands of qualified events held worldwide.
A result of public-private collaboration
Santa María Ammatuna stressed that the recognition is the direct result of a dedicated and sustained collaborative effort between the public and private sectors. This achievement is complemented by strong performances at the city level. The capital, Asunción, has also earned a notable position, securing the eighth spot in the ICCA Ranking for cities across Latin America and the Caribbean. This placement was attributed to the successful management and execution of numerous international events held in the city.
Moreover, the report highlights the growing presence of other Paraguayan cities within the same ranking, demonstrating a broader geographical appeal for event organisers.
Asunción and other cities rise in the rankings
The inclusion of cities such as Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, and Filadelfia is a positive indicator of the sector’s national expansion. This diversification is crucial for distributing the economic benefits of business tourism more widely across the country. It also showcases the unique offerings of different regions to an international audience, moving beyond the capital to present a more comprehensive image of Paraguay as a versatile host nation for a variety of conventions and meetings.
Fernando Macedo, President of the Asunción Convention & Visitors Bureau, provided further details on the economic benefits of this growth in the events sector. He reported that Paraguay registered a total of 48 association events that met the stringent criteria to qualify for the ICCA ranking. Consequently, these events generated an estimated economic impact of approximately US$300 million.
Significant post-pandemic recovery and economic impact
The economic benefits reach deep into the local economy, supporting key sectors such as hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, and retail. Furthermore, a wide array of services directly linked to event organisation, from logistics and technology providers to local tour operators, also experience increased demand. This influx of spending from international delegates injects vital foreign currency into the market and supports employment across these interconnected industries.
The latest GlobeWatch figures also underscore the country’s strong recovery following the global pandemic, which had a severe impact on international travel and events. Macedo highlighted the remarkable progress made in recent years, noting that the number of qualifying events had risen dramatically from just 14 and 16 in previous years to the current total of 48.
This trend demonstrates not only a return to pre-pandemic activity levels but also a significant expansion of the sector, indicating growing confidence in Paraguay as a safe, reliable, and capable host for major international gatherings.
