Tourism

Venezuela’s tourist industry plays a major role in the country’s economy. Today, tens of thousands of foreign tourists visit the country from Europe and North America, and Venezuelans also frequent the country’s beaches and tourist attractions every year.

The growth in tourism is a relatively recent development. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Bolívar was a formidable currency. It was, therefore, considerably cheaper for Venezuelans to holiday abroad, mostly to Miami and other North American destinations. However, the 1980s saw the fall of the Bolívar against the Dollar with a drop so dramatic that Venezuelans could no longer afford to visit the now expensive North American resorts, and instead began to holiday at home.

Among the most popular tourist destinations in the country are the Angel Falls, Isla Margarita, The Caribbean islands, Los Llanos, The Gran Sabana, The Orinoco Delta, The Andes and Amazonas.

A growing number of travel agents, hotels and posadas can be found in all towns and cities. Facilities at resorts are developing fast and now package deals to the country are being sold in Europe and North America.