Nebraska is seeing a changing pattern in South American tourism in 2026, even as the wider region continues to send more visitors to the United States. South American arrivals reached 2,728,255 between January and June 2026, up 5.5% from 2,586,227 during the same period in 2025, according to data cited in the supplied tourism dataset.
That increase adds 142,028 arrivals year on year and makes South America an important part of the US international tourism picture during the first half of 2026. However, the growth is not being distributed evenly across individual markets or destinations.
For Nebraska, the changing flow raises the importance of understanding where South American visitors are travelling, which US gateways they use and how multi-destination itineraries are being structured.
South America Becomes a Stronger US Tourism Market
The regional increase is being driven by several major source markets. Brazil generated 960,046 US arrivals between January and June 2026, followed by Colombia with 566,162, Argentina with 421,466, Ecuador with 251,989 and Peru with 181,829. Together, these five markets accounted for about 87% of South American arrivals in the dataset.
The growth is particularly notable in Colombia and Ecuador. Colombian arrivals increased 17.4% year on year, while Ecuadorian arrivals rose 26.5%. Paraguay recorded an even higher percentage increase, although from a considerably smaller visitor base.
At the same time, the regional picture is not uniformly positive. Chile, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname recorded fewer arrivals than during the corresponding period of 2025.
Why Nebraska Matters to the Travel Map
Nebraska offers a different tourism experience from the major US gateway cities that traditionally dominate international itineraries. Omaha provides the state’s largest urban tourism base, with attractions including the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, the Old Market and riverfront experiences.
Lincoln, the state capital, adds museums, cultural attractions, sporting events and access to Nebraska’s wider outdoor tourism landscape.
For an international traveller, Nebraska can also work as part of a broader US itinerary rather than a standalone destination. Visitors may combine Nebraska with neighbouring states and major cities, creating road-trip routes that connect urban attractions with Great Plains landscapes.
That makes air access, domestic connections, car hire and regional road travel important considerations for visitors arriving from South America.
Brazil Remains a Major Source of Visitors
Brazil continues to provide the largest South American visitor base to the United States, accounting for about 35% of regional arrivals in the January-to-June dataset. Brazilian arrivals increased 0.8% year on year, showing modest growth but a substantial overall volume.
For Nebraska tourism businesses, the Brazilian market can therefore be relevant when developing international visitor services, particularly where travellers are building longer US itineraries.
Travel planning can involve arrival through major international gateways followed by domestic flights, rail journeys or road trips into the Great Plains. Accommodation, attractions and transport providers across Nebraska can form part of that wider travel network.
US Tourism Demand Is Uneven Across Markets
The broader US tourism market is experiencing mixed international performance in 2026. National Travel and Tourism Office data showed that total international visitor arrivals increased 2.7% in June 2026 compared with June 2025, reaching about 5.4 million. Overseas arrivals, however, declined 1.8% during the month.
The US Travel Association has forecast 70.6 million international visits for the full year, representing projected growth of 3.4% from 2025. It also notes that the recovery is expected to vary between source markets.
This uneven pattern helps explain why a positive regional result does not automatically translate into higher visitor numbers for every state.
Nebraska Offers a Different US Experience
South American travellers visiting Nebraska can experience a side of the United States built around the Great Plains, wildlife, museums, heritage and open landscapes rather than the coastal attractions that dominate many first-time US itineraries.
Omaha is a practical starting point for city-based travel, while Lincoln provides another cultural and sporting centre. Beyond the two cities, Nebraska’s state parks, scenic routes and rural communities offer opportunities for travellers extending their journeys by car.
The state’s tourism infrastructure also connects with wider regional travel across the central United States, allowing visitors to incorporate Nebraska into longer road and air itineraries.
A Growing Market With Changing Destination Choices
South American travel to the United States is clearly growing at the regional level in 2026, but the destination impact is more complex. The 5.5% increase to 2.73 million arrivals has been powered by selected source markets, while several others have declined.
For Nebraska, the changing market creates a tourism landscape in which international visitors can arrive as part of broader US journeys rather than through traditional gateway patterns alone.
As South American travellers continue exploring the United States in 2026, Nebraska sits within a wider Great Plains travel network that connects cities, wildlife, culture, road trips and outdoor experiences. The result is a shifting tourism map in which rising regional demand does not necessarily mean every destination receives the same share of visitors.
