For the past seven years tourism in the seven small countries of Central America has been constantly expanding. Europe is becoming an increasingly important market for tourists to these countries, exhibitors at ITB Berlin reported. More than 11.1 million tourists visited the region in 2017, just under 3.7 per cent more than in the previous year, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Central America Tourism Agency (CATA) registered a substantially higher figure, which includes short visits involving cross-border travel between the neighbouring countries.