Tourism has become a source of welcome income for a number of emerging nations.

One in particular: Nicaragua, which has struggled for years with wide-spread poverty.

But recently its economy has seen some progress, thanks in part to tourism.

CGTN’s Franc Contreras reports.

Nicaragua’s National Chamber of Tourism said last year, the country welcomed 1.5 million tourists, which generated more than $640 million dollars boosting the country’s economy.

A welcome source of revenue in a country where close to a third of the population lives in poverty.