As the nation with the greatest potential visitors, the U.S. has chosen Costa Rica as the site of an Advisory Council to promote the northern country as a tourist destination throughout Central America.
After receiving complaints about the amount of paperwork that has to be filled out and visa requirements needed in order to visit the country for tourism as well as the slow speed of processing, the government has decided to implement the Brand USA Act, to streamline procedures and facilitate the promotion of the country as a tourist destination.
The country will be promoted as a destination for congresses during the AIBTM fair which will take place between Tuesday and Thursday in Chicago, United States.
According to the chief of Tourism, Allan Flores, AIBTM's presence of 14 companies operating in the country, is part of a strategy to position Costa Rica in the conference and meetings market.
The Guatemalan Tourism Institute is attempting to attract new tourists to the country, through its participation in the 20th International Tourism Fair in Russia.
"We discovered that Russian tourists have a special interest in learning about Guatemala, attracted by the theme of the ancient Mayan culture and their living culture," says Peter Duchez, director of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (Inguat).
Without neglecting the country that has always provided the bulk of its visitors, Central American countries are now focusing their marketing efforts on the old continent.
"Central America has landed in the International Tourism Exchange (ITB), world leader of the sector, as a thriving market and is pointing towards Europe as its future target, even though at the moment the country sending the most tourists is America", noted an article in Prensa.com.
The tourism sector in Guatemala may miss out on the opportunity brought about by the Mayan celebration because of lack of organization and coordination between government and indigenous communities.
Guatemalan tourist companies still do not know "if there will be some special program for December 21, the day when Oxlajuj Baktun will be celebrated."
Taking advantage of the potential of sporting events to generate revenue for the tourism industry requires joint planning between the sectors involved.
Sporting events move people within and across borders. And usually the power of the consumption of those who travel to see their favorite team or athlete, is not exploited by anyone except street vendors that beset the stadium’s gates.
Indigenous communities have requested the festivities not be market and that labels placed in sacred places be withdrawn.
The National Indigenous Centre expressed its concern because with only two months to go before the Maya change of era, government authorities have not made contact with the inhabitants of the sacred areas, which could lead to them to preventing the official celebrations.
The Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism and the Cruise Association of Florida and the Caribbean have signed an agreement to promote the arrival of cruise ships to the shores of the country.
As part of the agreement, Nicaragua will pay a fee for each cruise passenger who disembarks on Nicaraguan soil.
An article in Elpueblopresidente.com reports that the promotion agreed to means "Nicaragua will be included in published catalogs and brochures and all promotional activities carried out by the Cruise Association of Florida and the Caribbean, in order to increase the arrival of these boats to Nicaragua. "
Hotels in the department of Petén are reporting full occupancy for the period from 17th to 23rd December 2012, when there the change of the Mayan era will be commemorated at the December 2012 solstice.
Some reservations have been in place since January, mainly made by tourists from the U.S. and Europe.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports, "Peter Duchez, the director of Inguat, says the situation is positive for the national tourism industry, as there will be an increase in visitors mainly to the archaeological sites in Tikal." Hotels near the site were the first to fill up for December 21’, he added."
B'aktunes has been launched, a package tour to commemorate the Mayan change of era, which occurs on the solstice in December 2012.
According to the Mayan tradition, after the thirteenth baktun, (5125 years in Western culture), comes the end of the current fourth world in which we live.
This has given the date an apocalyptic interpretation, which will serve to increase tourist interest in Guatemala in December 2012.
Lake Atitlan receives over 200 thousand tourists a year, who each spend $118 a day and have an average stay of 1.5 days, generating revenues of $32 million a year.
A joint project by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), in collaboration with the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (Inguat), is promoting the economic development of the Lake Atitlan area through tourism.
In June the Tourism Authority carried out strong promotional activities in the U.S. market, with Copa Airlines and private enterprise.
According to an article in Visitpanama.com, “
In keeping with a strategy that has helped to further enhance its visibility as a tourist destination, and at the same time gaining more visitors, Panama was involved during the month of May in some major trade shows such as IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Guatemalan Tourism Institute will promote fifty-one protected areas as tourist destinations.
Guatemala has 300 protected areas, although the authorities are promoting about 51 sites as tourist destinations within and outside the country.
The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (Inguat) and the National Protected Areas Council (CONAP), with support from USAID / Countepart, have joined forces to launch the website www.turismo-sigap.com.
The airline TACA will provide Central American passenger with some 26,000 seats at a lower price in order to promote tourism in the region.
The promotional packages include tickets, transportation, lodging, meals and tours for all countries on the isthmus, said Juan Carlos Ramos, president of the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) in Costa Rica.
At the moment detailed information is not available, but discounts will range up to 40% of the original value. Information will be available from Friday 20th April 2021 on the site www.descubrecentroamerica.com, reported Elfinancierocr.com.
The budget for promoting the country as a tourist destination in international markets increased by 60% for 2012.
With an increase of 60% for international publicity, the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur) wants to implement campaigns that are "more aggressive" in promoting tourism.
"Julio Videa, marketing director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur), explained that for advertising in Central America the budget will be almost triple, going from approximately $200,000 in 2011, to half a million dollars this year," reported LaPrensa.com.ni.