New health and hygiene protocols in the establishments and the commitment to attract national tourists in an environment where short trips will be preferred, are some of the trends predicted in the new "normality" that will come after the quarantine period.
Given the quarantines decreed by most governments worldwide, it is anticipated that the habits of tourists will change dramatically in the short and medium term, as the crisis of covid-19 will leave consequences among consumers.
Through a strategy that will be implemented in the coming years, the authorities seek to position the country as a gastronomic destination by 2026.
According to the National Gastronomic Tourism Strategy for the period from 2019 to 2025, to be implemented by the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), the country will work in four axes.
After nearly 100,000 Mexican tourists visited Costa Rica in 2018, this year the authorities plan to intensify the country's promotion in Mexico's main cities.
According to the latest estimates, this year about 508,000 Mexicans would be considering vacationing in Costa Rica.
To encourage the arrival of more tourists, the Inguat will be investing the funds in a new advertising campaign, which will target the markets of North America, South America and Europe.
With the aim of reactivating the flow of tourists into the country, which suffered a slowdown after the disasters caused by the eruption of the Volcán de Fuego, the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (Inguat) will be implementing a campaign that will have a reach of 120 million people in the markets of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Between the first quarter of 2017 and the same period in 2018, the number of visitors that arrived in the country registered a slight decrease of 1.4%, but the overall expenditure made by them increased by 2.7%.
According to sector's figures, between the first quarter of 2017 and the same period of this year the number of tourists fell from 734,000 to 723,000, and the currencies received registered a slight increase, going from $302 million to $310 million.
The international and local campaign that the tourism authorities has started running includes, among other things, advertising spots on board United Airlines flights.
Representatives of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur) reported that the market segments that will be promoted are low-density sun, beach, adventure or active tourism, nature, culture and identity tourism, rural community tourism, agrotourism and ecotourism and gastronomy. It also includes business tourism, wellness, cruises and nautical tourism.
In the second quarter of the year, incoming tourism recorded an average stay of 10.3 days, reflecting a year-on-year change of 7.1% and 3.5% compared to the first quarter of 2017.
From a report by the Central Bank:
On August 23, 2017, the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) published the Tourism Survey Report for the second quarter of 2017.
The 70% increase in the number of tourists who arrived on board cruise ships between January and July more than compensated for the slight decrease that was reported in the number of tourists that entered through other points of entry.
With the exception of cruise ports, all points of entry into the country, including Tocumen International Airport and the Paso Canoas border post, recorded a slight reduction in the number of tourists entering the country in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2016.
Using the Pura Vida Wellness concept, Costa Rica intends to take advantage of a global market valued at $563 billion, with tourists whose average spending exceeds 130% of global average tourist spending.
The aim of the Costa Rican Institute is to develop this segment, which has great market potential, in order to diversify and consolidate the country's tourism supply.Global wellness tourism grew by 11% between 2013 and 2015, according to data from Global Wellness Tourism Economy.
A group of German wholesale travel agents will be meeting with local tour operators to explore business opportunities.
From a statement issued by the Panamanian Tourism Authority:
A total of 11 German tour operators from the Lufthansa City Center chain will be staying for a week in Panama in order to familiarize themselves with the tourist market and set up tour packages including destinations in our country.
A decline of 4.6% in the flow of visitors has been attributed by tour operators to the fact that in recent years the country did not have sufficient international promotion.
An article on Prensa.com reports that "according to the National Migration Service and the Comptroller General's records, 2,432,641 visitors were registered last year, down 4.6% compared to 2015."
The average european tourist plans trips less than a year in advance and searches and books tour packages via the internet, without using intermediaries.
A study by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute to identify best prospectsfound that"... generally Europeans decide on their holiday destination less than a year in advance and in most cases organize their trips independently i.e., without using intermediaries. It was also found that the most used methods of finding information include recommendations from friends, search engines and online travel agencies and websites promoting the destinations.
Companies in the sector expect to generate $660 million in revenue this year, mainly driven by an increase in tourist spending.
In addition to an increase in the number of visitors to the country, companies in the sector also expect a rise in the average daily expenditure of tourists, which at the close of the third quarter registered anincrease of 8.5% compared to the previous quarter.
From June 9th to 10th local tourism businesses will be meeting with 50 wholesalers from the United States, Europe and South America, to explore business opportunities.
The International Tourism Fair will be held at the Convention Center Olof Palme, on June 9 and 10.
Lucy Valenti, president of Canatur, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that"...
Through a shared publicity agreement between the ATP and AirPanama, promotion will made for the arrival of charter flights to Cocle airport with tourists from Costa Rica and Colombia.
As part of the agreement, the company AirPanama Vacaciones will market tour packages for the months of June, July and August, mid-season in the Panamanian tourism sector.