A survey of 355 tourism companies and hotels points to the cost of power and insecurity as the main obstacles for the tourism sector.
Hotel occupancy in 2012 was 52%, down 3% compared to the figures reported in 2011. The survey conducted by the Association for Research and Social Studies (ASIES) reveals that 71% of operators did not have their expectations met last year regarding the number of tourists expected for Oxlajuj Baktun.
49% of the surveyed businessmen plan to increase production in the next 6 months, while 15% plan to reduce it.
The latest business survey conducted by research association ASIES among 878 companies gives "positive, but not sufficient signals" of economic recovery, according to survey coordinator Violeta Hernández.
"Despite improved businessmen confidence, the job market won't recover soon.
Asies latest business survey reveals the loss of 29.000 jobs between July 2008 and July 2009.
Out of the 914 companies who participated in the survey, 7% reduced their installed capacity.
"68% of the companies reduced their production, 15% increased it and for the remaining 17%, it remained unchanged" explained Violeta Hernández, Asies consultant.
Six out of ten companies surveyed have reduced their production due to the economic crisis.
According to the XLI Business Survey conducted by the Association of Research and Social Studies (Asies), businesses' productive outputs are at their lowest levels in the last 10 years.
Lorena Álvarez writes on the website Elperiodico.com.gt: “The businesses surveyed report a reduction in their revenues, a situation that primarily affects factories and companies that provide services to households due to families reducing their expenses.”