Businessmen in Costa Rica are opposing a bill that aims to reduce the amount of money assigned to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, claiming that it will affect international marketing of the country.
At the moment total proceeds from the $15 fee charged for each air plane ticket purchased abroad is assigned to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), but with the bill proposed by the government these resources would be reduced to half and the remaining amount would go to the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).
The Guatemalan Tourism Institute intends to award a concession to a public relations firm to improve the international perception of it as a tourist destination.
The Guatemalan Tourism Institute (Inguat) is planning to hire a company which will focuses on the promotion of positive news in the country through the internet, in order to attract visitors to the country.
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.
In 2012 Costa Rican efforts to attract investments are starting up in Charlotte, where 274 Fortune 500 companies operate.
A statement from the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE) states that the foreign trade Minister will head a delegation from Costa Rica as part of an effort to attract investment beginning this year, to North Carolina, USA.
An internet campaign developed by the Tourism Authority has meant an increase in visits to the portal Visitpanama.com, which receives on average 73,430 hits per month.
According to the manager of the Tourism Authority of Panama, Solomon Shamah, advertising and web media promotion are an important methods of attracting tourists.
"11 months ago, the ATP implemented a web based communication plan which has allowed Panama to be positioned in traveller’s minds .
Following an advertising campaign there is an expected increase of up to 30% in tourist arrivals to Guatemala.
Jorge Samayoa, director of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism said the publicity has been widespread in Mexico, the United States, Central America and several European countries.
On the issue of violence, the official pointed out the presence of the Tourist Police, which cover the tourist spots.
More than $ 3 million will be allocated this year to promote the country as a tourist destination.
The resources will be allocated in 2011 to strengthen the country's presence in international fairs, bringing foreign media and advertising guidelines abroad, according to the director of Promotion and Marketing of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur), Julio Videa.
Approximately 13 million US television viewers are expected to watch the reality show "Survivor Nicaragua", raising the country's profile like never before.
Javier Chamorro, executive director of the institution in charge of promoting investment in Nicaragua (ProNicaragua), played a crucial part in bringing "Survivor" to the country.
Tim Rogers, writing for Global Post, reports that Chamorro commented: “The country does not have enough budget for promotion and marketing to reach an audience of this magnitude. Therefore, the filming of 'Survivor' in Nicaragua constitutes a huge opportunity for us". According to the article the country's annual budget for promoting the country is just $2 million.
the Guatemala Tourism Institute will spend 1.3 million dollars more this year on marketing and publicity.
The new spending comes in the face of an institute projection that tourism will remain below the level reached in 2006.
Institute Director Julio Orozco said he expects about 1.7 million tourists to visit the country this year. That's an increase of five percent over 2007 but 8.3 percent below the number of visitors registered in 2006.
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