Tourism entrepreneurs have suggested setting up a border post in El Naranjo in order to encourage the arrival of international tourists coming from Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
The announcement of the possible construction of a coastal highway in the Pacific, represents an opportunity for entrepreneurs in the tourism sectorto further enhance the development of tourism in the area and also provide a route for foreign tourists arriving at the Liberia airport in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Three bills are being prepared to encourage construction of marinas and condominiums for tourism, and the promotion of sport fishing.
The initiative to reform the Law on Investments in Condominiums is being prepared by the union of construction, tourism and urbanization, and aims to "open the regime of condominiums up to tourism investment"in order to continue forming the basis of infrastructure necessary for the region to consolidate itself as tourism destination.
Lack of control of unofficial businesses that are setting up on the coasts is preventing further development in areas with high tourism potential such as San Juan del Sur.
The business community argues that the Law for the Development of Coastal and Environmental Conservation is not being complied with, as unofficial businesses such as restaurants and hotels are being allowed to set upon the coasts.
The tourist sector is proposing to develop a long-term strategy be create a market segment aimed at bird watching tourism in the country.
Authorities from the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism and entrepreneurs say the birding business generates significant revenue in markets such as Peru, where it "... currently generates $50 million a year." Although there is still no official program or strategy focused on attracting this type of tourism, tourism operators say that some companies have started to specialize in the subject.
The tourism industry supports the reform of the bill on coasts proposed by the government, which grants municipalities with the responsibility to coordinate real estate development in coastal areas of the country.
"Using a public-private partnership we can accomplish the great work of definitively reorganizing the coast and also provide training for mayoral offices so that they understand Law 690 works.'"
From May 31st to June 7th, 2015 Sardina beach, on the Pacific coast, will host the World Surfing Championship.
For the third time the beaches in the municipality of Tola will be hosting the World Surfing Championships, an important income generator because athletes have a level of daily expenses "... of about $100, which is twice the average spent by tourists who come to do other things.
The Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism has unveiled a strategy which aims to increase the number of tourists especially in summer, promoting the main tourist routes in the country.
It is expected that the plan called "Nicaragua Our Summer 2015", will be implemented from February and will run until April this year. It also seeks to implement new measures to increase the daily expenditure of tourists which until September 2014 was $43.
Between January and September, 965,369 tourists arrived in the country, 7.1% more than in the same period in 2013.
From a statement issued by the investment promotion agency of Nicaragua:
Nicaragua, with a steadily growing tourism industry, received 965,369 visitors up to September this year, which is giving rise to new hotel investments, said the executive president of the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute, Intur, Mayra Salinas, yesterday after stating that "on October 21 we will probably pass the one million tourists figure. "
Up until May incentives have been authorized for 22 tourism investment projects, including the construction of the airport in Costa Esmeralda, for $12 million.
Tourism growth and incentives granted to investment projects in the tourism sector are boosting investment in the country, which, according to estimates by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism, will amount to $400 million in the year.
On March 29th and 30th tourism companies from 10 countries will be taking part in business meetings with local companies.
Tourism businesses from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, El Salvador, the USA, Guatemala, Panama and Venezuela will gather together on 29th and 30th of March in Nicaragua, where the Central American nation's second summer tourism fair will be held.
In the Summer Fair to be held on the 28th and 29th of March tourism companies from Latin America and the U.S. will see the country's tourism supply.
On the 28th and 29th March the second edition of the Summer Fair will be held in Nicaragua, in which tourism businesses from Latin America and the United States will get to see the tourism services on offer in the country, confirmed the National Chamber of Tourism (CANTUR).
The aim is to attract tourists through means of hosting international surfing tournaments, an activity which moves more than 35 million people worldwide.
Lucy Valenti, chief executive of the tourism company Turismo e Inversiones S.A.SA states that "there is a decision to support the implementation of international tournaments which are putting Nicaragua on the world surfing map". Currently, Alas Tour Classic 2013 is taking place in the country.
The current law provides a number of incentives for tourism but does not include some segments such as medical tourism and residential real estate for foreigners.
Two years ago the private sector promoted a law reform but it was not successful, which is why the Government is now taking up the issue again after an analysis of the current situation of the sector.