Tourism entrepreneurs disagree with the list of countries in which the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism has announced it plans to promote the country.
The tourism promotion agenda includes a visit to the United States, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain and Germany, among others, where tourism facilities on offer for 2015 will be presented. With this initiative it is expected that more than 1.4 million foreigners will be received, which would equate to about $440 million in foreign exchange.
The industry is looking to regain ground in the country with the expansion of four chains of hotels by the end of 2016.
La Quinta Inns & Suites, Hyatt, Four Seasons and Marriott hotels are to be added to the supply in the Guatemalan market. Zone 10, Quetzaltenango and Antigua are some of the locations that will host these projects.
Peter Duchez, director of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) told elperiodico.com.gt that "...
American and European tourists who visit the country are most likely to choose this type of service, where in the province of Cocle alone it represents 95% of the hotel supply.
Following the global economic crisis which began in 2008, tourists are looking for a hotel service that allows them to enjoy a more comprehensive service, paying a fixed fee for everything.
Between November 1st and the 4th foreign companies in the sector will be meeting with Guatemalan companies to learn about the supply of local products and services for events.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT):
Several international personalities from various fields such as trade publications in weddings, event organizers, designers, chefs, among others, will be coming to Guatemala invited by the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) and the union for Marketing Weddings and Honeymoons on a first trip for familiarization in this segment.
Between January and September, the Nicaraguan Tourism Board approved eleven new hotel investment projects that will add 248 new rooms to the market.
The Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur) reported that the approved investment amounts to $32 million for hotels in various municipalities, including the Caribbean zone.
Mayra Salinas, executive president of Intur, told Eleconomista.net that "...
Between October 2013 and September 2014 permits to build 53,827 square meters of hotels were processed, 21% more than in the same period in 2012-2013.
The county of Garabito in the province of Puntarenas, has performed best, as of the total amount of building permits requested for hotel projects in the country, this canton has an 18% share, with a total of 13,455 square meters processed.
Suppliers and representatives from local hotels and Central Americans will be gathering together in Managua on October 21st to participate in conferences and business appointments.
As a result of tourism growth and increased demand for these services the first edition of the Feria de Nicaragua will be held in the convention center of the Crowne Plaza hotel. Over 150 suppliers and 300 hotel owners are expected to attend.
An announcement has been made of the 2015 opening of a hotel complex containing 151 rooms by Wyndham Resort Papagayo Yu, in Playa Panama, Guanacaste.
From a statement issued by the Wyndham Hotel Group:
Wyndham Hotel Group, with approximately 7,540 hotels and which is part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, announced today the signing of a franchise agreement for the first resort in Costa Rica of the luxury brand Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, the Wyndham Resort Papagayo Yu in Guanacaste.
The campaign against property being rented out for tourism purposes establishes penalties with fines ranging from $5000 to $50,000 for those who promote and commit the crime.
The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) has opened up a communication channel for businesses and individuals to report cases of houses rented to foreign tourists in the capital, in compliance with Law 80 prohibiting this activity.
Although since 2011 the construction of hotels has shown a downward trend, 23 new projects requested a declaration of interest in order to start operations in the country.
Figures from the Construction Chamber show that between 2011 and 2013 the total square meters approved for construction of new hotels dropped from 140,670 m² to 51,975 m². However, it seems that the sector us beginning to recover, as there are 23 projects that were declared of interest by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) that are under construction or have received approval to start work.
In the first half the year the Tourism Authority of Panama granted 33 permits for the establishment of new hotels and 11 new licenses to travel agencies.
$102.8 million is the total amount invested in the first six months of the year in new hotels in the country, according to estimates by the Tourism Authority of Panama. "...Of the total ... 10 will be located in the province of Chiriqui, nine in Panama and four in the province of Los Santos.
In Panama the increase in room supply has caused a price war between hotels trying to attract travelers and increase the occupancy rate which on average is not more than 60%.
Hotel occupancy in the country has been declining since 2011, when it stood at 68.6% dropping to 59.3% within the sector this year, according to figures from the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP).
The project consisting of 7 hotels with 855 rooms and condominiums to be built in the Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica, will be developed by the Costa Rican company Florida Ice and Farm.
According to a file submitted by the company Florida Ice and Farm (Fifco) to the Technical Environmental Secretariat, the project will require $467 million to be invested in five phases running up to 2022 and includes, in addition to hotels and residences, "...
Although the number of tourists coming to Panama City continues to grow, there is still an oversupply of rooms, and in the last 3 years average occupancy has fallen by 10%.
The prevailing oversupply in the sector has begun to affect hotels, whose financial profits have been reduced by 20%. Currently the supply of rooms is 40 thousand, 8000 more than in and 2009 and although the number of tourists arriving in the country has not reduced, the percentage of unoccupied hotel rooms has reached 45%. The Panamanian Chamber of Tourism recognizes that the situation is worrying and is demanding institutional action in order to increase occupancy by 2015.
Despite recovery since the years immediately following the crisis of 2008, the average hotel occupancy rate for 2013 stands at only 55%.
From a report by the Association for Research and Social Studies (ASIES):
"... In Guatemala, the average age of a hotel is ten years old. However, there are several hotel companies over 30 years old, denoting their ability to transcend time. "