The average occupancy rate in 2013 in the country's hotels was less than 50%, the lowest in the last five years.
Figures from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute indicate that the average occupancy rate during 2013 was 48.7%, the lowest since 2009, when the international crisis started, resulting in a significant reduction in the flow of foreign tourists coming to the country.
The Coastal Act passed four years ago encouraged tourism and real estate development in the Pacific.
Businessmen claim that the legal certainty provided by the legislation has resulted in more tourism and real estate projects in coastal areas, but there are still a lack of incentives for investment in projects in the Caribbean.
Adiak Barahona, CEO of Gran Pacifica Resort, told Laprensa.com.ni that "the Coastal Act eliminated uncertainty for landowners near the beach and encouraged the building of homes measuring more than 300 square meters."
An announcement has been made for the opening in 2016 of a luxury hotel with 450 rooms, of the Dreams brand, in the coastal town Buenaventura.
The firm is continuing its expansion in Panama with a luxury hotel under the brand name "Dreams Resorts & Spas" construction in the hotel zone of Buenaventura.
"The hotel will be located in a community of luxury villas and high-level resorts located just minutes from Rio Hato International Airport.
On March 24th and 25th Central American companies supplying the hotel and restaurant industry will meet in El Salvador.
El Salvador will be hosting the fifth edition of the Regional Provider Fair "Ferprotur 2014" for the hotel and restaurant industry, which will be held on 24 and 25 March in San Salvador.
In the fifth edition of Ferprotur national and international companies providing products, goods and services for the hotel and restaurant industry will come together.
In 2013 the number of building permits requested for hotel establishments across the country dropped by 62% compared to 2012.
The number of square meters authorized in the last 12 months between February 2013 and January 2014 fell to 47,515 m2 compared with the 126,036 m2 in the previous period, according to the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction.
The Spanish hotel chain is preparing to open the all-inclusive RIU Playa Blanca in April this year.
This April, the RIU hotel chain will open its first hotel in Panama, the all inclusive RIU Playa Blanca. The new resort will feature 573 rooms, restaurants, five bars, a disco, three swimming pools, a fitness center, and conference room, among other things.
Beach hotels recorded the highest occupancy of 74.1%, local mountain hotels had 70.24% and those in the city had an occupancy of 69.23%.
Although the expectation of 78% occupancy projected by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) was not reached, it was the highest average level in the last four years.
From a press release by the National Chamber of Tourism Canatur:
Panamanian hotels are following the trend in the U.S. and Europe and start to charge their customers.for parking services.
"Charging for the use of parking is a general trend in the country in buildings, hospitals and shopping centers," said Sara Pardo, CEO of Westin Hotel in Costa del Este. There they charge $4 Monday to Saturday for the use of parking lots, while on Sundays the service is free.
The hotel chain will invest $11 million in opening a 125 room hotel within the Altia Business Park in San Pedro Sula.
The project, will be developed by Grupo Karim's and its opening is scheduled for the last quarter of 2015. "The property is located in the northern part of San Pedro Sula, within the Altia Business Park which undoubtedly is the first smart city in Honduras," reported Latribuna.hn .
It is estimated that this year hotel occupancy in Panama will close the year above 60%, which is an improvement compared to 2012 when it stood at 58.8%.
According to the president of the Panamanian Association of Hotels (APATEL), Jesus Sierra, "the positive impact it will have on the sector is due to the fact that this year we carried out various events of international significance such as the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, the Latin American Business Conference and Plenary Assembly of the Latin American Business Council and the International Congress of the Spanish Language ... ", reported Laestrella.com.pa.
The resort in the Caribbean of Honduras in which $98 million has been invested will open in early 2014.
The project is located in the Bay of Tela and has a golf course, a five-star hotel, spa and other areas . "The important thing is the impact it will have on the community, as more than 400 people will work on the project, most of the area, and I think the resort will bring great benefits to this region," said Camilo Atala, president of Indura .
In September and October hoteliers reduce or close their operations due to the low levels of occupancy recorded at this time of year.
Many of these companies send their employees on training courses or terminate their contracts as occupancy levels in these two months are at the lowest of the year. "... The situation is even more difficult, as it is estimated that the average occupancy will fall to 35%, and less than 30% in many cases," reported Nacion.com.
Renting apartments for tourism is the apparent culprit for hotel occupancy in Panama City falling by 10% in the last year.
Apartment owners have increased their sales despite the existence of a law banning tourists renting for less than 45 days.
Prensa.com reports: "Hotel owner Jaime Campuzano recognizes that three-bedroom apartments are being offered for $60 a day, which hotels prices can not compete with."
At least 10% of small B & B type hotels in Costa Rica are no longer active.
It has been estimated that in San Jose alone 10 hotels have closed their doors, however, it is not known how many of these types of establishments are operating in the country. "The information comes from knowledge held by private sector authorities, including the National Network of Small Hotels of Costa Rica (Renaph) and the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH), through which it can be inferred that they have been affected by the economic situation," reported Elfinancierocr.com.
The issue of increasing rates for lodgings from 10% to 11% has still not been resolved, which is preventing wholesale contracts prices from being calculated.
Prensa.com reports: "This issue was expected to have been resolved on August 8. The authorities and hotel owners amended bureau statutes, and it was agreed that the organization will be public-private partnership, but the meeting did not address the increase in the rate of accommodation which was to go from 10% to 11%. "