Although Nicaragua has one of the lowest crime rates in Central America, in San Juan del Sur robberies of tourists are beginning to affect the sector.
Business owners and foreign residents have denounced the constant thefts, however, so far no actions or responses to the problem have been taken. Estimates by the National Chamber of the Micro, Small and Medium Tourism industry (CANTUR) reveal that there are 11 weekly assaults on tourists in this area.
With an investment of $48 million, three new hotels will be built in Nicaragua, adding 500 rooms.
Along with construction of the Whyndam Milagro del Mar, launched on Thursday, February 21, the 145-room Hyatt Place and a new 105 room Holiday Inn will also be built.
These investments are in addition to the Guacalito Island project, which was recently opened.
The country expects that by the end of 2012, 1.2 million visitors will have arrived and more than $400 million entered the country in foreign exchange earnings, which represents an increase of over 11% compared to 2011.
On meeting these projections by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur), the country will become the fastest growing in the region in terms of tourism indicators, surpassing even Panama.
A partnership has been formed between the Nicaraguan government and the Spanish group Barceló to build an international airport in the Montelimar resort, in San Rafael del Sur.
An article in Laprensa.com.ni reports that "The Government of Nicaragua and the Spanish hotel group Barceló have signed an agreement to build an international airport in the Montelimar resort, in the Pacific, officials said on Sunday.
Nicaragua's "Concertación Tributaria" (Tax Reform Discussion) includes a proposal to remove the latest taxes to registration of pleasure boats and aircraft.
An article Laprensa.com.ni reports that Mario Salinas, chief executive of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur) noted the positive impact that a review and elimination of taxes collected on the registration of yachts and private aircraft, introduced in 2010, would have on the tourism sector.
The Ministries of Tourism in Central America have announced their intention to form a regional strategy to promote tourist destinations in the isthmus.
Reinforcing some intentions expressed in previous ministerial meetings, the government sector is proposing offering tourists the region "in one trip."
An article in Prensalibre.com reports that the chief executive of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur), Mario Salinas, said: "We are going promote on the website, in European tourism fairs, two, three, four, five countries (as a destination), and not promote Panama or Nicaragua only, we will encourage (them to come and see) Central America. "
In the last five years the number of companies engaged in activities related to tourism has doubled, from 2,500 to over 5,800.
In five years, the number of micro, small and medium tourism enterprises has increased from 2,526 to 5,867, creating 37,000 direct and 140,000 indirect jobs, said the Institute of Tourism.
These 5,867 micro, small and medium tourism businesses represent 90% of companies registered with the Intur to date, which total 6,500, reported Laprensa.com.ni.
Tourism industry representatives are participating in the Annual Meeting of the United States Association of Tour Operators, known by the acronym USTOA.
A press release from the newspaper "El Pueblo Presidente" reads:
The CEO of INTUR, Architect Mario Salinas Pasos, is heading a delegation that is participating in North America in the Annual Meeting of the United States Association of Tour Operators known by the acronym USTOA.
With an investment of about $20 million the Institute of Tourism has announced the construction of two marinas in the Caribbean and a hotel in Leon.
The investments are of Italian and Spanish origin, explained the head of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (Intur), Mario Salinas.
With an initial investment of about $15 million, one of the marinas will be built in Bluefields Bay and the other on Corn Island, in the south Caribbean, said Juan Manuel Muñoz, manager in charge of the proposed marinas. Construction work is scheduled to start in late December.
Tourism authorities expect tourism investment to increase by $ 50 million for 2011, totaling $ 180 million.
The head of the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism, Intur, Mario Salinas, said the investment could suffer an increase if the intention of the Spanish hotel chain NH of investing in the country materializes.
"Salinas said NH chains are exploring the possibility of settling in Nicaragua."International hotel chains are beginning to get in touch with Intur and want to know the country's potential. NH is of the three largest chains in the world," published Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
The campaign, with a $ 7.2 million investment, is to support Ometepe's tourist related MSMEs and agritourism farms.
The project will begin next January and will start with the refurbishment of the first farms of the 90 included on the project. These will be ready to welcome tourists by May 2011.
The funding includes $ 2 million for the Ometepe tourism conglomerate, $ 2 million to the Department of Rio San Juan and $ 3 million for the proposed agro tourism farms in Nicaragua.
Tourism officials in Taiwan conducted a seminar to promote tourism and investment.
Nicaraguan Minister of Tourism, Mario Danilo, said the seminar and visit to the country aims to raise awareness of Nicaragua, attract investment and increase tourism.
"The event, attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Taiwan and other senior officials of the island, introduced the so-called "Un Producto por Pueblo" project, which aims to develop in each town a unique food or craft of high quality and presentation for international standards and high added value", Laprensa.com.ni reports.
The country is promoting in Europe its new fiscal incentives for tourism investments.
Nicaragua gets just 10% of its visitors from Europe. 30% are from the U.S and the remaining 60% from Central America.
Mario Salina, Nicaraguan tourism Ministry, and ProNicaragua’s tourism advisor, Laureano Ortega, explained the new incentives plan, which includes “fiscal incentives, easier red tape, … and the new Coasts Law”, reported Prensa.com.
The first International Tourism Fair (Fenitur) will take place in Managua from June 18 to 21.
It will be hosted at the Conventions Center of the Hotel Crowne Plaza, and is organized by “AC Eventos & Ediciones”, in association with CANATUR, the National Tourism Chamber.
The objective of this fair is to promote Nicaragua as a touristic destination for both domestic and foreign travelers.
A support program, funded with $1.2 million donated by Luxembourg, will benefit 130 touristic SMEs from the country's north.
This program will provide financial and logistic assistance to local companies, in order to increase the number of visitors to the area known as the 'Coffe Route'.
Mario Salinas, president of Nicaragua's Tourism Institute, explained that "they are negotiating additional support from the Government of Luxembourg.