At the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018, touristic companies in Nicaragua were reporting a good performance, but the political situation in the country has generated a crisis that is still unsolved.
In 2017, tourism generated $840 million in revenue for the Nicaraguan economy, 31% more than in 2016, growth that improved the companies' expectations at the beginning of the year, since in the first quarter of 2018 the forecasts were that by the end of this year revenues could reach $900 million.
The union has reported that five months after the outbreak of the social and political crisis in Nicaragua, the country has lost about 68,000 of the 120,000 jobs generated by the sector.
The National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) presented a report highlighting the impact of the country's social and political crisis on the tourism sector.
During Easter Week 93 thousand tourists travelled by sea through different parts of the country, which represents an increase of 6% compared to the same period in 2017.
The Maritime Authority of Panama reported that from Thursday, March 29 to Sunday, April 1 of this year, 93,480 passengers were transported by sea, in 6,461 trips.This exceeds the 88,594 passengers reported in the same period in 2017.
In 2016 tour operators handled the arrival of 58,000 tourists who spent an average of $140 per day, and also provided their services to another 66,000 visitors who arrived on their own.
According to the study "Impact of Tour Operators in the Development of Tourism in Nicaragua", prepared by the American University (UAM) and the National Chamber of Tourism of Nicaragua (Canatur) " ...
In the first nine months of the year, tourist spending in the country grew by 2.7% compared to the same period last year, well below the 11% increase registered between 2015 and 2016.
Figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic show that at the end of the third quarter of the year tourists who visited Panama spent $3.499 billion, while in the same period in 2016 theses expenses amounted to $3.407 billion.
Between 2010 and 2016, the number of tourism companies grew by 47%, and in the same period, the number of transport companies and travel operators increased by 320% and 160%, respectively.
In 2010 the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute counted 62 businesses dedicated to providing travel organization services, and last year, this figure reached 161, thanks to the growth experienced in tourism in the country.
In the first eight months of the year, the number of tourists who visited the country grew by 14% compared to the same period in 2016, and businesses expect to close 2017 with an annual increase of 10%.
Between January and August this year, there were 432,712 tourists, 14% higher than in the same period last year. Regarding how the year will end, the director of Inguat, Jorge Mario Chajón, "...
The average european tourist plans trips less than a year in advance and searches and books tour packages via the internet, without using intermediaries.
A study by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute to identify best prospectsfound that"... generally Europeans decide on their holiday destination less than a year in advance and in most cases organize their trips independently i.e., without using intermediaries. It was also found that the most used methods of finding information include recommendations from friends, search engines and online travel agencies and websites promoting the destinations.
In the first half of the year 1.4 million tourists visted the country, only 1.7% more than in the same period in 2014.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT):
In the first six months of the year, our country received 1,415,046 international arrivals; that is, more than 23,429 tourists entered through all ports, according to data provided by the Directorate General of Immigration (DGME) and analyzed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Despite the downturn in the major economies, more and more tourists traveling the globe are looking for the kind of experiences that Central America has to offer.
The opportunities are there. Demand for tourist destinations such as the ones Central America can offer is firm and is increasing every year.
What is essential is that the quality of tourism services on offer be increased, particularly ensuring that tourists are not affected by the criminal violence that pervades the region.