Using big data management techniques, it is possible to know, with greater precision than with traditional methods, the socio-demographic characteristics, tastes, preferences and interests of consumers living in a specific area of a city or of groups of people who visit particular stores.
Nowadays, with the large volumes of data that exist, it is possible to examine absolute and relative numbers of potential customers of a shopping center or business that are in any other location.
Taking measures to reactivate the productive sectors, make better use of public-private partnerships and boost tourism is part of what the private sector expects from the Panamanian government in the coming year.
Six months before the Cortizo administration takes office, Panama's business sector is asking it to make the decisions the economy needs to be able to continue on the path of development, and above all, not to lose competitiveness both domestically and in relation to its peers in the region, and to be able to continue to attract foreign investment.
The main business association has announced the trade fairs Expocomer, Expo Franchise, Expo Tourism, Expo Medical, Expo Furniture and Expo Logistics , to be held between March and October 2016.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
Panama, March 02, 2016.- The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture Panama (CCIAP) has officially launched a set of six exhibitions that will take place between March and October this year, in order to encourage and stimulate various economic sectors and business in the country.
The First Congress of Tourism Integration will be held on the March 22nd and 23rd in Panama City, with the objective of establishing a road map for the sector.
With this conference the Tourism Authority of Panama is aiming to bring together the different players in the industry in order to establish the roadmap for the sector.
"... Twelve workshops will be held, each relating to a market segment.The idea is that each workshop presents the current situation in its segment, holds a debate and draws conclusions which can be translated into action, " said Alfredo Motta, event organizer to Laestrella.com.pa.
In Costa Rica a law has been proposed that would benefit tourism businesses suffering from financial problems - caused by the 2008 crisis!! -, readjusting their debts and repurchasing and returning their lost assets.
EDITORIAL
Beyond the dark aspects of the bill - among them that it is not known who the beneficiaries are - its purpose seems rude and unfair to entrepreneurs who managed to overcome the crisis of the last decade through proper management and undoubtedly a lot of sacrifice, and who today have healthy companies.
The coastal areas contain half of the most fertile land in the country with substantial resources for fisheries and tourism.
With the implementation of Fomilenio II in the coastal area of El Salvador, there is great opportunity for the development of agriculture, leveraging funds expected to be provided by the U.S. government with a counterpart by the Salvadoran government, in addition to the private investment that could go along with production projects.
Panama, Belize and Nicaragua are competing with Costa Rica and Mexico in trying to attract retirees from the U.S. and Canada.
All of these countries are offering residency packages and tax exemptions at rates similar to those granted by Costa Rica. For example, in Nicaragua there is a law which provides advantages for retirees on items ranging from cars to building materials.
The intention is to revive the hotel Cerro Verde, an investment that could be around $10 million and would be developed as a public-private partnership.
A feasibility study conducted by consulting firm Urani Pitarch Associated Advisors SL (PAX Consulting), demonstrates the viability of developing the project entitled "Renovation of Cerro Verde Mountain Hotel, Canton Las Lomas Santa Ana" which could resume operations in about two years.
The momentum in this sector needs more services and port infrastructure in order to consolidate and join the global growth of this industry.
The region needs to improve port infrastructure in order to be able to receive the new boats which are becoming bigger and bigger and with this take advantage of the 20% growth that is projected in the next season.
Between April 2012 and March 2013, surfing generated revenues of $20 million for the tourism sector, which is twice what the country received five years ago.
Elsalvador.com reports that "according to a study funded by the program All Invest and developed by Grupo Amate in coordination with the Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport), the sport has boosted tourism and investment in the approximately 200 kilometers of Salvadoran coast between the beaches Las Flores and Mizata ".
After a first attempt to consolidate a core of companies engaged in providing medical services to foreigners, efforts are now being made to create an association for promoting medical tourism.
The country is looking to position itself within the medical tourism industry globally, growing at an accelerated rate of 30% annually.
In order to give a boost to medical tourism, a group of Salvadorans are promoting the creation of an association to promote health and to focus on niches that the country can exploit. "The partnership will look out for the interests of the sector, monitoring and ensuring that the people working in it do it well," said Mario Cruz, medical director of Equitec.
47 companies replied to the call by the Government of El Salvador to present investment projects supported by grant funds from FOMILENIO II.
Elmundo.com.sv reports that the Salvadoran government "already has 47 expressions of interest to run future investment projects in the coastal zone of the country, as part of the second Fomilenio, which together amount to $413 million."
The Salvadoran government is looking at ways to sell 64 hectares of state property located in the coastal zone of La Union.
According to an article in Elsalvador.com, a decree is being studied by the Salvadoran Congress which could authorize the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation (Corsatur) to sell a plot of land in El Icacal, in the coastal zone of La Union, a pristine beach with high tourism potential.
There are already five investment projects seeking to take advantage of the benefits of a Fomilenio II project which has yet to materialize.
"Up to 31 December 2012, the Agency for Investment Promotion and Export of El Salvador (Proesa) has received five formal requests for projects seeking to be financed by the nonrefundable fund 'Investment Commitment ES', said the executive director of the institution, Giovanni Berti. "
Most investment promotion agencies are not responding to national enquiries by investors in the key sectors of agribusiness and tourism.
From a press release from the World Bank
According to Best Practices Study of Global Investment Promotion (Global Investment Promotion Best Practices) 2012 World Bank, 80 percent of investment promotion agencies are not responding to enquiries by investors in the key sectors of agribusiness and tourism, despite the fact that countries are competing to attract investment.