With an investment of $20 million the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport will be constructed, one minute from Tocumen International Airport.
Intercontinental Hotels Group and Bern Hotels & Resorts have signed an agreement to build the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport, which will be located on the premises of Global Business Terminal in Torremolinos, Tocumen.
The project which will open in the next 24 months, will be the closest to the Tocumen International Airport, a distance of about one minute.The hotel will have 126 rooms, a restaurant, exercise room, business center, bar and meeting rooms, however there are plans to increase the number of rooms to three thousand in the future.
The 2013 edition of Expotur is to receive 180 representatives from international companies at the Hotel Wyndham San Jose Herradura on the 9th and 10th of May.
A statement from the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (ACOPROT) reads:
Country's Main Tourism Exchange Market Prepares its XXIX Edition
- From 9th to 11th the 29th edition of Expotur will be held at the Convention Center at the Hotel Wyndham San Jose Herradura.
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."
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. "
Guatemala's hotel sector is concerned about lack of inclusion of the tourism category within the country’s investment promotion policies.
The first version of the National Competitiveness Agenda excludes the tourism sector, confirmed Jaime Day, director of the National Competitiveness Program, who said it would be added in the new version of the agenda.
Evictions from homes, hotels and restaurants sited in protected or state-owned areas have been suspended for two years.
In March this year, the Controller General's Office urged municipal authorities across the country to enforce the 1977 law prohibiting construction in the Maritime - Terrestrial Zone.
The eviction and demolition activities started by the authorities, caused a stir especially on the Caribbean coast, where there are numerous buildings on prohibited sites, including ones for commercial purpose such as restaurants and hotels.
As of May a total of 934,899 visitors came to the country, a 7.7% increase compared to the same period in 2011.
Despite the number of tourists by sea having decreased (-22%), the result of the cancellation of the arrival of two cruisers, entry via Tocumen International Airport increased by 19.3%.
According to Laestrella.com.pa, "Tickets for the border area of Paso Canoa add on a total of 70,761 visitors, reflecting a decrease of 2.1%, while 39,644 people entered the country through other channels.
Developer Newland International Properties announced that on May 18 it will have updates on topics of interest to bondholders.
Newland International Properties Corp., developer of Trump Ocean Club, should have made the second payment of capital on the issuance of $220 million in bonds on 15 May but did not do so.
"As part of an effort to provide additional information to investors about recent events, on Friday May 18, 2012, Newland will release a package that includes updated information on the collections, closings, sales, inventory available, progress of construction, and other topics of interest to the bondholders", the company said on Tuesday in a news release.
In 2011 $405 million was invested in projects in the tourism sector, and 2012’s investment is estimated at $842 million.
From a press release from the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP):
There is no doubt that tourism in Panama is taking giant leaps when beach projects are attracting thousands of visitors from around the world who choose to come to the isthmus to have their best vacation ever.
The second FOMILENIO program will prioritize private enterprises and emphasize the development of the coastal zone.
Initial consultations with employers from different fields for the purpose of choosing the projects within the FOMILENIO II program, sponsored by the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) government began this week.
"The consultation started on Monday and has to do with an important aspect with regard to investment opportunities," said the technical secretary of the presidency, Alexander Segovia, according to Diariocolatino.com.
As part of the proposal for Fomilenio II, the government has announced several projects for creating a nucleus of attractions in various parts of the coastal zone.
Among the plans for the development program FOMILENIO II using funds from the U.S., the National Institute of Tourism is promoting the creation of tourist development as part of a strategy that aims to increase tourist visits and create more jobs for the sector.
Nicaragua is ready to strengthen its tourism industry, refining its attractions both for the backpacking tourist who spends $50 a day, as well as the high end visitor who spends over $1,000.
After coming a long way since the 90’s, tourism in Nicaragua must now make a quantum leap and create a national brand in the minds of tourists with higher purchasing power, said Rep.
The construction of an airport capable of receiving aircraft carrying up to 42 passengers is the basis of a development plan by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism.
The 1,500 meter long and 30 meter wide airstrip is being built by Meco and is a few months away from being completed, which will allow a qualitative advance in the development of tourism in the unique island of Ometepe, which is formed from two volcanoes in the middle of lake Nicaragua.
A bill is being prepared that introduces incentives for organizing conventions and 20 year tax exemptions for hotels investing at least $20 million and who register within three months after the law’s approval.
This week, the National Assembly made public bill number 125 which "establishes rules for incentives to tourism in Panama", after a year of talks between the private sector and government.