Central America must be the driving force behind a globally accepted document that will be vital for the recovery of the global economy and tourism in particular.
The generation of a physical or digital document of global acceptance (like national passports) that certifies that the bearer has been vaccinated against Covid-19 will facilitate the movement of people that has been severely restricted as part of the measures adopted by governments, both locally and internationally, to contain the pandemic.
In order to maintain the growth rate achieved last year in the number of visitors, government and business sector face challenges in terms of security, tourism supply, quality standards, among others.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism detail that generally, 2018 was a good year for tourism activity in the country. The figures show that the number of foreign tourists who came to the country totaled 2.5 million, 12.9% more than in 2017.
An apartment building in Guatemala, an educational center in Panama and a tourist complex in Costa Rica, are part of the projects that are planned to be developed in the coming months in the region.
The interactive system "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects that are planned to be built soon.
Of the $91 million invested in tourism projects in El Salvador during 2018, 87% went to finance private works and 13% to public infrastructure.
The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) reported that among the projects with private investment are works located in the Ruta de las Flores with an approximate investment of $6.27 million, in El Tunco beach with $3.8 million, in Boquerón $1.36 million and in the Ruta Fresca $1.8 million.
The Salvadoran government approved the construction of Plaza Marinera, which will have a 10,000 m2 area and will be in La Libertad Port.
The El Salvador Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) reported that Plaza Marinera will be built within a year and the work will require an investment of approximately $5.6 million. According to the authorities, the resort is expected to receive more than one million national and international tourists per year.
On May 25 and 26, a meeting of tourism companies from Central America will take place in Panama City, in which buyers from all over the world will take part.
The International Tourism Expo 2018 will be held at the ATLAPA Convention Center, in Panama City.
The meeting, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, will involve more than 160 international issuing wholesalers from Europe, North America and Latin America, with the aim of seeking service providers and tourism products.
A highway in Panama, a tourist center in Costa Rica and a high rise residential complex in Guatemala, are some of the projects planned for the coming months in the region.
The interactive system "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects that are planned in the region.
Businessmen from the Panamanian tourist sector welcome the arrival of Air China flights in March 2018, but consider it will be a challenge to attract a type of tourist that seems to prefer very different destinations than those offered by Central America.
In a region which for many years has specialized in serving North American tourists and more recently Europeans, preparing to provide the attention demanded by tourists from China will be a challenge, according to the Panamanian tourism entrepreneurs themselves.
In the past 12 months, 78 environmental impact studies were submitted to develop hotels, marinas, clubs and beach residences in Central American countries.
Data from the interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData:
Using the Pura Vida Wellness concept, Costa Rica intends to take advantage of a global market valued at $563 billion, with tourists whose average spending exceeds 130% of global average tourist spending.
The aim of the Costa Rican Institute is to develop this segment, which has great market potential, in order to diversify and consolidate the country's tourism supply.Global wellness tourism grew by 11% between 2013 and 2015, according to data from Global Wellness Tourism Economy.
Apartment towers in Costa Rica and Panama, and oil well drilling and related works in Guatemala, are some of the construction projects planned for the coming months in the region.
CentralAmericaData's information system "Construction Projects in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit, provides an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact assessments (EIAs) were submitted to the respective institutions in each country in March 2017.
From March 28th to 30th potential international investors will learn about public and private projects in infrastructure, tourism, energy and industrial development.
From a statement issued by Proesa El Salvador:
The country will open the first International Investment Forum El Salvador 2017 and present the Country Brand for El Salvador on March 28, reported officials this morning from the Agency for Promoting Export and Investment in El Salvador (PROESA), during a press conference.
From June 19 to 23 companies working in convention tourism will be meeting in Antigua with international buyers and suppliers in order to develop business opportunities.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute:
Guatemala January 26, 2017.The Guatemalan Tourism Institute, INGUAT together with the Convention Bureau of Guatemala, announced that the City of Antigua Guatemala will host the Latin America Meetings and Incentives Travel Exchange, Lamite, from June 19 to 23.
This year the government plans to invest $17 million on tourism promotion and on works such as the remodeling of tourist docks, and the expansion of Parada and El Triunfo ports.
The Ministry of Tourism in El Salvador is also planning on investing in the purchase of tourist buses, which will circulate in the main tourist routes in the country under agreements with municipalities.Other works include improvements to basic infrastructure such as wharves and tourist stops.
From October 6 to 8 San Salvador will be hosting a regional tourism promotion fair, in which it is expected that 80 wholesalers from Europe, the US and South America will take part.
The eleventh edition of the event will be organized by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador and the Federation of Chambers of Tourism of Central America.