In a context of a drop in the number of tourists arriving in the Dominican Republic, the authorities announced that they are implementing a new campaign to reposition the destination, which will be focused on the U.S. market.
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 decree reform to promote local tourism, and a bill that would grant tax exemptions for investments in certain tourist sites, are some of the proposals to boost tourism activity in Guatemala.
In addition to the decree that moves holidays to a Monday or Friday in order to favor destinations which are further away by creating long weekends, and the bill that would give tax benefits to investments in tourist sites, authorities at the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism also intend to modify the institution's Organic Law.
In Panama companies dedicated to the activity are complaining about the absence of a state policy or strategy to help promote the country as a destination for medical tourism at the international level.
Although Panama has all the necessary characteristics to make it a relevant market for medical tourism, a specific policy to promote the activity led by the Tourism Authority could encourage much more development of the activity in the country."...'The only disadvantage Panama has as a destination for medical tourism is that this sector has not been recognized by the state as a tourist product or a real feature of its organizational infrastructure,' said Luis Santamaría, general director of Panasalud S.A., to Prensa.com."
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.
Between January and June, 219 thousand tourists came into the country from Europe, 6% more than the figure recorded in the first half of last year.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute:
During the first half of 2017, Europe showed steady growth in international arrivals (8.4% by air and a 6% increase for all routes to the country), according to data provided by the Directorate General of Migration and Aliens and analyzed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.
At the National Tourism Convention, which will be held from June 28 to 29, the main theme will be the importance of training in the sector.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:
The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) and the Chamber of Tourism of Panama (CAMTUR), will be holding the second National Tourism Convention, which this year will have as its central discussion topic: "the importance of Training in the tourism sector ".
Entrepreneurs in the sector are looking to develop this segment of the tourist market, highlighting the country's characteristics that are ideal for offering activities such as trekking and visits to volcanoes.
The objective should be to focus on the North American and European markets, where most tourists are looking for activities such as biking, hiking, rafting, visits to biological reserves and volcanoes, among other things.
In Costa Rica the new convention center, still under construction, is missing out on opportunities to promote itself overseas due to a delay in the tender to hire a company to manage it.
Companies in the tourism sector state that most major events and congresses are negotiated up to two years in advance, and because the convention center does not have an management company to set rental rates for the site and other aspects, the possibilities for promoting it abroad are reduced.
At the tourism fair to be held on May 11 and 12 it is expected that 5000 business meetings will take place between local businessmen and 290 representatives of 200 wholesalers from 34 countries.
The 32nd Expotur, Costa Rica's main tourism exchange forum, will be held from May 11 to 12 this year at the Centro Kölbi Viva Park in La Guacima, Alajuela.
Companies in the sector expect to generate $660 million in revenue this year, mainly driven by an increase in tourist spending.
In addition to an increase in the number of visitors to the country, companies in the sector also expect a rise in the average daily expenditure of tourists, which at the close of the third quarter registered anincrease of 8.5% compared to the previous quarter.
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.
The company's proposal states that in just two months it could start making tax
payments, putting to the test the responsiveness of bureaucracy against the speed of the real economy.
Airbnb, one of the leading global companies that is taking advantage of the momentum that the technological revolution has provided to the collaborative economy, has now created a housingsupply available for seasonal rental in Costa Rica which is equivalent to 18% of the supply of hotels.
The strongly demanded promotion abroad to attract travelers to the country can begin, now that the contract with the VML International agency has been countersigned.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:
The administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Gustavo Him, formally extended, on Tuesday, the order to proceed for the advertising agency VML, INC., to run an international tourism campaign, with which it intends to strongly promote the country's touristdestinations.
Two months after the award of a $20 million contract for an international promotion strategy, the adjudicating company is still carrying out its analysis.
Once the company VML International has completed the contract review process, it must then be approved by the comptroller general, which could further delay its implementation.