The postponement of the payment of sales tax on some activities, approval of pending projects and the creation of a Tourism Competitiveness Council are some of the points that entrepreneurs want to prioritize.
Private trade union for tourism has raised at least five actions points it hopes will be addressed no later than next May by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. Another priority asked for is the cataloging of tourism as a sector and not as sub-sector.
Tourism entrepreneurs disagree with the list of countries in which the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism has announced it plans to promote the country.
The tourism promotion agenda includes a visit to the United States, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain and Germany, among others, where tourism facilities on offer for 2015 will be presented. With this initiative it is expected that more than 1.4 million foreigners will be received, which would equate to about $440 million in foreign exchange.
Although it is facing 2015 with optimism, Costa Rica knows that it is facing strong growth in competition from regional neighbors as a tourist destination.
Costa Rica has begun to lose its comparative advantage which it has held for many years over the rest of the region in attracting tourists.
The government has announced the opening of a consulate in Shanghai and other efforts to open others in cities where there is high purchasing power in an effort to attract people to the Costa Rican tourism sector.
From a statement issued by the Government of Costa Rica:
As part of the strategy to attract tourism in 2015, Panama intends to consolidate the US market and improve its position as a hub and shopping destination for South American countries.
Panama wants to establish itself as the first tourist destination in the region, therefore the government will be promoting the country's potential by emphasizing the momentum it has in the United States, from where 25% of tourists visiting the Isthmus come from.
The new tender for international advertising services by the Panama Tourism Authority should be published by December and the contract should be for a period of two years.
The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) finally announced that by the end of 2014 it will publish the specifications for the tender which was scheduled for last September, to award a service contract to promote tourism in the country which since 2012 has been been managed by the institution.
The aim of the Guatemalan government is to increase investments made by Colombian companies in sectors such as energy, food, plastics and textile businesses.
"... The Colombian investment is one of the most important ..." for Guatemalans because not only do they have a presence in the mining sector, but also in other sectors which are important for economic development.
A bill being discussed in the National Assembly aims to promote the development of business tourism in the country.
Although business tourism is one of the fastest growing segments, not all sectors agree with this bill, because, for some, "... the country still does not have sufficient infrastructure to host these events."
Over thirty wholesale companies from the United States will participate in business roundtables with local operators on October 23rd and 24th in the capital.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR):
Over 30 wholesalers from the United States, will be in the country for the second edition of the El Salvador Travel Market 2014 (ESTM2014), which starts on Thursday 23 October and which includes business meetings in a hotel in the capital.
Up until December 31, 2015 a moratorium will be in effect on the payment of the 13% sales tax on recreational tourism activities in Costa Rica.
The tourism sector will accept the new tax on their terms: desiring an alternative draft law as soon as possible, which exempts legislative procedures and exonerates the charges made before the moratorium.
In coordination with the guild of private companies the Tourism Authority of Panama has announced the beggining of the international campaign "Vive Panamá".
At a meeting between government officials and companies in the sector strategies and development plans for the tourism industry in the medium term were reviewed.
The manager of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Jesus Sierra Victoria, reported that for November the ATP will bring forward the campaign "Vive Panamá" which begins on the 1st and ends on the 31st, with offers for tourists, including dining and shopping .Tourists will receive personalized attention at airports with information on tourist sites in Panama, he added.
Private trade and the Ministry of Tourism will start certifying the quality of tourism services in order to improve the sector's competitiveness against competition in the region.
Statement of the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (Mitur):
The government announced that it will construct the stations at 80 kilometer intervals along the Pan American Highway and they will feature restaurants, parking and small stores.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP):
So far this year $82 million has been invested in tourism projects outside of Panama City, but the business sector has indicated there are obstacles to further development.
Law 80 of 2012, which provides tax incentives for tourism investment outside of Panama City has produced results, say entrepreneurs, but government support is still needed to remove some obstacles that prevent the development of tourism outside the capital from being even greater.
Businessmen in Costa Rica are opposing a bill that aims to reduce the amount of money assigned to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, claiming that it will affect international marketing of the country.
At the moment total proceeds from the $15 fee charged for each air plane ticket purchased abroad is assigned to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), but with the bill proposed by the government these resources would be reduced to half and the remaining amount would go to the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).
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