When the pandemic began, interest among Central Americans in travel agency and other tourism-related services dropped significantly, and although it rebounded in mid-May, in recent weeks it has again reported a downward trend.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
In the context of the economic reopening, it was announced that as of October 15, Costa Rican air terminals will begin to receive flights carrying citizens from Central America and Panama.
Due to the covid-19 outbreak, air transport between Costa Rica and the other countries in the region has been interrupted since March. Seven months later, authorities removed the restriction and airlines will be able to begin operating these flights.
The Mexican airline Volaris will be suspending its services as of July 1, and the luxury resort hotel Mukul, in Guacalito, has announced the indefinite closure of its operations.
The crisis that has been going on in the country for the last month continues to harm the tourism business sector.The airline Volaris reported that it will temporarily suspend services to Managua from next week, and the luxury hotel Mukul Auberge Resorts Collection, in the South Pacific, announced on Friday that it will close its operations indefinitely.
Copa Airlines has announced two weekly flights between Tocumen and the International Airport Capitan FAP Jose A. Quiñones in Chiclayo, Peru, from June 28.
From a statement issued by Copa Airlines:
Lima, March 18, 2016. Copa Airlines {NYSE: CPA} a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, SA, and member of the global airline network Star Alliance, announced its new route between the historic city of Chiclayo and Panama City, from next June 28 2016, with two weekly frequencies. With this destination, the airline will increase the connectivity of northern Peru with the rest of the Americas.
Growing regional air connectivity is creating new opportunities to maximize the potential of tourist destinations in Central America.
EDITORIAL
Flying from Ometepe Island in Nicaragua, to San Jose, Costa Rica, and then landing in Bocas del Toro in Panama, was impossible a few years ago. Increasing air connectivity among the most important tourist spots in each of the Central American countries provides a wide window of opportunity for the tourism sector in the region.
Air Panama has announced that starting July 1st it will be operating a daily frequency between Panama City and the international airport of Costa Rica.
EDITORIAL
The air route between San José and Panama City has become, because of the characteristics of the demand from travelers between the capitals of both countries, the so-called "air bridges", where availability of seats is permanent.
The low-cost airline VivaColombia is looking at opening up routes to Central American countries.
During the inauguration of Routes Americas which was held in El Salvador, the head of tourism in the country, Jose Napoleon Duarte said they have begun talks with the low-cost airline VivaColombia, which has shown interest in opening routes to countries in Central America.
United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada have also suspended the sale of tickets for international flights to Venezuela.
The international airlines American Airlines, United Airlines and Copa Airlines have decided to temporarily cancel the sale of air tickets in Venezuela. The measure was taken due to the uncertainty generated over a multi million-dollar debt the government holds with some airlines and the changes that have been made relating to foreign exchange.
In major U.S. international airports delays at immigration and customs controls can last more than three hours.
"Authorities are warning of extreme delays in the next few months on entering the United States, after waits of over three hours were recorded in the second quarter, which is low season, at control points of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, or CBP" reported Laprensa.hn.
The infrastructure in most airports in Central America can not cover the increase in the number of air passengers transiting in the region.
In the region, traffic has increased by almost 80% over the last ten years going from 95 million to 170 million passengers. "Today, 30% of Latin American flights take off or land at congested airports, which constitutes one of the main difficulties in the development of the airline industry," noted an article in Eleconomista.net.
The regional airline and the Agency for Tourism Promotion in Central America (CATA) signed an agreement to bring tourists to the isthmus.
Taca will provide $500.000, special discounts for Asian and European wholesalers and will engage in promotional activities during the Centroamérica Travel Market trade show.
"Likewise, CATA will include Taca in all European trade shows in which it participates with Central America's regional stand, and in brochures it sends to wholesalers", reported newspaper Prensalibre.cr.
Starting with its name, Nature Air, the Costa Rican airline is an example of skill in the marketing of its strength as an ecological flagship.
Since 2004, the company has been offsetting its carbon emissions by contributing cash to the National Forestry Financing Fund of Costa Rica for the protection of over 200 hectares of native forest on the Osa Peninsula.