The risks involved when visiting a destination and the possibility of making reservations with less notice are fundamental factors that consumers will consider when deciding whether or not to take a trip in the coming months.
The outbreak of covid-19 in several countries around the world almost caused air, sea and land transport to disappear, as several governments decided to ban leisure and business travel.
New health and hygiene protocols in the establishments and the commitment to attract national tourists in an environment where short trips will be preferred, are some of the trends predicted in the new "normality" that will come after the quarantine period.
Given the quarantines decreed by most governments worldwide, it is anticipated that the habits of tourists will change dramatically in the short and medium term, as the crisis of covid-19 will leave consequences among consumers.
The average european tourist plans trips less than a year in advance and searches and books tour packages via the internet, without using intermediaries.
A study by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute to identify best prospectsfound that"... generally Europeans decide on their holiday destination less than a year in advance and in most cases organize their trips independently i.e., without using intermediaries. It was also found that the most used methods of finding information include recommendations from friends, search engines and online travel agencies and websites promoting the destinations.
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.
Viajes El Corte Ingles will be selling tourism products in El Salvador in its sales network in Spain and carrying out a promotional campaign from March 15 to October 31.
The agreement aims to increase the number of Spanish tourists visiting the country, which in 2015 was around 20,000. The promotion will be done through the marketing channels of the agency and will be reinforced by a campaign that will run until October 31, 2015.
When it comes to making a choice, there is a clear preference by travelers for "green" hotels and tourism products, confirming that the sustainability of the tourism business only makes sense when the sustainability of the area is guaranteed.
In her blog in Elfinancierocr.com, Katiana Murillo highlights the growing preference of tourists worldwide for hotels which have environmentally friendly practices, even if it means paying higher rates.
From the February 27 the tourism promotion program Stop Over, which allows passengers with connections of between 5 and 48 hours to leave the airport will operates without charging additional fees.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR):
The Minister of Tourism, Lic. Jose Napoleon Duarte Duran officially launched the Stop Over project exempting transit passengers traveling in the Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport and Galdámez, in order to promote tourism in the country for up to 48 hours.
The Central Rail Summit 2015 will be held in El Salvador, from May 13th to 15th, where it is expected that 15 corporations from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association will be involved.
The Salvadoran Chamber of Tourism (CASATUR) hopes to have the participation of 30 union members who will be publicizing various tour packages offered by shipping lines.
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.
The event held at the Atlapa convention center on September 26th and 27th will bring together wholesale companies from Europe, America and Asia with tourism companies from Panama and the region.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
(Panama, June 17, 2014). Over 150 wholesale operators from America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean who have great interest in tourism in Panama, will meet in the fifth edition of the INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO, to be held on 26 and 27 September.
The Central American region is attempting to become more integrated in the way it promotes itself.
Although each Central American country has its own unique characteristics, their geographic proximity and similarities, among other things, are elements that can be used to raise the region’s profile as a worldwide tourist destination.
These were the conclusions reached at the VIII Central American Travel Market, CATM 2011, one of the isthmus’s more relevant tourism industry promotion events, which recently took place in Panama.
"TACA Vacaciones" (TACA Holidays), is a new program looking to foster the vacation market through "all inclusive" packages.
"TACA Vacaciones" packages are designed by wholesale tour operators from the countries of the region, under an "all inclusive" model: air ticket, hotel, ground transportation and in some cases, food and tours.
"The strategy fosters interregional tourism, as it is available on all Central American countries, with the exception of Panama", published newspaper Elsalvador.com. "All the packages have the requirement of a minimum three day stay or a Saturday, but these conditions might change with tactical promotions executed by TACA and wholesalers".
Like other patterns of consumption, tourism is changing as a result of the crisis toward closer destinations and for shorter time periods.
Operator estimates of what they will rake in during Easter Week, an annual peak in the tourism industry’s calendar, have already taken these trends into account and adjusted the supply; intraregional tourism benefits from this.
The Ministry of Tourism signed a cooperation agreement with TACA airlines which includes vacation packages, advertising actions and marketing cooperation.
Daniel Choto wrote in Elsalvador.com: "They will look to develop new products with the vacation packages so that tourists can have a travel plan which includes specific destinations, lodging and routine to be carried out which will be done through the TACA-Holidays Program in the United States, Central America, Mexico and South America. Marketing actions will include product creation, event participation and attendance of international vacation and business tourism fairs in which El Salvador is seen as having a lot of potential.”