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.
From May 9 to 10 in Costa Rica Expotur 2019 will be held at the National Convention Center, which will bring together 230 international buyers from the tourism sector from 35 countries.
Erasmo Rojas, president of the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (Acoprot), explained to Nacion.com that "... The activity consists of two days of negotiations and alliances that allow revitalize the tourist offer each year and generate millions of dollars in tourist currency for accommodations, food and transportation."
The Wellness and Spa Congress will be held from August 31 to September 2 in La Fortuna de San Carlos, with the participation of eight exhibitors from Spain, the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
The First Wellness and Spa Congress of Costa Rica will be held from August 31 to September 2, 2018 at the Rafael Arenas Convention Center in La Fortuna de San Carlos.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute has announced an alliance with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, to develop a long-term strategy and encourage the arrival of more cruise ships.
According to the agreement, Costa Rica will receive guidance from the FCCA to establish a National Cruise Strategy that involves the development of Costa Rica as a cruise destination, which includes port infrastructure, tourism operations and security, as well as promoting demand and the understanding of the cruise industry and its operational practices in port cities in order to build cooperative relationships through the development of productive actions with the private and public sectors.
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.
The international tourism sector meeting scheduled for the end of April, is expected to be attended by 166 buyers from 44 countries.
The Expotur 2018 tourist fair, organized by the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (Acoprot), will take place in the new Congress and Convention Center, from April 25 to 27 of this year.
This year Costa Rica will focus on consolidating itself as a global destination, of a potential market of approximately 9 million tourists.
Global promotion to position Costa Rica as a destination will begin in 2018. According to data from the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT), the average tourist who visits the country spends 18 nights and spends $3,200, and in addition, prefers small lodgings, local food and crafts.
Tailor made tourist packages, modifications in hotels, and learning the Mandarin language, are just some of the aspects that companies must work on in order to receive tourists from China.
The bilateral tourism promotion agreement signed between the governments of China and Panama, after they reestablished diplomatic relations in June 2017, involves much more than a simple framework to promote the arrival of tourists, but also contemplates the requirements that Panama must meet in order to be categorized as a country authorized to be visited by the citizens of China.
On November 9th, more than 70 companies linked to the tourism sector will take part in an exhibition of products and services in San José.
From a press release by Travel Show Expo:
San José, Costa Rica, September 24, 2017.A group of 75 companies linked to the tourism market will be promoted in the local market thanks to an event that will showcase the wide range of offers for lovers of beach, mountain or rural community projects.
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.
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.
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.
Protests have been made in Costa Rica over the Treasury's intention to charge sales tax on services provided in recreation centers, contravening a ruling made by the Administrative Court in 2015.
The National Chamber of Tourism said that three companies in La Fortuna de San Carlos received notification from the Directorate General of Taxation which indicated that they were required to pay sales tax of 13% on recreational services offered to tourists.
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.