Using the Pura Vida Wellness concept, Costa Rica intends to take advantage of a global market valued at $563 billion, with tourists whose average spending exceeds 130% of global average tourist spending.
The aim of the Costa Rican Institute is to develop this segment, which has great market potential, in order to diversify and consolidate the country's tourism supply.Global wellness tourism grew by 11% between 2013 and 2015, according to data from Global Wellness Tourism Economy.
Lack of control of unofficial businesses that are setting up on the coasts is preventing further development in areas with high tourism potential such as San Juan del Sur.
The business community argues that the Law for the Development of Coastal and Environmental Conservation is not being complied with, as unofficial businesses such as restaurants and hotels are being allowed to set upon the coasts.
Growth of 9% per year is part of the rewards brought about by incentives for the sector and the opening up of government by working in partnership with private enterprise.
Incentives for tourism have been vital to the creation of new projects in this sector. This is the view of Leonardo Torres, president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (Cantur), who spoke to Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
In the first half of the year 1.4 million tourists visted the country, only 1.7% more than in the same period in 2014.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT):
In the first six months of the year, our country received 1,415,046 international arrivals; that is, more than 23,429 tourists entered through all ports, according to data provided by the Directorate General of Immigration (DGME) and analyzed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Between January and June 2015 general tourist spending grew by 14% compared to 2014, with the number of travelers arriving from Central America growing by 30% .
A report by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) reveals that in the first six months of this year, visitors who were in Panama spent $1.909 billion, an average of $10.5 million per day.
The report said that between January and June the number of visitors to Panama reached 1,334,255, of which 78.5% were tourists (who stayed at least one day and less than 12 months), 13.8% cruisers, and 7.6% Day visitors, those who remainede in the country for less than 24 hours.
Employers claim that at least six projects have been delayed pending analysis by the Board of Tourism Incentives, which has not been in session since the departure of its president two months ago.
There are at least six investment projects in the tourism sector that should have been analyzed by the Board of Tourism Incentives, which, drowning in bureaucracy, is unable to hold sesion because a new president has not been formally chosen.
Tourism investments above $25000 and categorized as of national interest will be able to enjoy tax incentives for another five years.
"... They shall be entitled to the following incentives: exemption from taxes on real estate transfer, exemption from customs duties on the import of their goods, exemption from payment of income tax for a period of ten years and partial exclusion of municipal duties imposed for the period of 5 years from the start of operations relating to tourism activities for up to 50% of its value. "
Tourism companies have denounced underspending in the budget for international promotion of the country and assert that the official figures for hotel occupancy are not real.
Industry representatives argue that the hotel occupancy rate published by the Tourism Authority merely represents a sample of some large hotels in the capital ", while data from hotels in the interior of the country are not even taken into account in the statistics.
With the IDB loan approved by the Assembly, improvements will be made in docks and piers, jetties and construction of bike paths in tourist areas along the coastal strip.
From a statement issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The National Assembly passed with 56 votes, a contract signed between the Salvadoran government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in the amount of $25 million, which will go towards the fund for the "Tourism Development Program of the Coastal - Marina Strip".
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.
Summary of laws that encourage tourism investment in Panama, and procedures to follow to get the related tax benefits.
From the website of the Tourism Authority of Panama:
Laws on Incentives for Tourism Investment
In recent years, Panama has seen a boom in the tourism sector; coupled with the development of economic policies which promote investment across the country.
In order to overcome the low hotel occupancy rates the private sector is proposing actions in logistics, infrastructure and urban planning; safety for tourists, domestic tourism and development of the country's brand image.
These six axes that govern the plan presented by the private sector aim to increase tourism in the country in the short term. It also includes topics such as the future convention center being built in Amador and signage and publicity of the most visited destinations.
A bill being prepared by the government intends to extend tax breaks for investment in the sector, focusing on exemptions from the payment of income tax and import products, among other things.
All activities pertaining to the tourism production sector such as car rental businesses, hotels, cruise lines, airlines, among others, will be taken into account in the new draft law, which aims to increase the competitiveness of Honduras as a tourist destination in the region.
$91 million is the estimated amount of the investment projects which have already been approved or are pending which will receive the tax incentives offered by the government for investment in the tourism sector.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR):
The Minister of Tourism, Lic. Jose Napoleon Duarte Duran announced that during 2014 and 2015, private investment in the tourist industry which has been or is in process at the institution which is eligible to benefit from tax incentives, amounts to $91,731.
Between January and September, 965,369 tourists arrived in the country, 7.1% more than in the same period in 2013.
From a statement issued by the investment promotion agency of Nicaragua:
Nicaragua, with a steadily growing tourism industry, received 965,369 visitors up to September this year, which is giving rise to new hotel investments, said the executive president of the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute, Intur, Mayra Salinas, yesterday after stating that "on October 21 we will probably pass the one million tourists figure. "