The tourism sector wants to take advantage of the hotel capacity available in the country in order to promote convention tourism, which has so far been untapped.
At the moment various industry representatives are working on two axes: "... An international one to promote the destination and another local one to promote the supply available in the country.
Guatemala is to host the international event Travel Mart Latin America, which will be held in September 2015.
Competing with Ecuador and Brazil, Guatemala won the position for 2015, becoming the next meeting point for travel service providers from Central and South America and buyers from around the world. It Is expected that the contract will be signed with the organizers in June.
The countries of the region are compete for organizing events and conferences whose participants spend on average $1,200 per day.
Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica are building new convention centers to be opened in 2014, a major effort that aims to achieve a good slice of the cake that is convention tourism.
Panama is building its new center in the Amador Causeway, along the Pacific and around the capital.
The country has potential to become a destination for regional and international conventions.
This was stated by Julio César Urban, from the International Association of Congresses and Conventions (ICCA), adding that the Government should foster this type of tourism, as it is a big spender.
"A tourist at a convention spends an average $500 a day, and stays for three days.