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 Panamanian government's optimistic projections are based on the publicity that finally began this year at the international level, with the injection of $20 million into the Tourism Promotion Fund.
The campaign to promote Panama as a tourist destination in the main international markets began in November of this year and will be active for eight months.
In a context of a drop in the number of tourists arriving in the Dominican Republic, the authorities announced that they are implementing a new campaign to reposition the destination, which will be focused on the U.S. market.
The agreement to be signed in 2020, aims to make a strategic alliance and promote both countries in the multi-destination format.
The governments of Panama and Jamaica, represented by Tourism Ministers Ivan Eskildsen and Hon Edmund Bartlett, respectively, agreed to sign a multi-destination agreement next year to strengthen tourism relations and increase tourist arrivals, according to the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP).
With the strategic development of the Guatemala Country Brand, there are expectations in the business sector to jointly promote investments, exports and tourism.
Ensuring the resources of the Mixed Fund for Tourism Promotion and the formalization of the administration of the Amador Convention Center are actions that the business sector of Panama proposes to the new authorities to reactivate the activity of the sector.
The Tourism Promotion Fund has the aim of increasing by 100 thousand the number of visitors that annually arrive in the country, a rise that would be determined by the development of advertising campaigns in five areas.
In 2018, the entry of tourists through the main ports of entry to the country was 2,480,190, according to official figures. Therefore, the arrival of 100,000 more tourists would be equivalent to a 5% annual increase.
In Panama, the first $5 million was given to the International Tourism Promotion Fund, which is part of the $20 million that each year corresponds to the fund by law.
From the ATP statement:
May 24, 2019. The administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority, Gustavo Him, delivered this morning the first 5 million dollars to the International Tourism Promotion Fund, in the framework of the inauguration of International Tourism Expo 2019, which takes place at the ATLAPA Convention Center, on 24 and 25 May.
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."
At the end of 2018, it is projected that the tourist arrivals to the country will register an increase of 13% with respect to 2017, and the currencies generated by the sector could exceed $1.6 billion.
Authorities of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) reported that if the arrival of tourists increased 13% during 2018, it would be the second consecutive year that the country reports double-digit increases, since between 2016 and 2017 there was a year on year variation of 11% in the number of visitors.
In Panama, the National Assembly approved a law initiative, whose purpose is to establish the annual contribution of $20 million for the Tourism Promotion Fund.
Regarding the approved initiative, establishes that the fund will have legal identity, own assets and autonomy in its administrative, economic, tax, financial and functional system, whose assets will be managed through an administrative trust fund, informed the Assembly in a statement.
Given the slowdown in activity, which is reflected in the loss of 25,000 jobs in the last two years, tourism entrepreneurs in Panama insist on continuing with the international promotion campaign.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap), denounced the fact that the tourism industry is suffering a slowdown, evident in the loss of about 25,000 jobs in the last two years, with direct impact on the management of different services and products of the sector which, in some cases, have had to halt their activities and in others to reduce them severely, as well as the closing down of several companies dedicated to various related areas.
Reducing prices to attract local tourists is the main strategy being used by Nicaraguan tourism entrepreneurs in areas such as Tola, San Juan del Sur and Ometepe Island.
In Nicaragua, the sharp drop in the flow of tourists as a result of the crisis that has been affecting the country since April has forced entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium-sized ones, to vary their strategies in order to try to generate income and sustain operations.
The Varela administration has approved the regulation of the International Tourism Promotion Fund, which defines how resources can be used to attract more tourists to Panama.
From a statement issued by presidency of Panama:
The President of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela, signed on Thursday, August 23, the internal regulations on the International Tourism Promotion Fund, which gives the country a financial structure that will facilitate policies and projects to attract more tourists to the country.
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.