The First Congress of Tourism Integration will be held on the March 22nd and 23rd in Panama City, with the objective of establishing a road map for the sector.
With this conference the Tourism Authority of Panama is aiming to bring together the different players in the industry in order to establish the roadmap for the sector.
Sustained growth has been projected in "wellness" tourism in the region, which still needs to make efforts to differentiate promotion of this type of tourism from medical tourism.
In Guatemala, the category of wellness tourism is included under medical tourism, but authorities intend to identify separate specific promotion mechanisms for each of the segments. In Costa Rica, figures from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute indicate that "... According to the aerial survey of foreigners in 2014, which is conducted quarterly at international airports in the country, about 38% of tourists said they had taken part in wellness activities during their stay. "
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.
Tourist companies believe that sustainability is not an easy process, however it can be a good idea if it is about doing business.
Katiana Murillo in her article in Baños, reviews the opinion of some companies who participated in Expotur 2013, regarding the question of whether sustainability can be good business for tourism entrepreneurs.
In Costa Rica more and more hotels are being built with certified wood, use the sun's energy and provide comprehensive waste treatment.
Additionally, these hotels have their own organic gardens for preparing their food, use only biodegradable products and dry clothes in the sun, all part of a new trend to preserve the environment.
Go Blue Central America is an interactive map to share with the rest of the world the uniquiness and authenticity of the marine and coastal areas of Central America.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and National Geographic (NatGeo) presented "Go Blue Central America", an interactive map on the internet designed to promote tourism in the Isthmus.
Despite the downturn in the major economies, more and more tourists traveling the globe are looking for the kind of experiences that Central America has to offer.
The opportunities are there. Demand for tourist destinations such as the ones Central America can offer is firm and is increasing every year.
Sustainable tourism results in being more attractive to travelers, savings in operations and preferential treatment, including economic and business benefits.
"Do not say that the natural wealth of Costa Rica produces no revenue: first place in the top ten most popular adventure destinations in the world by International Business Times magazine, host for 2013 of the largest international adventure event, Adventure Race World Championship 2013,Travel Weekly Readers Choice Award as the best destination in Central and South America and one of the top 10 honeymoon destinations according to Modern Bride magazine", writes Katiana Murillo on her ‘sostenible’ on Elfinancierocr.com.
The bill being presented seeks to promote rural community tourism by granting concessions on the islands in the Gulf of Nicoya for up to 35 years.
In order to promote the social, economic and ecotourism development of the islands in Costa Rica's Gulf of Nicoya, a bill presented recently to the country's congress recommends establishing concessions to be awarded as a priority to Costa Rican's living on the islands in possession of the appropriate papers and permits from the local municipal government.
Central America showcased itself as a sustainable tourist destination at the International Tourism Board fair.
The region exhibited its tourism offer by focusing on the protection of the environment.
EFE quoted Allan Flores, Costa Rican Tourism vice minister, as saying: "tourism sustainability certificates are good for the sector and help in mitigating the effects of climate change".
Starting with its name, Nature Air, the Costa Rican airline is an example of skill in the marketing of its strength as an ecological flagship.
Since 2004, the company has been offsetting its carbon emissions by contributing cash to the National Forestry Financing Fund of Costa Rica for the protection of over 200 hectares of native forest on the Osa Peninsula. The company also conducts all of its air and ground operations through processes that minimize the ecological impact of the activities.
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