The rise of the Internet as a means of organizing and booking travel is generating headaches for companies in the sector, which agree that the strategy should be to focus on marketing complete packages in very specific market niches.
The difficult financial situation that the agency Viajes Colon is going through in Costa Rica is just one example of the problems that have affected travel agencies for several years.
Salvadoran authorities estimate that the income left by tourists who visited the country last year reached $1.777 billion, 16% more than that registered in 2018.
Estimates made by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) indicate that between 2018 and 2019 the number of tourists visiting El Salvador increased by nearly 4% from 2.5 million to 2.6 million.
Taking measures to reactivate the productive sectors, make better use of public-private partnerships and boost tourism is part of what the private sector expects from the Panamanian government in the coming year.
Six months before the Cortizo administration takes office, Panama's business sector is asking it to make the decisions the economy needs to be able to continue on the path of development, and above all, not to lose competitiveness both domestically and in relation to its peers in the region, and to be able to continue to attract foreign investment.
In the 2019 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala fell back in the ranking, while the Dominican Republic was the only country that improved.
According to the report prepared by the World Economic Forum, during 2019 Costa Rica ranked 41 out of 140 countries. It was followed by Panama at box 47, the Dominican Republic at 73, Nicaragua at 91, Honduras at 94, Guatemala at 99 and El Salvador at 108.
In order to maintain the growth rate achieved last year in the number of visitors, government and business sector face challenges in terms of security, tourism supply, quality standards, among others.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism detail that generally, 2018 was a good year for tourism activity in the country.
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."
From May 24-25, 160 wholesalers from Europe, North America and South America will meet at the ATLAPA Convention Center, with tourism companies from the region to explore business opportunities.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama and the Chamber of Tourism of Panama with the support of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), organize the 10th version of International EXPO TOURISM to be held in Panama City.
It is estimated that more than a thousand events of all kinds are held annually in El Salvador, generating an economic output of around $100 million.
In 2018, five fairs and more than 1,063 private events of all kinds were held just at the Centro de Ferias y Convenciones (Cifco), for which the center budgeted around $11 million for activities.
Last year, the daily average expenditure of tourists decreased 8% over 2017, but the average stay increased from 6.2 to 7.5 nights.
In 2018, every tourist who visited the country spent an average of $113 per day, slightly below the $123 reported as average daily spending in 2017. This decrease was offset by the increase in the average stay, resulting in a total of $1.532 million generated by this activity throughout the year.
Of the $91 million invested in tourism projects in El Salvador during 2018, 87% went to finance private works and 13% to public infrastructure.
The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) reported that among the projects with private investment are works located in the Ruta de las Flores with an approximate investment of $6.27 million, in El Tunco beach with $3.8 million, in Boquerón $1.36 million and in the Ruta Fresca $1.8 million.
In 2018, the number of international tourists who arrived in the countries of the region fell 2% compared to 2017, in contrast to the increases of 4% and 3% recorded in North and South America, respectively.
According to the report of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) presented on January 21, the results recorded last year in Central America are partly because of behavior in some countries, as in the cases of Panama and Nicaragua were recorded declines in tourism.
After reporting a 16% year-on-year increase in revenues generated by this sector in El Salvador in 2018, a 13% growth is expected for this year.
According to authorities of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) for this year is expected that more than 2.6 million tourists visit El Salvador, representing a 6.2% increase over what was reported in 2018.
During the last year, the country's income from foreign tourism reached $1.473 million, 16% more than in 2017.
Regarding the number of tourists who arrived in El Salvador, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), reported that between 2017 and 2018 the figure increased 13%, rising from 2.2 million to 2.5 million.
It is estimated that the year will close with a 12% increase in the foreign exchange generated by the sector, and the number of tourists who arrived in the country will increase by 13%.
According to the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), the foreign exchange generated in 2018 will reach $1.417 million, 12.7% more than what was reported in 2017. In the case of the number of visitors, at the end of the year it is estimated that the figure will reach 2,532,033, almost 13% more than the previous period.
The agreement between the Salvadoran and Canadian governments is intended to promote new airline routes from both countries.
The agreement to ease trade and tourism between the two nations was signed in Canada's capital by Canadian minister Marc Garneau and El Salvador's ambassador in Canada, Tania Molina Avalos.
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