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 Costa Rica, 5% of people who show interest in traveling are attracted by adventure tourism, and about 40% of them are between 21 and 30 years old, and have a high level of purchasing power.
An analysis of consumerinterests and preferences in Costa Rica, compiled by CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence Unit, provides interesting results on the characteristics of people who express an interest in travel. [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics]
After nearly 100,000 Mexican tourists visited Costa Rica in 2018, this year the authorities plan to intensify the country's promotion in Mexico's main cities.
According to the latest estimates, this year about 508,000 Mexicans would be considering vacationing in Costa Rica.
Visits by foreigners to undergo medical procedures in Costa Rica last year generated $437 million, 5% more than was registered in 2016.
According to figures from the Central Bank of Costa Rica, medical tourismrevenues have shown sustained growth, as in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there were reports of increases in relation to each of the preceding years of 9%, 16% and 5% respectively.
This year Costa Rica will focus on consolidating itself as a global destination, of a potential market of approximately 9 million tourists.
Global promotion to position Costa Rica as a destination will begin in 2018. According to data from the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT), the average tourist who visits the country spends 18 nights and spends $3,200, and in addition, prefers small lodgings, local food and crafts.
Businessmen from the Panamanian tourist sector welcome the arrival of Air China flights in March 2018, but consider it will be a challenge to attract a type of tourist that seems to prefer very different destinations than those offered by Central America.
In a region which for many years has specialized in serving North American tourists and more recently Europeans, preparing to provide the attention demanded by tourists from China will be a challenge, according to the Panamanian tourism entrepreneurs themselves.
An environmental impact study has been submitted for construction of a treatment and curative care center in a hot springs area in La Fortuna, Alajuela.
Data from the interactive platform "Construction in Central America" compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData indicates that Ganadera Manoa de la Fortuna S.A. submitted an Environmental Impact Study (EIA) in August to the Setena to develop, in the district of La Fortuna, province of Alajuela, a medical tourism project.
During the event held in Panama, more than 1,800 business appointments took place between international wholesale buyers and tourism companies in the region.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama:
(Panama, May 29, 2017).EXPO TURISMO INTERNACIONAL 2017 received 11,960 visitors interested in the supply of tourism in Panama and the region, exceeding expectations for this year, announced the Organizing Committee of EXPO TURISMO INTERNACIONAL.
The union of Nicaraguan businessmen has reported that airlines may be interested in establishing flights between Costa Rica and the touristic city of Granada in Nicaragua.
The President of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), José Adán Aguerri, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that the airlines who may be interested are carrying out an evaluation process and are review of the subject.
The average european tourist plans trips less than a year in advance and searches and books tour packages via the internet, without using intermediaries.
A study by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute to identify best prospectsfound that"... generally Europeans decide on their holiday destination less than a year in advance and in most cases organize their trips independently i.e., without using intermediaries. It was also found that the most used methods of finding information include recommendations from friends, search engines and online travel agencies and websites promoting the destinations.
From May 26 to 27, 170 wholesalers from Europe, and North and South America will be meeting with Central American tourism companies to explore business opportunities.
Arguing that they would "give muscle" to the state in managing the sector, a proposal has been made to add a Ministry of Tourism to the current Costa Rican Tourism Institute, a move which has been firmly opposed by employers.
The private sector is concerned that the proposed bill to create a Ministry of Tourism to operate alongside the current Institute of Tourism, will mean that State funds that are used to promote the country as a tourist destination will be diverted.
Panama received 2.5 million tourists in 2015 and double the amount of foreign income received by Costa Rica from the 2.6 million who visited that country in the same year.
The number of tourists who went to Panama in 2015 exceeded by 10.7% the amount recorded in 2014, according to the Tourism Authority of Panama.
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