| Tourism Investment and Expectations Are Growing May 9, 2007 Nicaragua's rapidly expanding tourism industry is expected to grow an additional 15% per year under the new administration, predicts Nicaragua Tourism Director Marino Salinas. In a proposal that was presented to President Daniel Ortega last week, Salinas calls for a $500 million investment over the next five years to attract more visitors, which is seen as the best hope for boosting the economy. The proposed budget is substantially up from the $2 million that Nicaragua spent on tourism development last year, but Salinas said the funds will come from a mixture of government and private sources. The money will support a range of infrastructure improvements, including new airports along the hard to reach Atlantic coast and better paved roads to connect Managua and Granada to the well-traveled beaches on the Pacific side. Salinas said the tourism board is also intensifying its publicity efforts to promote a wide variety of attractions throughout the country. Already, the board has created special routes to help travelers feel more at home if they decide to step off the beaten path. The "Ruta de Café," for example, weaves its way through the many picturesque coffee farms in the beautiful and temperate foothills to the north. Nicaraguan has joined together with the Luxemburg government to help finance small businesses and hotels along the route, where visitors can relax and see firsthand how world-famous coffee is made. There's even a tourist route to learn about Nicaragua's national hero, Augusto Sandino, and how he inspired the Sandinista revolution. Such routes are not expected to replace Nicaragua's main attractions, but they offer a compliment to the white beaches and colonial cities that have made tourism a major driver of Nicaragua's economy. Salinas proposes doubling the number of hotel rooms to accommodate the influx of visitors. Indeed, President Daniel Ortega sees greater tourism potential now that the country is openly allied with such leftist countries as Cuba and Venezuela-as well as the United States and Europe. Last year, 773,000 tourists visited Nicaragua, setting a new record. Although April and May are usually considered slow months for visitors, local hotels and restaurants are reporting brisk business. Your Latin America Insider, Suzan Haskins P.S. If you've ever thought about starting an import/export business, now is your chance to do more than think about it. International Living will host an Import/Export Conference in Nicaragua, July 11-14. Learn how to travel and make money at the same time. Kickstart your life here. | |
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