The arrival of foreigners in 2007 reached 903 million which reflects a growth of 6% (or 52 million more) compared to 2006 according to the figures of the World Tourism Organization (WTO). Europe ranked first place by obtaining 54% (484 million visitors) followed by Pacific Asia with 20% (184 million) and America which ranked third place with 16% (143 million). At a glance, these figures reflect that each market is trying to obtain the highest number of tourists; in the case of Central America, the need of tourist integration has been proposed.
Therefore, there are other destinations and multi-destinations that are working, that are also integrating to compete on the tourist training which main purpose is to bring tourists to Central America like Europeans¨, said Jaime Campuzano, President of the Cámara de Turismo, (Camtur) [Tourism Chamber] and the president of the Federación de Camáras de Turismo de Centro América (Fedecatur) [Chamber Federation of Tourism of Central America]. This panorama creates the need to accelerate and strengthen this integration which idea is to be more attractive and dynamic by offering a product since for 2020 they will not be 900 million tourists instead it will be 1.300 million tourists.
¨We are competing at a global level with other destinations that design their own strategies¨, said Campuzano. The Executive pointed out that the countries of the region (Panamá, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Dominican Republic) must continue reinforcing the presence of Central America in Europe since there is a lot to do, considering that the lack of higher budgets limits the promotion of the region.
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Integration Actor |
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In the last years, tourist companies have consolidated as a progress and development generator, but as a private company there is a bigger challenge and that is to generate and perform a stronger role on tourism and promote social responsibility. Tourism is the one there for people, family, community, the country and the whole world that respects the environment and seeks to achieve an understanding among the economies of the less developed countries. Tourism according to the WTO will help face the challenges of a climate change, poverty reduction and will protect and improve the future opportunities as well.
¨We are talking about a quality pact, quality life of populations¨ said Campuzano. Tourism is an employment opportunity for women, indigenous communities and young people of limited resources; this is the case that the Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT) [Panamanian Institute of Tourism] which recently integrated a group of young people from the community, helping them to become tourist guides. These are issues that help tourist integration in each country and Central America.
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The Caribbean |
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Up to 1970 in the Dominican Republic, there were 2.000 rooms, but in 2007 there were 64.868 rooms which reflected a sustainable growth in almost all regions of this country. The number of tourists expected for 2008 in the Dominican Republic is of 4.000.000, which mainly comes from United States, Canada, France, and Germany among others. However, the challenge of this Caribbean country is to increase the entrance of tourists from Central and South America.
Luis López, president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Dominican Republic (Asanahores) explained that the entrance of foreign currency estimated for 2008 is US$4.300 million which represents 6.9% of participation on the Gross Domestic Product of this Caribbean island. Today, tourism generates 500.00 employments and for 2015 is projected to reach an inflow of 800.00 foreign currency equivalents to US$14.000 million. Dominican Republic has developed positive aspects like adapting its legislation, a free migration regimen, economical stability among others. Nevertheless, they have recognized that they have failed on tourist infrastructure, efficient basic services, territorial arrangement, human resource training and the integration of communities.
In 2007, the Dominican Republic both the public and the private sector launched a national plan of tourist competiveness that searches for keeping competitiveness on sustainable investment, on human resource training, an integration with national productive sectors and with communities in order to improve their life quality. López said that if Central America is interested in reaching a tourist development, it’s important to consider some tourist pillars such as: Infrastructure, territorial arrangement, personnel or human resource, security and public health, as well as, the integration of communities based on ¨all inclusive¨ tourism, from small stores far away from tourist zones to bigger projects.
The executive made some considerations about how to integrate the existing difficulties in Central America like the distance and the need of building highways that can connect the whole region; since to go to one country to another a plane must be taken. He also suggests promoting purchases between Dominican Republic and Central America since the tourist industry consumes around US$ 600 million on agricultural products. A basic aspect to reach integration is to settle migration agreements in order to facilitate tourist procedures; likewise it presents a joint promotion plan for Central America, the Caribbean, Russia, India, Japan and China.
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Sherly Díaz / The Panama Post
sherly.diaz@rimolamedios.com |
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