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ITB Berlin

Central America delighted with growth in European tourism

In 2012, Central America reported a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in arrivals, more than any other region in the Americas. These are the initial findings of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Over the last decade tourist numbers visiting the seven small countries of Central America have risen significantly, almost doubling to 12 million, including border crossings. Visitors nowadays are no longer just from North and South America.

Pilar Cano is delighted with the recent surge in visitors from Europe. She is President of the Madrid-based Central America Tourism Agency (CATA/Agencia de PromocionTuristica de Centroamerica). Commenting at ITB Berlin, she said: “Visitors from Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia and many other European countries stay for longer periods, about two weeks.“ They spend more per head than visitors from North and South America. Traditionally, most of the tourists visiting the “seven dwarfs” have been from the US and neighbouring countries. Spain leads the rankings for European arrivals, followed by Germany, the UK, France and Italy.

One reason for this increase is better flight connections. “Iberia now operates routes to four Central American capitals – San Jose, Panama City, Guatemala City and San Salvador“, says Pilar Cano. Condor, Air France and KLM are also happy to report high bookings.

In 2012, Central America reported a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in arrivals, more than any other region in the Americas. These are the initial findings of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). According to these figures, around 8.751 million tourists came to see the tourist attractions and World Cultural Heritage sites of these seven small countries. CATA statistics, which contain more data, actually quote visitor growth as being 3 million. Around 10 per cent of tourists come from Europe.

Costa Rica remains “top of the class“. This is a country without an army, one that is comparatively safe, has an educated population and offers major attractions for eco-tourists. According to CATA figures, in 2012 around 2.6 million tourists visited Costa Rica, of whom more than 300,000 came from Europe. Panama has taken over Guatemala’s second spot. It is followed by Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and the small country of Belize.

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