Centroamerica Sees Unprecented Increase In Visitors From Europe
NOVEMBER 11, 2005. The Central American Tourist Council has announced that visitors from Europe to the region have increased by 21.4 per-cent in 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.
Figures from the latest survey carried out by the World Travel Organization (www.world-tourism.org) show that Centroamerica has experienced the biggest increase in visitors globally during the first seven months of 2005. The sub-region has seen a growth of international visitors of 15 per cent, followed by North East Asia (12 per cent) and South America (10 per cent).
A total of 71067 tourists from the UK visited the region last year which is formed of seven countries - Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Centroamerica was founded in December 2002 with the aim of increasing awareness of the region and promoting it to visitors from markets including the UK. The number of world tourists who visited the region during 2004 was of in excess of five million, with more than 20% percent of these originating from European and Asian countries.
Angela San Miguel, Centroamerica's new managing director said "We believe that the growth in British visitors last year and during 2005 is due to the fantastic variety of holiday and leisure choices available across our seven countries. The UK is a very sophisticated market and we have a great deal to offer such as adventure-sports, birdwatching and religious and archaeological trails"
"We are planning a series of activities for tour operators, agencies and Airlines during 2006 in the UK and Europe, and we look to increase the level of media activity in the region as there is a huge demand from people wanting to know more about Centroamerica".
At WTM, Centroamerica is being represented by tourism ministers from five of the member countries - as well as hotel groups and tours operators.
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