Agritourism
in Central America
Monday, April 16, 2012
In coffee plantations additional business are appearing such as restaurants or hotels which add value to the properties and enables growers to face the bad times of low prices of grain.
For over 5 years, many coffee plantations have gone beyond the traditional cultivation and sale of grain, with owners opening small businesses to obtain additional income or to publicize the quality of their main product.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Authorities and entrepreneurs have come together to launch a service guide for tour operators, restaurants, small hotels, adventure tourism companies and others.
The aim of the document prepared by the National Institute of Tourism and the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation (CORSATUR) is to increase the competitiveness of the local tourism industry.
The guide sets out 10 quality standards for tourism, eight of which have already been published in Diario Oficial. In its 236 pages, the document breaks down quality standards for services for tour guides, tour operators, restaurants, small hotels, adventure tourism companies and others.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A study by Fundes sees a potential for promoting rural tourism in tilapia farms in El Salvador.
The project by Fundes El Salvador propose the idea that rural tourism could push forward the development of aquaculture in the country and revive local economies (Fundes is an NGO that supports the development of small businesses as an alternative to poverty).
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Intur, with the support of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, has announced new investments to develop the second phase of the ‘Ruta del Café’ (Coffee Route).
The departments that make up the ‘Ruta del Café’ are Jinotega, Matagalpa, Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
There are 26 Cuban, North American and Nicaraguan owned tobacco factories in the country's cooler north west that together account for more than half national production.
Nicaragua's Institute for Tourism (Intur), in its search for ways to broaden the country's appeal, is looking into the idea of creating a "Tobacco Route" in the north of the country, around Estelí, on the basis that for a select group of visitors to Nicaragua, tobacco is considered a delicacy.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The bill being presented seeks to promote rural community tourism by granting concessions on the islands in the Gulf of Nicoya for up to 35 years.
In order to promote the social, economic and ecotourism development of the islands in Costa Rica's Gulf of Nicoya, a bill presented recently to the country's congress recommends establishing concessions to be awarded as a priority to Costa Rican's living on the islands in possession of the appropriate papers and permits from the local municipal government.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Export Promotion Fund of Colombia will advise on the creation and design of touristic coffee farms in El Salvador.
The announcement was made by the Colombian president as part of the inauguration of Tourism Showcase XXX, orgnized by the National Association of Travel and Tourism of Colombia.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The campaign, with a $ 7.2 million investment, is to support Ometepe's tourist related MSMEs and agritourism farms.
The project will begin next January and will start with the refurbishment of the first farms of the 90 included on the project. These will be ready to welcome tourists by May 2011.
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Law on Development of Rural Community Tourism regulates procedures for companies in order to be eligible for tax exemptions, among other incentives.
With the publication of this Law in the Official Newspaper, the 250 Costa Rican companies dedicated to community-based tourism can initiate the process to choose a system of incentives and exemptions under Act 8724, in force since November 2009, designate rural community tourism activities as follows:
Friday, August 27, 2010
Between January and July growth of 5% was reported in rural community tourism.
The 90 farms that are part of Nicaragua's Agro-tourism Farms initiative have reported an increase in tourist numbers, comments Harold Ramos Orozco, president of Nicaraguan Rural Community Tourism Network (Renitural in Spanish).
Monday, August 9, 2010
Luxemburg has announced the donation to go towards developing tourism in the north of the country.
The first phase of the program began in 2007 with an investment of $5.2 million in financial and logistical assistance aimed at increasing the number of tourists visiting the northern area of Nicaragua known as the Ruta del Café ("Coffee Route"). This stage is due to finish this year.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The first National Rural and Community Conference is to be held with the aim of contributing to the development of rural communities.
The event, organised by the Tourism Ministry (Mitur) will bring together various communities to present their tourism products.
Rita Cartagena, Mitur’s head of territorial development, told Laprensagrafica.com that the conference hopes to raise the local and international profile of the huge variety of activities possible.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The legislative passed an Electronic Signature bill, which will ease international transactions.
This bill explains that technically, electronic signatures are “electronically integrated data, which form a message or are associated with other data”.
José Pallais, President of the Justice Committee, explained that “it will ease electronic commerce; there won’t be a need for physical invoices, just electronic ones.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Inspired by Gites de France, the Rural Inn Network looks for 50 members in the short term.
This is a new business option for those who own land or country houses. It is expected to reactivate local economies and foster tourism.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The marketing plan proposed by the Government seeks to increase the number of visitors in 13%.
Ericka Guillermo, from the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, explained they will invest in advertising campaigns, events and promotional fairs, as well as market research.