NEWS
ECUADOR: ‘WE ARE BACK UP AND RUNNING’ Tom Parry, senior reporter
Ecuador (LA150) has insisted it is “working very hard” to attract tourists back following a period of political unrest in the country, estimated to have cost the country’s tourism sector about $5 million a day. The South American nation endured
nearly two weeks of protests over a disputed austerity package in October, which saw a number of citizens killed in violent clashes. Ecuador’s president, Lenin Moreno,
recently struck a deal with indigenous leaders to end the tensions – centred around the proposed axing of fuel subsidies – with both sides developing a new government spending programme. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth
Office warned its nationals against all but essential travel for 10 days during the
TOURISM ARRIVALS FOR NICARAGUA ‘RISING RAPIDLY’
Abra Dunsby
Tourism to Nicaragua (LA145) is “recovering very rapidly” following the political unrest and subsequent travel ban by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in April 2018.
protests earlier this month, later relaxing its advice as trouble subsided. Speaking to TTG at WTM London, Patricia Palacios De Naranjo (inset), the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism’s undersecretary of markets, investment and international relations, said the destination was looking to bounce back after tourists in key western markets such as the US and UK cancelled upcoming trips. Naranjo said: “We
are trying all we can to get the message out there that we are now unified, back up and running and things have returned to normal. “There was a high percentage
of cancellations in recent weeks, and I believe it will take a few months for us to return to our
Speaking to TTG at WTM London,
Nicaragua’s minister of tourism, Anasha Campbell, revealed tourism arrival figures were down by 29.7% year-on-year in 2018. However, forward bookings for October to December 2019 were up by 98% compared with 2018. Before the failed political coup and subsequent FCO travel ban, tourism numbers were flourishing, Campbell said. In 2017, the country experienced its “best year” and its 11th year of growth, as well as a surge in tourism numbers of 18.8%. “In the first three months of 2018,
there was a 12.5% growth in tourism arrivals,” she added. The FCO ban was lifted in February
2019 and Campbell said due to a “progressive reactivation of the industry” – which included a “Nicaragua is open” marketing campaign created in association with the Latin American Travel Association (Lata) – the destination hoped to close 2019 with “much better figures than those of 2018”.
05.11.2019 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 11
usual levels, but we will get there.” Naranjo insisted Ecuador was still
“in good shape” to surpass its 2018 international visitor record of 1.5 million (excluding Venezuelan visitors). The destination has been aided this year with a flurry of new airlift including Air France’s Paris-Quito non-stop service, which launched on 27 October, and the upcoming addition of Air Canada Rouge’s
route from Toronto to its capital, beginning on 27 December.
Naranjo said she believed the Ministry of Tourism would
see its 2020 budget increased when government spending was published later this month, and revealed it would also focus on more sustainable and inclusive tourism programmes.
WIN £25K TO REV UP YOUR BRAND
Sherbet London Taxis is offering WTM London attendees the chance to win a £25,000 media campaign including branding on its black cabs. To enter, download the Ride app, set up an account with one of the Sherbet representatives and take a photo on the Sherbet stand (BL8a) to share on social media. The winner will be announced via email at the end of this week.
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