IN the process of expanding the “Industry without Chimneys” it is essential to count on the support of all sectors to meet the goal that is so necessary to bring about the desired social and economic development of our nations.
Nicaragua has lately been mentioned in International Living, Yahoo Travel, the Travel Channel, and several major US newspapers. It has even garnered a spot as “The World’s Best Retirement Secret”.
Nicaragua is situated in a very coveted location for retirement and ecotourism. According to the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America, and one of the safest in the world. Its crime rate is comparable to those of Germany, France, and the United States. We are ready to create, to combine efforts, and to present our Nicaragua to the world offering equitable and sustainable tourism for all. Until now, our country’s tourism has generated $239 million, with 770 visitors in 2006.
How and Where to Promote Sustainable Alternative Tourism?
Among the optimal places to promote our tourism is in our neighboring countries where we can combine efforts to promote more the entire region of Central America as a unique destination in the world. Unifying our borders and reactivating customs at ports of entry will make the entire region more tempting.
Ethnic-Nostalgic Tourism: initiate both domesticallyt and internationally. There are many Nicaraguans living abroad with progeny who don’t know their roots, and who have the spending power not only to enjoy tourism, but to invest as well. An example of potential course of action: canalizing the substantial remittances so that investing offers gains in return.
Combining efforts both domestically and internationally with other sectors: Commerce, Investments, and Culture. Creating “clusters” of support from diplomatic offices of our country by direct connections with a central connection in Nicaragua. In this network, tourism will be promoted and advanced training courses would be given, including programs of financing and possible economic alliances strategic to encourage the projects. When forming these "clusters" or centers of alliances allover the country, at beaches, in the mountains, and in the countryside, we will contribute to the development of our country socially, economically and culturally.
Sustainable Ecotourism: Conservation of the natural resources and maintenance of the ecosystems, which would catch many investors interested in the protection to the environment and therefore to contribute to the maintenance of natural reserves: whale-watching, turtle- preservation, and sustainable use of all our natural resources. In this observation we could unite efforts with MARENA.
TO FIGHT POVERTY
Promote and execute programs of development of social-equitable and sustainable tourism in rural areas and by doing this, reactivate these areas socioeconomically. It is necessary to promote and invite national investors in addition to international investors to contribute to fighting poverty and unemployment by providing socioeconomic development programs for the communities: schools, health centers, training programs, and all other sorts of necessities. Optimal results will be generated in communities with active participation, and will manifest themselves in a more even distribution for all. For example, the construction of a hotel in certain rural area would create a need for, among other services, workers for the construction, and the product supply for the guests of the hotel, including vegetables and seafood. These goods, which could be generated in the area, would be a way of contributing to the social and economic development of this sector.
Retiring Baby Boomers, domestic and international, residing abroad; promoting Nicaragua as a residence year-round or part-time.
Cultural tourism is most clearly seen in Europe, for example in Italy, which is rich in art, culture, and history. We can take this model and gradually develop cultural tourism by preserving the historical patrimony, through, among others, monasteries, churches, folkloric dance, arts and crafts, etc.
Agricultural tourism: pride in national history of coffee cultivation, as well as other typical Nicaraguan products: pitahaya, cotton, etc.
Organize development programs for small and medium businesses by menas of promoting tourism showcasing investments balanced with cultural/ ethnic products: arts and crafts, piñatas, cajeta (Nicaraguan candy), and other products.
The ultimate aim is that tourism becomes more than that, that it become a way to showcase our culture for appreciation, while at the same time improving lives of citizens. Also, to give the opportunity to our international friends to give significant contributions to socioeconomic development of our nation.
To stimulate the investments and therefore the economy of a country, the tourism and the commercial sectors should supplement what the citizens aim for, just like the culture with which their joint promotion is a captive tool to promote the "Industry without Chimneys".
We must unite to use our natural resources judiciously with the contributions of our society to obtain an equitable social tourism where everyone benefits.
We may observe that etymologically, the word tourism comes from the word "tour", word that English took from French "tour" with the meaning of "trip in circle" or "roundtrip journey" and that simultaneously comes from the Latin verb "will return" which means to return, to turn, etc. Indeed, we hope this meaning holds true for Nicaragua, and that people come back again and again
