Nicaragua reaps big travel bucks

Nicaragua’s leisure industry churned out $150 million in 2003 thanks to the coming of half a million travelers for a walloping $34 million spike from 2002, thus underlining its role as the country’s top source of hard-currency revenues, the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute (INTUR) reported.

The institution’s stats reveal the local travel industry has way outnumbered the six-digit figures made by such commodities as coffee, mutton, lobster, raw gold and peanuts from the list of the nation’s top twenty exportable items.

INTUR’s chief of promotion and marketing Raul Calvet explained such a favorable trend stems from the cultural scope of tourism, now embracing Nicaragua’s history, traditions and the environment.

”Tourism is no longer seen as a sun-and-beach choice only, and there’s great enthusiasm everywhere to promote its development,” Mr. Calvet was quoted as saying.

The Nicaraguan tourism official foresees good numbers for 2004 and up to $180 million worth of earnings because “INTUR banks now on more funds for the promotion of tourism in the country and there’re clear signs of economic recovery in its top markets like the United States, Germany, the U.K., Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador,” Mr. Calvet concluded.