Tourism promoters from all around the globe are meeting in Costa Rica

San Jose._ Tourism promoters hailing from America and Europe are meeting since last Tuesday in Costa Rica’s major tradeshow –Expotur- with a view to acquire travel packages for their customers all over the world.

Some 115 purchasing companies, especially from the U.S., will see with the attending 262 sales firms –mostly from Costa Rica- what their chances are to either start out or enhance operations in that Central American country.

Talks on airfares, lodging, tours, car rental, cultural attractions and entertainment will be pivotal in the course of this meeting.

Salespeople from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia and other Latin American nations are looking forward to striking deals with representatives from U.S., Canadian, Mexican, Chilean, Brazilian and European wholesalers.

“The main objective here is to conduct negotiations for 10-year terms or longer with airlines and promoters, so as to keep tourism’ development on a steady basis,” minister of tourism Ruben Pacheco said.

Mr. Pacheco went on to say top efforts will be focused on luring American visitors, a country now catering over 50% of tourists to Costa Rica.

However, he announced promotion in the Latin American market –mainly in Central America and Mexico- will also be beefed up since those segments had been somewhat neglected up to now.

William Rodriguez, chairman of the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (ACOPROT) pointed out yearly purchases made by those companies attending the tradeshow reach $873 million and the goal in mind is to nab at least 10% of that total.

“If we manage to capture 10% of that gross investment in this meeting, we’ll make $87 million in profits. If we snatch 15% -something quite feasible- Expotur will generate $131 million,” he concluded.

Mr. Pacheco and Mr. Rodriguez stressed on the need to open new flights to more cities to lure more visitors and strengthen those outlets that already have direct routes. Expot