In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Anasha Campbell, Minister of Tourism of Nicaragua.
What expectations do you have at the event?
Our expectations are very high, always positive. The United Kingdom has been one of the main markets for tourists from Europe after Germany. We are very happy to be present again, as it is one of the largest fairs in Europe and in the tourism industry worldwide.
On this occasion, we are at the Central American stand because we also work to promote regional multi-destination, especially in these long-distance markets, where visitors want to visit at least 2 or 3 countries in one trip. So we are with all our Central American brothers promoting not only Nicaragua, but the entire Central American region.
It's November. It's a good time to take stock of what's happened this year. Also, what do you expect for next year?
So far, the tourism sector has been recovering. We have already reached around 87% of the figures for 2019, that is, before the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a year of many achievements, many victories, we believe that we will close 2024 with positive figures as well, compared to last year, in which there was also quite interesting growth and where we saw greater growth in terms of foreign currency than in tourist arrivals. That is, in 2023 we achieved around 749 million dollars that tourism contributed to our economy, which exceeded the figures for 2019.
So we hope to close this year on a positive note. Obviously, for us, November and December are the high season when we see a greater influx of visitors to the country and for next year our goal is not only to reach the figures of 2019, in which we received 1.2 million, but to reach the figure of 2017, which was the historic year in which we reached 1.7 million tourists.
If you had to recommend 3 destinations in Nicaragua that no one should miss, which would they be?
It is complicated because Nicaragua is a country with a very diverse tourist offer. So it will depend on the taste of our visitors, but to mention 3 of the most visited destinations or those that most captivate tourists who come to Nicaragua, I would have to say Granada first.
Granada is a heritage city with very well-preserved colonial architecture. In fact, this year we are celebrating its 500th anniversary. It combines the theme of colonial architecture with an impressive natural wealth. It has not only the Mombacho volcano, from where there is a panoramic view of the city, but also the 365 islets in the great lake of Nicaragua, the largest in Central America and the only one in the world where freshwater sharks nest.
But in addition to that, there is Zapatera Island, where some life-size pre-Columbian statuettes were found, which are very well preserved. You can enjoy this at the San Francisco Convent Museum, where it is on permanent display.
The second recommendation would be the Surf Mecca of San Juan del Sur, which I would combine with Ometepe. San Juan del Sur is a sun and beach destination par excellence in the Nicaraguan Pacific, and combines the surf theme with impressive sunsets with spectacular views from the Cristo de Redentor de San Juan del Sur or the Cristo de la Misericordia.
It is also one of the places where turtles nest en masse. In Nicaragua we have 5 of the 7 species of turtles and in San Juan del Sur there is the La Flor Wildlife Reserve where tourists enjoy seeing this spectacle of nature. Then, Ometepe is the largest island within a freshwater lake formed by two volcanoes, the Concepción and Maderas volcanoes. It is a biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO and also brings together an impressive natural wealth with a variety of climates. But it also has quite interesting pre-Columbian archaeological cultural vestiges.
So there you can enjoy not only the Punta Jesús María, but also the spring, which is a place with pure waters that flow and look like a natural pool. On the other hand, there are two museums on the island that are well visited by tourists, but there is also the adrenaline activity of being able to climb the volcanoes.
In addition, I would have to include Corn Island in the top 3, which is an island in the Caribbean Sea made up of two surrounding islands with a total of 13 square kilometers. It has sun and a white sand beach, with a turquoise sea, and also a multi-ethnic population that offers the possibility of enjoying a cuisine that is a little different from that of the Pacific. There, coconut milk, seafood and spicy food are interesting.
So, I recommend Granada, San Juan del Sur and Corn Island in that order, although Nicaragua offers much more, because it is the largest country in terms of territorial extension in the Central American region, with around 130,000 square kilometers.
We are 6.5 million people with 834 kilometers of coastline, both in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific zone the sand is of volcanic origin, while in the Caribbean it is white sand. 50% of the territory is a protected area with four Biosphere reserves, three of which have already been recognized by UNESCO. The only geopark in the Central American region is in Nicaragua. Around 8% of the world's biodiversity is in our country, with 26 volcanoes, 7 of which are active.
We are a multiethnic, multicultural country where you will find different groups, each with its own gastronomy and language. 50% of the territory is Caribbean. We have two autonomous regions where, if you go to the South Caribbean, for example, you will hear people speaking an English that we call Creole English, while in the North Caribbean you will hear an indigenous language called Misquito, although our official language is Spanish.
Our Constitution also recognizes all Caribbean languages as official languages in our territory. This ethnic mix and variety makes Nicaraguan cuisine one of the things that our visitors like the most, due to the indigenous heritage mixed with European and Afro-Caribbean influence. So, while in the Pacific the cuisine is based on corn, in the Caribbean it is based on coconut milk and seafood.
Furthermore, it is a place where people can interact with nature, but also see the culture that lives in every corner of the country, with many cultural celebrations and heritage festivals. However, our star product is always the people. Nicaraguans welcome their visitors with a big smile, and are known for being hospitable and making visitors feel at home.
With such a wide variety of offers, what programs do you recommend to international tourists or what is the average number of nights that tourists stay?
The average stay for tourists is 10 days. Nicaragua is not only the safest country in Central America, but it also has the best roads in the region. So it is very easy for a visitor to move from a sun and beach destination on the Pacific to a heritage city like Granada, go climbing a volcano or go to the north of the country and enjoy the mountains, a slightly cooler climate, or even go to the Caribbean and get to know this multiethnic, multilingual and multicultural Nicaragua.
To get from Managua to Bluefields, which is the capital of the South Caribbean, we are talking about 6 hours by car. And to go to the North Caribbean, which is perhaps the furthest from the capital, it is around 8 hours. Doing a variety of activities in a short time is possible because of the highways, which allow you to move very quickly from one destination to another.
For the most complete vacation possible, 15 days would be enough, but with 10 days a tourist can cover quite a lot and get to know a good part of Nicaragua.
Our international airport is located in Managua, which is the capital. And from there, you can travel all over the country. If you go, for example, from Managua to San Juan del Sur, it is about 2 and a half hours. It is also a 2-hour drive from Managua to León, which is another heritage city with a colonial architecture that is a little different from that of Granada, because in León it is more baroque.
In León we have two World Heritage sites. The ruins of León Viejo, which is where the city was initially founded, but which was moved to where it is currently located following a volcanic eruption, and the Cathedral of León, which is the largest in Central America, with impressive architecture, and where there is also a lot of history. The remains of our famous poet Rubén Darío are found there, but it also offers not only the possibility of entering and seeing the beauty of the Cathedral, but also going to the roof of the Cathedral and having a spectacular view of everything that is the volcanic corridor of Nicaragua and the city itself.
From Managua to the north of the country, it is approximately 3 or 4 hours by car due to traffic. In Nueva Segovia you will find the Río Coco geopark and the best coffee in Nicaragua. There, the Coffee Tour and Tobacco Tour are offered. And for the Caribbean, it is 6 hours from Managua to Bluefields and around 8 hours from Managua to Bilwi.
In the center of the country, Boaco and Chontale are characterized by agrotourism, because it is a purely livestock-raising area. So the tourist can have that experience by seeing the ways of life of people in rural areas. In most cases they have their farms and their cattle. Nicaragua also exports meat, as well as milk, cheese or cream. Then we have the San Juan River, which is the ideal area for nature lovers. There you will find a variety of flora and fauna, both day and night.
This is a general overview of what Nicaragua offers to tourists. I truly believe that if one is looking for authentic and original experiences, this is the destination. We are not a mass tourist destination, nor do we want to be. We really want to preserve and conserve not only the natural beauty, but also our cultural heritage. And for that reason, we are not interested in mass tourism, but rather in visitors having authentic, unique and original experiences when they visit Nicaragua.
We have traveled all over the country. I imagine that many people work in the tourism industry. How much does this industry represent for the country's GDP?
For us, tourism represents 5% of our Gross Domestic Product, which means that it has an important weight in the economy, not only because of the generation of foreign currency, but precisely because of the generation of jobs. And because for us, tourism is seen within the framework of our National Plan to Fight Poverty and for Human Development, as a tool or a source that contributes to improving the quality of life of our population in terms of jobs.
In reality, what we have in the tourism sector are companies that are registered. I make this distinction because there are many companies that operate illegally or informally, so those jobs are not counted, but according to our data, tourism generates more than 50,000 direct jobs and there are international studies that show that for every direct job generated by tourism, there are 3 more indirect jobs.
What do you foresee for the future of tourism in your country?
I believe that in recent years tourism has gained momentum and a rather impressive dynamism. And the sector has also been given priority, because before 2007 in Nicaragua only agriculture and livestock were seen as the main sources of job creation. But since then, the Government has been prioritizing the tourism sector because it has been seen that it contributes to the fight against poverty and, in our particular case, more than 90% of our industry is in the hands of tourism SMEs, micro, small and medium-sized companies. In other words, it is Nicaraguan families that are offering a service and a product. Most of our hotels are boutique hotels, that is, they are not large international or multinational resorts where all the profits go outside the country, but rather it is really Nicaraguan families.
I think that interaction with the population is one of the things that visitors value. There are some destinations that are perhaps more developed in terms of infrastructure, but when you go, you are in an all-inclusive, you don't leave there and you don't have that interaction with the people. In our case it is the opposite, it is where people can really interact with the people, learn about their way of life, culture and traditions.