Mara Stotti: "FITUR helps to position Nicaragua on the global tourism map"

How has Nicaragua's tourism industry evolved in 2024?

Nicaragua's tourism industry has been consolidating, offering a diversity of tourism products and attractions for all tastes. We are a non-massive destination with a lot to offer; air connections play a key factor for tourism in our country; we have connections from the United States, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica, which has allowed a total of 81,669 European tourists to visit us in 2024, of which 13,965 were Spanish, with a 7% increase in Spanish tourist arrivals compared to 2023. Likewise, during 2024, the Institute of Tourism has placed value on rural and community tourism, highlighting the activities and traditions of the countryside. For this reason, we have created the First Catalog of Rural and Community Tourism Initiatives, which includes 29 classified initiatives, offering Agrotourism, Rural Tourism, Rural and Community Tourism and Nature Tourism, which are added to the country's tourism offer. 

How important is the tourism industry in Nicaragua's economic development and how does it also contribute to the country's social development?

Tourism plays a very important role in our country’s economic and social development, as it contributes directly to income generation, the creation of jobs and the improvement of the quality of life of families, providing opportunities for women, young people and communities. Year after year, we have seen the opportunities that tourism brings, with the opening of new facilities such as hotels, restaurants, cafés and leisure centres, among others. All these new projects not only strengthen the country's tourism offer, expanding the number of beds or tables, but also create the opportunity for more jobs for Nicaraguan families, boosting the local economy and contributing to the sustainable development of the country. Tourism has been positioning itself as one of the main income generating activities at the national level, remaining among the top five activities. 

What actions are being carried out to promote the country's different tourism segments?

All our actions are based on the National Tourism Promotion Strategy, where we promote tourism with identity, highlighting our culture, traditions, gastronomy, religiosity, natural heritage, and the friendliness of our people, which strengthens local tourism and distinguishes us internationally. We promote our offer nationally and internationally with the strength of a safe country, in peace, friendly people with human warmth, in a model that preserves and values our natural and historical wealth for future generations.

As part of some international actions for the promotion of our country, we have the participation in international tourism fairs, promotional campaigns on different digital platforms, publications in digital media and magazines, participation in destination presentations, advertising on airlines such as Air Europa, and the creation of a dynamic platform available to tourists, where all the information on tourism products, facilities, tourist routes, attractions and main socio-economic activities of each department and region is presented, in order to strengthen and position Nicaragua as an international tourist destination. 

What is the relationship between tourism in Nicaragua and Spain? 

Historically, there has always been a relationship between tourism in the two countries. Spain has been among one of the main countries of the European market that visit us, in 2024 it occupied third place in tourist arrivals to Nicaragua, and so far this year it continues in the same position. For this reason, we continue to carry out promotional activities in the European market and specifically in the Spanish market, through constant work with local agencies, including participation in renowned trade fairs, media coverage, etc., all with the aim of positioning ourselves as one of the preferred destinations and to receive more Spanish tourists this year. 

What does your participation in FITUR mean for the Nicaraguan tourism industry?

Nicaragua’s presence at FITUR is very important to us as it is the first trade fair of the year in Europe, where over the years that we have participated, the interest in discovering the wonders of our country has been noticeable. As well as being a meeting point for potential travellers, specialised media and industry professionals, it has represented an important promotional step, as it has allowed the identification of new strategic alliances with Spanish companies that will help to position Nicaragua on the global tourism map. 

Can you give us a preview of what kind of tourism proposals and attractions will stand out at FITUR 2026?

We have a wide variety of tourist offerings in our country, and the objective is to promote them in an integrated manner, taking advantage of the short distances and the facilities for mobility throughout the national territory. Our tourism products include: sun and beach, adventure, culture, nature, heritage cities and our exquisite gastronomy that accompanies each of them.

Each product has something unique that represents it, for example, for adventure lovers, the experience of sandboarding, the sun and beach, the sunsets, surfing and the majestic Caribbean islands, our typical dishes that vary in each region, as well as the rich culture and traditions, which can be appreciated in every corner you visit. We are the safest country in the region, we have the best roads, we are economically accessible compared to other neighbouring countries. We will be promoting all of this and much more at the next edition of FITUR. 

Is there anything else that you would like to highlight?

We would like to mention two very important projects which are currently being implemented and which will have a great impact on the development of tourism activity, as well as creating conditions for investment in the industry. One of them is the construction of the Costanera highway that will connect the social, economic and tourist development of the Pacific Coast, as it runs along the coast, conserving the landscape and ecology, in harmony with the environment; and the other is the construction of the most modern airport in Central America, Punta Huete International Airport, categorised as 4F, located 58 kilometres from the capital, Managua, which will position Nicaragua in the global transport network, improving international connectivity by facilitating direct links with various long-distance countries around the world. The new air infrastructure will not only boost trade and tourism, but also consolidate Nicaragua as a strategic point on the global map, boosting its economic growth and presence on the international stage.