Exclusive interview with Anasha Campbell Lewis, Nicaraguan Minister of Tourism.

Photo: courtesy of the interviewed

Exclusive interview with Anasha Campbell Lewis, Nicaraguan Minister of Tourism.

What does the hosting of the second edition of Nicatur, to be held September 4-6, 2020, represent for Nicaragua?

Nicaragua’s International Tourism Fair, Nicatur, is the most important tourist marketing event in our country: it is a platform to promote and position Nicaragua as an international tourist destination.

Nicatur is the showcase to publicize the natural wealth, cultural heritage, multiethnicity, hospitality and human warmth of the Nicaraguan population, which make Nicaragua’s tourism offer Unique and Original.

What are the presidency’s expectations regarding the holding the event?

Our expectation is to surpass the successful results of the previous edition and to incorporate Nicaragua into more sales catalogs, disseminate more publications about our offer, generate more businesses among national exhibitors and international wholesalers; everything that contributes to a greater knowledge of our destination, increases the flow of tourists to our country and places the Nicaragua tourist destination in the international arena.

Additionally, we hope to increase the number of participants in the fair year after year: national exhibitors, wholesalers and international press, so that it becomes one of the most important in the Central American region.

Where will the venue be held? Will it have exhibition areas with stands?

The Nicatur venue will be Managua, our capital city, and will be held at the Olof Palme Convention Center, from September 4 to 6, 2020. The fairgrounds will be segmented by products, among them: colonial cities, nature, sun and beach, adventure and culture, distributed in 100 stands for the same number of exhibitors.

What attractions will Nicaragua show the participants?

Nicaragua is an emerging, safe and charming tourist destination that captivates its visitors for the authenticity of the experiences it offers. With an exuberant nature, it has 7% of the world’s biodiversity, 72 protected areas, 834 kilometers of coasts in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, more than 700 bird species, three biosphere reserves, two of the seven places in the world where turtles massively nest; pristine beaches, mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, lagoons, volcanoes, paradisiacal islands, colonial cities, history; live, multiethnic, multilingual and multicultural culture; varied cuisine; friendly, warm and hospitable people. All this, rather than showing, is what Nicatur participants can experience, feel and live.

Which are Nicaragua’s main issuing markets?

Our main issuing market by region is Central America, followed by North America and then Europe. By country, the first five tourist issuers to Nicaragua are the United States, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. In the case of Europe, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom stand out.

Will you highlight any modality or tourist product of the region in particular?

We will be highlighting the Nicaraguan Caribbean given that many people are unaware that Nicaragua is a Caribbean country just as it is Central American; and now, thanks to the infrastructures that our government has been developing, it is a reality for tourists and nationals to be able to move from the Pacific to the Caribbean by land and enjoy the diversity, multiethnicity, multiculturalism and multilingualism that characterizes our country.

Exclusive interview with Anasha Campbell Lewis, Nicaraguan Minister of Tourism.

Yemaya yoga platform. Photo: courtesy of Nicaragua Ministry of Tourism.

On the other hand, we will also be promoting multi-destination tourism with Cuba, Central America and other countries, so that our tourists can enjoy two or three countries on the same trip.

How is the general program of the event planned?

The fair will be held for two days, the first will be aimed exclusively at professionals in the tourism industry for business appointments, and the second day will be open to the general public.

The program also includes seminars and workshops, welcome cocktail, closing event and two to three days of post tours for wholesalers and international press, who will have the opportunity to get to know firsthand Nicaragua’s unique natural beauty, cultural wealth and tourist offer.

Could you highlight some of the relevant moments the meeting will have?

I believe that one of the fair’s most relevant moments is that of the post tours in which international wholesalers and media, after negotiations with our businesspeople, can feel the warmth, friendliness and hospitality of our people, get to know our products and tourist offer, enjoy our varied cuisine, natural wonders, live culture, the safety that characterizes our country and have authentic and unforgettable experiences.

How important is the event as the main showcase of Nicaraguan tourism?

Nicatur is the most important event to publicize the offer, products, services and tourist attractions of the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes and position it as an international tourist destination. Precisely for that reason, we have been prioritizing it as one of the most relevant activities of our promotion and marketing strategy; it implies a joint effort with the protagonists of the private sector, who have found in the fair the ideal platform to have direct contact with international wholesalers and to do business.

Anything else you would like to add…

Just invite you to participate in Nicatur 2020 so you can live the unforgettable experience of a Unique and Original destination such as Nicaragua.

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