Fewer and Fewer Tourists in Nicaragua

In May of this year, 34,400 foreign tourists arrived in the country by air, almost 40% less than in the same month last year.

The political and social crisis that the country is experiencing continues to cause havoc in the Nicaraguan economy, with tourism being one of the most affected sectors.

According to statistics from the National Chamber of Tourism of Nicaragua (Canatur), in April, the month in which the crisis began, there was a year-on-year decrease of 16% in the number of visitors that entered by air, falling from 60,116 to 50,450.

Elnuevodiario.com reports that ” …In cumulative terms, from January to May, the EAAI registered the entry of 281,038 foreigners into the country, which represented a decrease of 4.8% in relation to the first five months of 2017, when they the figures reached 295,268 passengers.”

Air connectivity has also been affected, along with the number of flights arriving in the country which have decreased, as according to figures from the International Airports Administration Company (EAAI), 684 aircraft landed in March and in May the number dropped to 632.

“According to industry sources, American Airlines has decreased its daily frequencies from three to one, while United Airlines went from two daily flights to one.

Other companies have decided to stop flying daily and have opted to offer two or three flights a week, such as Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Aeromexico.”