Tourism Gains Demonstrate Nicaragua's Growing Appeal

The positive image and perception of Nicaragua continues to increase around the world, as evidenced by the continuing rise in tourism. In fact, the number of foreign visitors to Nicaragua topped one million in 2010, which establishes a new benchmark for the country’s visitation efforts. This number also represents more than an eight percent increase over 2009.

Tourism and Investment Rise

This progress comes as no surprise to Pro Nicaragua and us here at Grupo Mariana where we are actively engaged in promoting Nicaragua at every opportunity. We would like to feel that our projects and the ongoing efforts we are making to increase the visibility and understanding of the country are supporting and contributing to this growth in tourism. Nicaragua remains a secret to many, but the focus of the world is gradually increasing as witnessed by this rise in visitors and increasing international investment. And, quite frankly, there’s no doubt that the popularity of television’s “Survivor:Nicaragua” has exposed many people to the beauty and diversity of the country.

One of the things we often encounter as we travel and promote activity in Nicaragua is the outdated perceptions that remain. It is a case where the country’s past, now more than two decades removed, continues to color its awareness and, in particular, how Nicaragua is perceived as a place to visit and invest. Certainly, we believe without doubt that Nicaragua is now beginning to command the positive attention it deserves, which will help more and more people understand the opportunities and promise here.

Bright Real Estate Opportunities

For those of us already committed to Nicaragua and its future—or considering the country as a place to visit, retire or invest—the increase in tourism is a significant sign that the future here is bright. However, it also means that it’s an ideal time to do your research and make an investment decision since the more visibility received translates into more people seeking opportunities. This is not unlike Costa Rica when it was “discovered” by outsiders over 20 years ago, which resulted in a boom of real estate investment that paid huge dividends to those with the vision and courage to push ahead.

The New Costa Rica

That’s why you’ll often hear us say that if you missed your chance in Costa Rica, you should act now in Nicaragua where the outlook is extremely bright. The country is politically stable, the economy is growing steadily, and there is a welcoming attitude among the people and government. The natural setting and environmental diversity is unparalleled, and, perhaps most important, is being actively and seriously maintained.

The critical factors are aligning in Nicaragua, and we are confident that promising tomorrows are on the horizon. As always, we’re happy to talk with anyone interested in the country and the opportunities here, so please contact us anytime. But, perhaps, the sooner the better.

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Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), has announced its expansion plans in Central America

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), has announced its expansion plans in Central America with the addition of the 300 plus-unit Wyndham Mariana Resort, a luxury resort and residential condominium development currently under construction in Pochomil, Nicaragua.

Located on Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast, Seaside Mariana is situated on 923 acres with over one mile of beachfront, and features, condominiums, golf & oceanfront villas, casitas, home sites, equestrian center, town center and Nicaragua’s first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

With the crucial infrastructure phase at Seaside Mariana already in motion, the addition of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts provides multiple avenues for putting further capital into the exciting Central American property market. The prospects for this strategic alliance are bright, as both sides will bring their core competencies to bear on this signature development project.

About Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC and its affiliates offer upscale hotel and resort accommodations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, China and the Caribbean. All Wyndham hotels are either franchised or managed by the company or managed through a joint-venture partner. Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by calling (800) WYNDHAM -- (800) 996-3426 -- or visiting www.wyndham.com.


About Wyndham Hotel Group

Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses nearly 7,100 hotels and 593,300 rooms in 65 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Wingate® by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inns & Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®.




All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham and international Ramada hotels which are managed by an affiliate or through a joint venture partner. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, N.J. Additional information is available at

www.wyndhamworldwide.com.


About Wyndham Worldwide

As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses nearly 7,100 franchised hotels and approximately 593,300 hotel rooms worldwide.


Wyndham Exchange & Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.8 million members, access to over 65,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 155 vacation ownership resorts serving over 820,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 25,000 employees globally.

For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the Company’s web site at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

For Grupo Mariana, the involvement of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is further proof of its stated desire to showcase Nicaragua and position it as an evolving economic market that offers significant opportunities for investment, tourism and leisure. The country is already experiencing increasing international investment and an upward trend in tourism.

“We are very excited about the infusion of expertise, influence and international visibility which the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts alliance provides us,” stated Grupo Mariana chairman Kevin Fleming. “This relationship enables our group to focus on its primary objective of creating world-class, luxury developments in Nicaragua. This will inevitably create a boost in momentum that will get us through the development phases quicker and result in even better results for our investors.”

According to Fleming, more and more people are learning about the “New Nicaragua,” a country with amazing natural beauty and growing economic vitality. The alliance between Grupo Mariana and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, he noted, will certainly help overcome the lingering misperceptions and demonstrate that this is a promising place to visit, live, work and invest in.

Nicaragua's Tourism Sector Continues To Grow

Preliminary statistics recently published by the Nicaraguan Tourism Board (INTUR, for its acronym in Spanish) indicate that Nicaragua continued to grow in both tourist arrivals and tourism revenues during the first four months of 2010. Statistics indicate that arrivals grew in 8.9 percent, reaching 338,248 visitors, while revenues increased 22.5 percent up to US$99 million, when compared to the same period last year.

Specifically, March has been the month that reported the highest increase in tourist arrivals, rising 16.7 percent compared to 2009, due mainly to visitors who arrived during Holy Week.

INTUR's report also highlights that 28 cruises visited Nicaragua in the past four months, four of which docked at Corinto Port in Chinandega and 24 in San Juan del Sur, Rivas. In total, more than 19,000 visitors disembarked from those 28 cruises. According to INTUR, the goal for the next two years is to attract 100 cruise ships to the country.

Some of the aspects that have made Nicaragua one of the most attractive tourism destinations in the region include the country's pleasant climate, high levels of personal safety, unique cultural experience, spectacular natural beauties and affordable cost of living.

As part of the country's efforts to promote tourism internally and externally, INTUR has launched a campaign that consists of organizing regional fairs across Nicaragua to highlight each region's tourism potential. The theme of the campaign is "Nicaragua...Unique, Original", and will be executed in conjunction with small and medium companies of the tourism sector, local municipalities and other government institutions.

Additionally, Nicaragua was the only country in the region that registered positive results in both tourism arrivals and tourism revenues during 2009, with growth rates of 8.6 and 25.2 percent, respectively.

PRONicaragua is the Nicaraguan Investment Promotion Agency, established in 2002. It is a non-profit, public-private institution whose mission is to generate economic growth and job creation in Nicaragua by attracting high-quality foreign direct investment. The agency provides complimentary support services to qualified investors seeking investment opportunities in our country. For further information, please contact us at (505) 2270-6400 or http://pronicaragua.org.