In today's Inside Costa Rica:
TACA Proposes Cutting Prices To Promote Central American Tourism
TACA airlines has announced a new program to generate more tourism in Central America with its "Vive, vuela: Centroamérica es tuya" (live, fly; Central America is yours) program that is pretending to cut ticket prices from 20% to 64% for travel to and from Central America.
The announcement was made Wednesday night in San Salvador, the home country of the airline, that operates throughout Central America, in the presence of TACA officials, and ministers, vice- ministers and representatives of tourism in the region.
The airline's president, Roberto Kriete, stressed the importance of state support for the program, asking for the support of the various Central American countries for the program. "The tax significantly increases the price of the ticket, in some cases as much as 40% of the price", said Kriete.
Kriete added that the airline tested the market for the program during Semana Santa (Easter Week) and the May long weekend and in both cases found that Costa Rica was the preferred choice destination by many travellers with 1.316 passengers taking advantage of the promotional price to Costa Rica.
Fernando Naranjo, president of Taca Costa Rica, added that the program is important for the Central American countries to get a bigger share of visitors and of course that brings in more tourism dollars and more tax dollars for the countries visited.
As of yesterday it was unknown is Costa Rican officials will reduce the tax imposed on airline tickets and airport fees. Allan Flores, vice minister of Tourism, the lowering of taxes is a matter for the Ministrio de Hacienda (Revenue ministry). "We can consider the possibility that there can be some additional benefit to Central American tourism, but it does require some study", said Flores.
The vice-minister added that it is important that Costa Rica promote itself independently. "What we are saying is that each destination has its own identity and not to reach a position of all being alike", said Flores.
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