The biggest Spanish travel agency will offer tours to Nicaragua

Róger Solórzano Canales | Jun 19, 2012

Viajes El Corte Ingles, the largest wholesaler tourism agency in Spain which operates in 17 countries, will include Nicaragua within its range of services and will begin offering tours from the end of this year. It was the possibilities of several attractions -urban and natural- the hospitality of the people plus the safety of the destinations and the investment which convinced two key executives who visited the country at the end of last week, and who spoke in a conference on Sunday June 17th, in Managua.

"We are here because of Mario (...) you have a very active minister", said Jesus Nuño de la Rosa, CEO of the agency, referring to the President of the “Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo” -INTUR, Nicaraguan Tourism Board-, Mario Salinas (who holds the rank of Minister). Nuño de la Rosa stay in the country from Friday June 15th to Sundat June 17th accompanied by Jordi Llorens, Director for Latin America located in Mexico, and tourism journalist Javier Resina, Director of TMG News magazine.

The three visitors made a tour on the beaches of the South Pacific. Then they were in the city of Granada and made a tour through the islets. Finally they visited the Leon city. The journalist Javier Resina said he was amazed by the tranquility he perceived when touring the country, and by the smile that offered the faces of people everywhere. "The Cultural competence and hospitality here is something that should be offered," said Resina.

Jordi Llorens said that during the tour they met with hoteliers and tour operators both nationals and foreign residents, and everyone transmitted the civic security and investment security in the country. In addition, he mentioned that people here like to cater to tourists.

They will offer tours from Europe and Latin America

Two market segments will enhance to Nicaragua from Travels “El Corte Inglés”: From Spain they will promote holiday tours, while from Latin America they will promote, -in addition to holidays- business tourism and incentives (corporate events and holiday tours of staff), the functionaries said. They will also consider the possibility of offering trips to the country combined with visits to neighboring countries.

For this, the first step will be a second visit of technicians from the agency that will travel through the attractions; they will meet with entrepreneurs and structure "products" that they will offer at their headquarters. According to the two officials of the agency, after this visit of recognition and thanks to the good relationship with the INTUR they expect to begin offering trips and services to Nicaragua by the end of this year in Latin America, and since May 2013 in Spain.

Viajes El Corte Inglés is currently the largest wholesale travel agency in Spain and works in partnership with other retailers agencies around the world. Its headquarters are installed in 17 countries (7 in Europe and 10 in America) and has 800 different POS. Today it reports a turnover of 3 billion dollars annually, according to its functionaries.

Translated by Aída Pichardo