Analyse of the sector 30/11/2010
The global financial crisis

The global financial crisis will impact tourism in Latin American countries in the medium terms; Paraguay will be no exception. Arrivals from developed countries such as the US, Europe and Japan will either decrease or slow in growth as consumers cut back their spending. Paraguay is now trying to encourage regional tourists, through promotional and marketing alliances, to visit the country.

 

Promoting MERCOSUR

 

The Southern Common Market or MERCOSUR has operated a regional tourism policy directed specifically towards the Japanese market since 2005. In September 2008, Paraguay attended the JATA World Travel Fair Japan as a part of “MERCOSUR Tourism Promotion for the Japanese Market”, which presented the affiliated countries as one destination in order to promote the entire region rather than each country. This was designed to boost Japanese arrivals to the MERCOSUR area promoting several regional attractions such as Crucero Paraguay. In November 2008, Paraguay organised the International Tourism Fair 2008 (FITPAR); attended by some 80 tour operators, airlines, hotels, embassies and other tourism-related organisations from France, the Netherlands, China, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Bolivia and Italy, the fair was intended to show Paraguay as a tourism destination within the wider MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) area.

 

Promoting Paraguay

In May 2008, tourism authorities along with private companies launched the promotional campaign “Novo Paraguay”. The promotion, developed by a Brazilian PR agency, was designed to attract the wealthy Sao Paulo/Brazilian market, taking advantage of the regular air traffic coming in from the city (four daily flights). The US$200,000 campaign presented written and graphic promotional material throughout Sao Paolo over a six-month period. In October 2008, Paraguayan public and private representatives participated at the Fair of the Americas 2008 in Brazil. During the event, Paraguay highlighted niche products such event, sport, eco, adventure, shopping and gambling tourism through brochures and presentations. Paraguay also participated at the International Foz de Yguazú Fair in April 2008 in order to promote the country in Brazil.

 

Business tourism

 

The South American Soccer Confederation will inaugurate the country’s largest convention centre in the city of Luque in 2009. With a capacity of 2,700 people and up to five convention rooms, the centre will feature an adjacent hotel with 200 rooms. The centre should raise Paraguay’s profile as a business tourism destination, a sector that has been and will continue growing. In October 2008, the Inter-American Development Bank celebrated the 11th Inter-American Forum for Small Industry; this event alone brought the Paraguayan tourism industry almost US$2 million in revenue.