Tourism in Nicaragua has grown considerably in recent years and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country.

The growth in tourism has positively affected the agricultural, commercial, and finance industries, as well as the construction industry. The results for Nicaragua’s tourism-driven economy have been significant, with the nation welcoming one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history in 2010.

During the Nicaraguan Revolution in the ’80s Nicaragua was not regarded as a place to travel and caused a decrease in tourism. However, rapid expansion of the tourist industry over the last decade has made it the nation’s second largest industry. Over the last 7 years tourism has grown about 70% nationwide with rates of 10%-16% annually.

The country is mostly famous for its landscapes, flora and fauna, wildlife, culture, beaches, lakes, and volcanoes.

By 2010, the nation welcomed one million visitors — the most in its entire history for a calendar year. Nicaragua’s tourism industry in 2010 raked in approximately 360 million dollars for the nation’s economy.

Tourism Industry

In 2005, 803,933 tourists visited Nicaragua, a noticeable improvement from the mere 579,165 in 2002. The tourism industry received US$ 240 million, outstripping the other main earner, coffee. That same year Nicaragua received more visitors than Panama. The majority of tourists came from the U.S., Europe, and Central and South America.

About 60,000 United States citizens visit Nicaragua yearly, primarily business people, tourists and others visiting relatives.

According to the Ministry of Tourism of Nicaragua (INTUR) the colonial city of Granada is the preferred spot for tourists. Also, the cities of León, Masaya, Rivas and the likes of San Juan del Sur, San Juan River, Ometepe, Mombacho Volcano, and others are main tourist attractions. In addition, ecotourism and surfing attract many tourists to Nicaragua.

Also, a popular destination are the Corn Islands located about 70 km east off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua near Bluefields. They have been regarded as a “tropical paradise” by the Los Angeles Times. Cruise ships have been docking in San Juan del Sur since January 2000 and average 50,000 tourists alone every year, some who partake in tours to nearby Lake Cocibolca and the colonial city of Granada.

Nicaragua was ranked with the lowest crime rate in Latin America by Interpol and many other sources, with only 12 crimes for every 100,000 citizens. Nicaragua also holds the largest lake in Central America, about 700 species of birds, and unspoiled natural beauty. Despite all of this, Nicaragua is still the least visited country in the region. However, the lower number of tourists may help Nicaragua keep lower prices and an “off-the-beaten-track” feel.

Rural and Community-Based Tourism

CECOCAFEN is an organization of coffee cooperatives in Northern Nicaragua that manage a rural and community-based tourism project, which has been developed with support from the Lutheran World Relief. CEOCAFEN was founded in 1997, the drop in international coffee prices is what started the CECCOAFEN project in 2003.

Tourism allows farmers to receive new opportunities in alternative markets, harvest coffee and diversify their income. CECOCAFEN offers visitors the opportunity to visit a coffee farm, learn about coffee craftsmanship, and even to stay overnight on a coffee farm and explore with a community guide.

Ecological Tourism

Eco-tourism aims to be ecologically and socially conscious, it focuses on local culture, wilderness, and adventure. Nicaragua’s eco-tourism is growing with every passing year. It boasts a number of eco-tourist tours and places for adventurers. Nicaragua has three eco-regions, the Pacific, Central and Atlantic which contain volcanoes, tropical rainforest and agricultural land.

Nicaragua’s rich biodiversity also attracts many tourists to protected areas such as the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, which holds an extremely high number of species of trees, birds, and insects. Nicaragua is home to 78 protected areas covering over 20% of it landmass, and is home to 7% of the world’s biodiversity.

Nicaragua is also home to Bosawas, located in Northern Nicaragua, which is the largest rainforest north of the Amazon in Brazil, and the largest lake in Central America, Lake Cocibolca. Lake Cocibolca attracts its fair number of tourist yearly, most of which primarily visit Ometepe — a large volcanic island formed by two volcanoes in the lake.