TACA Airlines Adds More Flights in Central America

The Central American airline TACA, with its hub in El Salvador, has announced that it will be opening new routes within the isthmus in order to allow travelers more flexibility when in the region.

The airline announced that it will include direct flights between several Central American countries instead of having to switch planes in El Salvador as passengers currently need to do.  Flights will begin operating around mid-October and will also include the Caribbean.

Sales Director for Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, Carolina Trejos, announced that they will start servicing flights from San Jose, Costa Rica to La Habana, Cuba and Panama City.  As of November 15th, TACA will also add direct flights between Guatemala, El Salvador and Managua.

Flights between Guatemala and El Salvador will be its novelty as it will offer direct daily flights between these two cities and therefore more connecting flight options for those who engage in multi-destination vacations or business trips.

In addition, TACA has announced that it will be adding 3 new Jet Embraer E190 for the airline’s regional services.  The addition of these flights by TACA respond to the demand increase normally experienced during the months of December through March.

Tourists will find that TACA’s regional flexibility will provide for more options when visiting Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala as well as the Caribbean.  Less travel time and stopovers will provide for a more advantageous vacation.

XXV ACAV Congress Supports Carbon Neutral Program

The Costa Rican Travel Agency Association (ACAV) celebrated its 25th annual meeting by reinforcing their support and contribution to Costa Rica’s goal of being a Carbon Neutral country by the year 2011.

The theme of the meeting was “Sustainable Tourism, We Can All Contribute ” and took place at the Hotel Crown Plaza Corobici just outside of downtown San Jose.  Just as the association did 25 years ago, the event at the Crown Plaza Corobici gathered all major tourism industry leaders and celebrated Costa Rica’s nature, traditions, music and food.

ACAV’s president, Walter Valverde, stated that the industry understands that to carry out sustainable practices, a worldwide commitment is needed.  In his speech, Valverde sent a message not only to Costa Rica but to the world as he mentioned that it would make no sense to aim for a sustainable city or country but that it would make sense that each individual of the world could work for its city or country.

The association also announced the signing of an agreement with Costa Rica’s National Funds for Forest Financing (FONAFIFO) and the Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism (ICT) with the intention of converting each trip into funds for contributing to reforestation.

In 2005, the Costa Rican immigration department reported an approximate 800,000 outbound tourists of which 75% used air travel as their means of transportation.  By charging a small surcharge for carbon neutral purposes, this 75% of Costa Rican tourists could have contributed a considerable amount of money for reforestation and therefore cleaning of the air.

In addition, the tourism industry will tackle the challenge of encouraging ACAV’s members to donate funds for the cause.

Valverde also stated that sustainable tourism not only comprehends erasing the environmental mark humanity has left behind, but also encouraging corporate social responsibility and ethical practices that will jointly contribute to Costa Rica’s sustainability and valued tourist destination.