This new integration, now incorporating the entire isthmus and entering into an association with members of the international community, aspires to make the vision of a Central America with commercial and investment opportunities a reality. The goal is a region committed to ambitious and strategic integrationist projects devoted to development, in order to create a great political, human, cultural, economical, social and environmental community that has the progress and well-being of all Central Americans as its main priority.

Read more about Central America history, trade and developments in Focus On.

Plus, learn about medical tourism — traveling abroad for medical purposes including clinical, surgical or preventive medicine and treatments such as hair transplants, medical spas, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry. Locate the hospitals, surgeons and doctors who specialize in medical tourism in Central America, here.

Conde Nast Traveler: 2009 Readers' Choice Awards

Central America - Honored as the region's Top Hotels (and ratings)

• 1.Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, 92.4
• 2.Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua, Guatemala, 91.9
• 3.Villa Caletas, Costa Rica, 80.0
• 4.Hotel Grano de Oro, San José, Costa Rica, 78.8
• 5.Porta Hotel Antigua, Antigua, Guatemala, 78.5
• 6.Bristol Panama, Panama City, 78.1
• 7.Costa Rica Marriott Hotel, San José, Costa Rica, 76.8
• 8.Hotel Capitán Suizo, Costa Rica, 74.4
• 9.Real InterContinental, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 72.7

Central and South America - Honored as the region's Top Resorts (and ratings)

• 1.Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay, 90.4
• 2.Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, 89.9
• 3.Hotel Salto Chico, Patagonia, Chile, 89.4
• 4.Hotel Punta Islita, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, 89
• 5.Xandari Resort & Spa, Alajuela, Costa Rica, 88.4
• 6.Hotel de Larache, Atacama, Chile, 87.8
• 7.Chaa Creek, Cayo District, Belize, 87.6
• 8.Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Bariloche, Argentina, 86.7 9.Turtle Inn, Placencia, Belize, 83.7 10.Blancaneaux Lodge, Cayo District, Belize, 81.2

A brief history of the Central America "brand":
During the important FITUR tourism fair held in Madrid in 1999, something unusual happened. For the first time, the countries of the region co-sponsored a pavilion whose entrance was decorated with a banner proclaiming in a unified voice: Central America!

What made this year different were the good intentions and the desire to do things even better. In the previous international exhibitions, the individual stands from each country usually went unnoticed, with very few visitors taking the time to view what was exhibited in them.

There’s no doubt that there’s strength in unity, and that this decision was correct for two reasons. First, it sent a message of unity to the world—keep in mind that international cooperation requires integrated regions—and second, Central America got much more attention during the event, successfully competing with larger tourist areas. In addition, this stand won an award from the organizers for design creativity.

In simpler terms, this experience synthesizes the benefits of an ongoing integration process encompassing Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama—and more recently—Belize. The coordination is handled by the System of Central American Integration (SICA), whose administrative headquarters is in San Salvador. In view of Central America’s tourism potential, the integration efforts that are taking hold of this sector are seen as a possible tool to revive the economy of the isthmus.

The Department of Central American Tourism Integration (SITCA) is a branch of SICA, whose objective is to guide the general policies of Central American tourism activities, as well as encourage the development of this sector in the region.

Its agenda is composed of grand regional projects, including FODESTUR (The Fomentation of Sustainable Development in Tourism), the promotion of investments, the professional development of tourism-industry employees, regional security plans, visa-less borders, aeronautics, tourist transportation and marketing and international promotion. Even with all these responsibilities, FODESTUR is currently working on an interesting project designed to “sell” Central America on the international tourism market.

Central America: a brand?
Yes, the offical corporate regional marketing arm of Central America is SICA. Its mission to reach and awaken interest in barely before tapped markets to attract new development and interest in Central America tourism. In this way, Central America will have an image that will be identifiable around the globe. And the goal is for the publicity campaigns utilized by each individual country to incorporate this brand for identification effects.

A vital necessity
Tourism is increasingly becoming a vital necessity for Central America, above all if we take into account that this sector generates revenue, employment and creates positive repercussions in the regional economy.

Even more important is the existence of an incredible wealth of natural resources that need to be exploited in a sustainable manner, without damaging the environment. This is the basis for specialty tourism that’s been growing increasingly popular in the region for some time.

In this sense, specialty tourism offers distinct thematic tourism opportunities according to the interests of each tourist, fusing the attractions offered by each one of the Central American countries. These include archeology, culture, nature, colonial history, sun and beaches, adventure, biodiversity and even bird-watching.

And most important of all is our ability to integrate and show the world the best that Central America has to offer: its people!