Seeking to draw more visitors from the US, the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute has kicked off a $3 million marketing campaign.
The campaign by the governmental tourism body, also known as INTUR, includes revamping the NicaraguanTourism.us website, and running digital ads ShermansTravel, TripAdvisor and The New York Times.
For example, one of the banner ads implores, "Visit the land of lakes and volcanoes...Experience Nicaragua... Discover Nicaragua for just $759."
When you click on the banner ads, some of which use Flash, you navigate to the NicaraguanTourism.us homepage.
Here are some additional ads:
The website, which features packages to Nicaragua, has been redesigned and Regatta Travel Solutions will power the site's hotel booking engine, slated to go live at the beginning of April.
Ashwin Kamlani, president of Regatta Travel Solutions, says the booking engine will begin "with a handful of hotels and then it will grow from there."
"The potential of this project is just phenomenal," Kamlani adds. "Nicaragua has experienced healthy growth in US travelers and the timing is perfect to use the Internet to foster that growth. We look forward to working why INTUR and to make it a huge success."
Regatta Travel Solutions also powers hotel booking engines for the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, Barbados Tourism Board, St. Lucia Hotel Association & Tourism Board, Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association, Grenada Board of Tourism, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, and the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association.
Nicaragua attracted more than 1 million tourists in 2011, about a 2.8% jump over the previous year.