Nicaragua will join Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama later this year in celebrating the Central America Bicentennial, 200 years of independence from colonization which began in 1492. The actual date of independence for those countries above, except Panama, is September the 15th 1821.
Panama signed their declaration of independence from Spain about two months later than the other five nations. During a process between November 10th and 21st, 1821, they ended 321 years of colonial rule. Panama celebrates their actual Independence Day on November 28th.
INTUR, the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism has announced that under the umbrella of The Tourism Promotion Agency of Central America (CATA), there will be various promotions, themes and initiatives aimed at promoting this milestone.
The main campaign is “We are the heart of America, a region born in brotherhood” (Somos el corazón de América, una región nacida en hermandad). There are also slogans such as “Central America 200” (Centroamérica 200) and “Hug your Flag (Abraza tu bandera) that will combine patriotic, historical and cultural sentiment with a commercial tourism promotion. Map of Central America. It offers a wonderful opportunity for players in the industry to forge strategic alliances within the region with a view to reactivating the tourism sector.
The CATA Website seems to be in need of an urgent update to include this campaign. Most of this information has been discovered through various Tweets from CATA Centroamérica, such as this link to the Campaign.
By clicking on the hashtags in that text “Join the social media campaign with hashtags; #Centroamérica200 and #AbrazaTuBandera” you will be taken to a page where at the top you can click on a blue box “Join Our Email List” to receive updates.
Perhaps it’s a little early to expect much in print; however the Bicentennial is less than 3 months away.
The Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA) has confirmed that Panama have joined the Central America Bicentennial campaign with their celebration of independence in November 2021. This will extend the promotion to year end.
Belize (Belice in Spanish)
Belize, the seventh Central American nation, will sit this one out. Belize became independent on September 21, 1981. Up until 1973, it was known as British Honduras and was the last British colony on the American mainland. Belize achieved independence on September 21, 1981, despite Guatemala making an irredentist claim (for the restoration of the territory). Belize retains a connection to the United Kingdom through membership in the Commonwealth.
