Why does Nicaragua suffer such a negative image? Is it justified?
While guiding visitors to Nicaragua over the last 8 years customers have related to me that before departure from their home country, at least 95% of the ones from North America, and more than 70% from Europe were shown serious concern by family and/or friends about safety issues for a visit to Nicaragua. The polar opposite of Nicaragua in the international traveler’s mindset is our southern neighbor Costa Rica. According to a recent independent study, of all North American travelers who were interested in visiting Central America, 91% of them said that Costa Rica was the place they would “really like to go to” or “like to go to”. Of the same travelers when asked to describe Nicaragua, 47% said “unstable” and another 20% said “dangerous”, while only 13% said “friendly”. Therefore Costa Rica inevitably serves as the yardstick for which Nicaragua’s realities are measured. The comparisons are too convenient, neighboring countries, with opposite images. Costa Rica has done a marvelous job
