Celebrating 80 Years: Nicaragua in 1956

Nicaragua Eases Tourist RegulationsThe largest country in Central America, Nicaragua is located right in the tropical zone. Nestled between Honduras and Costa Rica and the Pacific and the Caribbean, the region is a bastion of rainforests and beaches, populated by a diverse culture incorporating Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean. While it has always been on our map, we think the evolution of Nicaragua is worth remarking.

In 1962, near the end of the Somoza Dynasty, Nicaragua was opening up. The Nicaraguan Foreign Office had relaxed its requirements, and the vast land, first discovered by Christopher Columbus, was open to the world for discovery. (Read the full article here.) A new era had indeed begun.

In the 21st century, the area continues its legacy as a tropical haven. This year, Barceló Managua welcomed visitors to Nicaragua's capital city. The country's first all-suite boutique hotel, Orquidea del Sur, furthered the evolution of San Juan del Sur. Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge ranked among the World's Top Eco-Friendly Hotels, and Princess Cruises included Playa El Coco Beach Break in its 16 new shore excursions.

As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we're taking a look at what was happening in the industry in the past and asking agents to share their thoughts on what has changed in the industry up until the present. So please share your thoughts by posting a comment below, writing us at our Facebook page, sending a tweet to our Twitter page or by engaging in a discussion in real time at AgentNation (the only social community online for all kinds of travel agents, which certainly wasn't around 80 years ago). We want to hear from you.

And while you're here, learn more about how we're celebrating eight decades of covering the travel industry for travel professionals.