UN General Assembly
2006

every month in the tax-free zones, and total exports have increased by 100 per cent in less than five years. We have succeeded in turning tourism into a new engine of the economy on account of the revenues it generates, and for the first time it has become the greatest source of foreign currency earnings in our trade balance. Nicaragua is ranked third among the 10 must-visit destinations, according to the prestigious Lonely Planet travel guide. Similarly, Nicaragua has been classified by the World Tourism Organization as one of the best emerging markets at the world level and the best kept secret for retirees and for real estate development. We are considered to be the country that has made the greatest progress on the economic freedom front. For its part, the World Bank report, “Doing Business”, places Nicaragua in 67th place worldwide and states that it has the best business climate in Central America and one of the best in the hemisphere. We are one of the safest countries in the