(QCOSTARICA) Starting October 1, citizens and residents of Mexico, Jamaica and the U.S. state of Ohio are authorized to visit Costa Rica, announced the Tourism Minister, Gustavo Segura.
The announcement authorizing Mexico was received positively by the tourism sector, given that the Aztec nation is Costa Rica’s this market, surpassed only by Americans (1st) and Canadians (2nd).
In 2019, some 97,000 visitors arrived from Mexico.
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“The provision obeys to the opening in international tourism, gradual, sustained and controlled risk that we have been managing to reactivate the country’s economy and boost the tourism sector,” said the minister.
“There is a study that the ICT develops every year, which is called a study of the best prospects. Of all the people who live in Mexico, 500,000 correspond to the target market of the best prospects for Costa Rica. Thus, in view of the favorable pandemic situation that has been observed in recent days with respect to infections per 100,000 (inhabitants), since October 1, citizens of that country have been enabled to enter as tourists,” he said.
Residents and citizens of Jamaica will starting, October 1, be able to visit Costa Rica. Jamaica is a small market, with only 1,180 visitors arriving in 2019.
With the addition of Mexico and Jamaica, the number of countries from which flights are allowed is now 46: Canada, United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU – including the 26 that make up the Schengen zone), as well as Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and the United States (selected states).
Segura also announced that residents of the state of Ohio will be allowed, while re-confirming California, both starting October 1.
The authorization for the entry of California residents is particularly important for Guanacaste, as well as other nearby regions that will benefit.
On September 1, residents of New York, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Virginia, and Washington D.C. were authorized.
On September 15, the authorization was expanded to residents of Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wyoming.
Many were expecting, for October 1, the ICT to authorize residents of Florida and Texas. While many online have expressed disappointment, they remain confident that they will be included possibly starting October 15, or November 1.
U.S. residents must show proof of residency by way of their state driver’s license or State ID.
Minister Seguro, during the Thursday press conference, stated that so far none of the tourists who have entered the country since August 1 have been infected with COVID-19.
The requirements for tourists to enter Costa Rica:
- They must come from any of the authorized countries or states through commercial flights or private flights.
- Tourists from the US must provide a state driver’s license or State ID that certifies them as residents of the authorized state.
- They must complete the digital form called Health Pass.
- They must demonstrate that they have national or international travel insurance that covers accommodation and medical expenses generated by the COVID-19 disease.
- In the event that group insurance (family group) is presented, the coverage must be sufficient to cover the accommodation and medical expenses generated by the COVID-19 disease to each of the persons covered.
- They must present a document that proves that a COVID-19 RT-PCR test had been carried out within 72 hours prior to the departure of the flight to Costa Rica, with a negative result.
- The test result must be submitted in Spanish or English.
- If required, must present the corresponding visa according to their nationality or, failing that, the authorization of exceptional entry by the corresponding authorities.