The world economy may be growing slowly; nevertheless, a successful closing and beginning of the year augurs Costa Rica’s tourism sector, trusting the promotion work abroad, the quality of the product and the country’s positioning, leading to a new record in visitors, and a percentage of revisits.
“Despite the global economic slowdown announcements, we maintain positive expectations. Last season was very positive, we hope to close 2019 and start 2020 in the same way,” said Shirley Calvo, executive director of the Cámara Nacional de Turismo (National Chamber of Tourism).
“The demand of the international travel sector remains strong, and the number of people who traveled abroad from many issuing markets has registered an increase,” she added.
New air routes to New York, as well as the start of flights with three connections between the main Costa Rican airports with Vancouver and Amsterdam, will begin at the end of October.
- Air Transat will fly Wednesday and Saturdays between San Jose – Liberia – Vancouver starting December 18
- KLM will fly San Jose – Liberia – Amsteramd on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting October 29
- American Airlines will fly daily San Jose – New York and Liberia – New York on Saturdays starting December 21
- JetBlue will fly San Jose – New York Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays starting December 12
Meanwhile, ahead of the foreign tourist arrivals, the tourism sector will focus next month and even November on motivating Costa Rica to travel the country.
The promotion includes the Feria Nacional de Turismo (National Tourism Fair), “Vamos a Turistear” being held at the national convention center on October 5 and 6, with free transportation every hour, leaving from downtown San Jose.
At the Fair, visitors will find promotions and discounts on tours, lodgings and packages that by more than 80 small and medium-sized entrepreneurs from rural areas.
Costa Rica is a destination that stands out for its richness in biodiversity and the warmth of its people, proof of this are the many awards it has received during the year, highlighting the designation as Leading Destination of Mexico and Central America 2019 in the World Travel Awards – the “Oscars” of tourism.
The tourism sector generated more than US$3.8 billion and some 156,000 jobs at the end of 2018, according to the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) Costa Rican Tourism Board and the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) – National Institute of Statistics and Census.
Tourism represents 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding its direct and indirect effects, according to the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) – Central Bank.
