| Many have asked if Costa Rica is suffering | | | | The United Nations World Tourism Organization |
| economically from decreased travel or investment | | | | (UNWTO) projects the increase in world-wide |
| and home buying as cash-strapped foreigners deal | | | | international tourist arrivals to be around 3 percent |
| with world-wide economies suffering from high oil | | | | for 2008 ... while projecting Costa Rica's 2008 |
| prices and other regional issues such as the U.S. | | | | tourism increase to be around 10 percent . |
| home mortgage crisis. | | | | Costa Rica has been a member of the United |
| It should go without saying that Costa Rica is | | | | Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for |
| definitely concerned - especially with fears of a | | | | three years and in October, 2008 Costa Rica's |
| full-blown economic recession in the United States. | | | | Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, |
| After all, Americans accounted for 54% of the | | | | was appointed to head the UNWTO Executive |
| 1.9 million visitors that traveled to Costa Rica in | | | | Council. "The appointment is a high recognition of |
| 2007. | | | | Costa Rica's efforts in sustainable tourism. [Costa |
| Just recently the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism | | | | Rica] has become a model and leader in this |
| (ICT) launched an aggressive $14 million dollar U.S. | | | | arena," said Minister Benavides. |
| marketing and advertising campaign over the | | | | According to Minister Benavides; "This position |
| Internet and through a public relations agency | | | | plays an important role within the WTO as it helps |
| hired in New York to promote Costa Rica as an | | | | to lead and approve ... important topics such as |
| exotic destination that is closer and less expensive | | | | poverty eradication through tourism in developing |
| than similarly marketed destinations such as | | | | countries, fair economic distribution, as well as |
| Thailand and other Asian countries. | | | | conversation, protection and adequate use of |
| Europe is the second largest market for Costa | | | | natural resources. |
| Rica tourism, accounting for 17% of the visitors. | | | | Travel to Costa Rica: |
| The majority of the European travelers are from | | | | Last year, seven new airlines began flying to |
| Spain, Germany, France, England, and Italy. In | | | | Costa Rica; four U.S. and three European. These |
| addition to these countries, the ICT is intensifying | | | | new flight options represented an increase in |
| publicity in the growing markets of Russia, France | | | | 675,000 available seats for a grand total of 2.7 |
| and Switzerland. Marketing Costa Rica to Asian | | | | million annual airline seats to Costa Rica - which is |
| markets is on the agenda as well. Last year an | | | | a 33% increase over the last several years. |
| agreement was signed with China, adding Costa | | | | Costa Rica is now working to attract two new |
| Rica as a tourist destination. | | | | low-cost American airlines as well as a giant |
| With so many different countries choosing Costa | | | | European airline interested in adding Costa Rica as |
| Rica as a first-tier vacation location, the ICT | | | | a new destination. |
| predicts a tourist growth rate of 6% in 2008. This | | | | Guanacaste, the Pacific Coast - Increase in |
| in addition to the 10.15% increase achieved just | | | | Tourism in 2008 |
| last year. | | | | Tourism in Guanacaste reached a new high in the |
| Costa Rica as a Destination for Entrepreneurs: | | | | first three months of 2008, as more than 150,000 |
| Surveys of Costa Rica tourists indicate they are | | | | people flew into the region via the Liberia airport. |
| well educated and spend considerable discretionary | | | | These new figures confirm that Guanacaste has |
| income on travel. The majority are adventurous | | | | become the principal tourism destination of the |
| with their choices of activities and | | | | country, with many tourists so satisfied with their |
| accommodations and plan their own trips versus | | | | experience that they keep coming back for more. |
| relying on travel agents. These primarily American | | | | Vacation and Retirement Homes in Costa Rica: |
| tourists are; affluent, college educated with over | | | | Costa Rica matured approximately five years ago |
| 90% having bachelors or graduate degrees, | | | | into a premier destination for vacation and |
| middle aged, and married without children living at | | | | retirement homes. Successful tourism surely |
| home. Their education and income levels indicate | | | | fueled this housing market that has caught-on |
| they are high-end travelers that are somewhat | | | | with Baby Boomers and their children, the |
| recession proof. | | | | Gen-X'ers. |
| Activities in Costa Rica: | | | | Tourism and Housing Effects in Costa Rica: |
| Conservative travel activities and moderate length | | | | * Costa Rica's economic growth continues |
| of stay are favored by the typical Costa Rica | | | | unabated. |
| traveler. The majority of the first-time travelers | | | | * Tax receipts for services and infrastructure |
| prefer Costa Rica more than any other Latin | | | | keep increasing. |
| American destination that they had visited based | | | | * Rundown areas are being cleaned up and |
| on Costa Rica's ecotourism and its unspoiled | | | | modernized. |
| environment. The primary activities of these | | | | * Property values rise as new housing |
| travelers are: | | | | developments and resorts continue construction. |
| * Ecotourism | | | | * More Costa Rica residents have jobs. |
| * Sightseeing | | | | * Most Costa Rican's view tourism and |
| * Beach and Waterfront Activities | | | | development projects as an opportunity to |
| Rank of Latin American Countries: | | | | improve their own lives. |
| The fact that Costa Rica was ranked as the | | | | The above information is provided as a simple |
| number-one destination among Latin American | | | | overview of how Costa Rica is doing during these |
| countries indicates its current worldwide | | | | current world-wide economic times. |
| attractiveness as one of the worlds top tourist | | | | Bottom line: Pretty good overall ;o) |
| destinations. | | | | ¡Pura Economía! |
| Rank of World-Wide Countries: | | | | |