Between January and August, tourists' arrivals grew by only 1.3% compared to the same period in 2016, mainly due to a 3.4% reduction in the arrival of Americans.
While the Minister of Tourism attributes the reduced tourists arrivals to a change of government in the United States, private entrepreneurs think that part of the decrease is due to a reduction in the supply of seats on flights from US cities to Costa Rica.
Between January and September of this year, 47,826 passengers from the English market came into the country, 9% more than in the same period in 2016.
So far this year the English market has gained ground, positioning itself as the largest generator of tourists from the European continent, accounting for 47,826 international arrivals (from January to September), registering a growth of 9.1% over the same period last year.
Between July 2016 and June this year income generated by foreign travel to the country exceeded $4 billion.
The Balance of Payments figures for the second quarter of the year published by the Central Bank also "...reflects an increase in direct investment in tourism.In the first half of this year alone the figure reached $318 million, almost six times more than in the first half of the previous year."
An agreement with two Guanacastecan municipalities promises to improve conditions to strengthen this market niche, where the average tourist stay ranges from 16 to 25 nights.
The National Bird Route consists of 12 nodes or sites from which specific observation sites can be accessed which have high diversity of birds.Some of these nodes coincide with the Tourist Development Centers that are made up of several local communities, reserves or national parks, which extends the potential for tourist experiences associated with the route.
In Costa Rica the new convention center, still under construction, is missing out on opportunities to promote itself overseas due to a delay in the tender to hire a company to manage it.
Companies in the tourism sector state that most major events and congresses are negotiated up to two years in advance, and because the convention center does not have an management company to set rental rates for the site and other aspects, the possibilities for promoting it abroad are reduced.
The goal of tourism authorities is to organize 950 conferences and conventions for 500 people each in the next five years, generating $1.3 billion in revenue.
The five-year plan presented by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is based on the opening of the National Congress and Convention Center (CNCC), which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2018.
With the arrival of new airlines a further increase is expected in the flow of tourists from Europe, after having grown by 41% between 2010 and 2015.
European tourists stay on average 17 days in the country and spend an average of $1660 during their stay, higher than the figures for the overall average, which are 13 days and $1351.
In the first half of the year the number of international arrivals to the country grew by 12% compared to the same period in 2015.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute:
During the first half of 2016, Costa Rica registered significant growth in international arrivals. Seven out of 10 people who visit us do so by air, which represents the main port of entry,which recorded an increase of 16.8% from January to Junecompared to the first half of 2015, according to data provided by the General Directorate of Migration (DGME) and analyzed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
From November 2 Air France will be operating two flights per week between the French capital and the international airport of San Jose, Costa Rica.
The flights will be operated on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with flight AF340 departing Paris Charles De Gaulle airport at 13:45 and arriving in Costa Rica at 18:10 the same day. Flight AF431 will leave Juan Santamaria Airport at 20:40 and arrive in Paris at 13:50 the next day.
The construction companies Van Der Laat y Jimenez, Estructuras, S.A., and Edica, submitted bids to build and equip a new convention center in Costa Rica.
JetBlue announced the addition of a second weekly flight from Boston and Apple Vacations will incorporate the Liberia Missouri-Saint Louis route, which will be operated by XTRAirways.
JetBlue will operate its second flight on Sunday in a A320 aircraft with capacity for 150 passengers, starting in January and to be maintained throughout the season. Meanwhile XTRAirways will use a Boeing 737-400 with capacity for 150 people, operating from March 18 this year to August 5, 2016.
From July 6 Aeromexico will increase the number of daily flights between San Jose and Mexico City to three.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute:
The renowned airline Aeromexico has announced the addition of the third frequency in its Mexico San Jose route.
Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism said: "Demand for the destination is a factor that boosts visitation to our country, achieving an interest by airlines in increasing their operations, which we expect will include affordable prices for tourists. This is how we see the interest of airlines like Aeromexico in providing more air connections that meet the market need and that enhance visitation from Mexico, and our main generator of tourists from Latin America. "