Due to the outbreak of covid-19 worldwide and restrictions on passenger transportation, only 1.01 million visitors arrived in the country during 2020, 68% less than what was reported in 2019, when 3.14 million tourists arrived.
Although the fall in tourist arrivals was generally resounding, during the last months of 2020 a more favorable behavior was reported.
The international chain began to operate in the Santa Ana district of the country's capital a hotel that has 143 rooms and halls for social events.
The new Hilton Garden Inn Santa Ana, will focus on attracting clients from the international and local corporate sector, since the meeting rooms are equipped with the most advanced technology to hold meetings, trainings, seminars, among other activities.
Due to Costa Rica's estimated average hotel occupancy rate of 52% by 2020, well below the 95% recorded at the end of 2019, businessmen in the sector expect that in this context of crisis there will be no peak seasons next year.
The tourism sector is one of the hardest hit by the economic crisis generated by the outbreak of covid-19, because mobility restrictions, the closure of air terminals and the fear of tourists to be infected, have influenced the drastic fall in tourism activity.
Between October and November, the number of visitors from the US quadrupled, from 6,000 to 24,000, a rise reported in the context of the economic reopening and the reactivation of commercial flights.
The 24,606 Americans who arrived in the country during November, represent a little more than a quarter of the visits from the US registered in the same month of 2019, informed the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). The decrease in tourist arrivals is due to the crisis generated by the outbreak of covid-19 at a global level.
When the pandemic began, interest among Central Americans in travel agency and other tourism-related services dropped significantly, and although it rebounded in mid-May, in recent weeks it has again reported a downward trend.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
Following the reactivation of air transportation and the easing of restrictions on foreign visitors, the Marriott chain announced the reopening of four hotels operating in the country and the Four Seasons will also reopen its resort in Guanacaste.
The year 2020 has been a complex one for the tourism sector in general, since due to the outbreak of covid-19 since March the hotels began a period in which they did not receive income. In recent weeks, with the relaxation of restrictions, tourism activity has been reactivated and every day more chains are deciding to reopen their facilities.
Avianca, Jetblue, Air Canada, Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Volares, KLM, British Airways, Sun Country and West Jet, are the airlines that in November and December resume their flights to and from the country.
Due to the covid-19 outbreak, Costa Rican authorities decided to close their borders, but after a strict quarantine, air transport in the country began to be reactivated.
The US government decreased from 4 to 3 the level of the travel alert it issues for its citizens to evaluate the possibility of traveling to Costa Rica.
The US Government Administration improved this October 12 the recommendation for travel to Costa Rica from level 4 (no travel) to level 3 (reconsider travel due to Covid-19). The measure is effective immediately, informed the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
In the context of the economic reopening, it was announced that as of October 15, Costa Rican air terminals will begin to receive flights carrying citizens from Central America and Panama.
Due to the covid-19 outbreak, air transport between Costa Rica and the other countries in the region has been interrupted since March.
As of October 1st, citizens and residents of Mexico may enter Costa Rican territory by air, under the condition that they comply with the sanitary requirements imposed by the authorities to contain the outbreak of covid-19.
As part of the process of reactivating air connectivity, Jamaican tourists will also be able to enter and the authorization for California residents will be reconfirmed. In addition, Ohio was added to the list of states in the United States of America authorized to visit the country as of October.
Starting October 17th, JetBlue will gradually restart operations with the flight between San Jose and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, and from October 25th it will start operating the route between the Costa Rican capital and New York.
From October 28th the airline plans to reactivate the flight between Orlando and San Jose.
When restrictions were decreed due to the covid-19 outbreak in the region, interest in travel agency services collapsed, but by mid-May the decline was reversed and all markets are already experiencing increases in interactions related to the issue.
Through a system that monitors changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries in real time, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long-term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
As of September 1, the authorities will allow the entry of U.S. residents from the states of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and as of September 15, tourists from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Colorado will also be able to arrive.
The current scenario of reactivation of commercial flights and tourist activities, are an opportunity for insurers to increase their sales, since the hiring of a policy is a mandatory requirement for tourists to be allowed to travel.
Products that offer a refund in the event of having to cancel the trip due to illness, as well as coverage at the destination if the person becomes ill, both for medical expenses and for lodging in case a quarantine is needed, constitute a great opportunity in this context of the spread of covid-19.
As of September 1st, Costa Rica's tourist marinas will be authorized to receive foreign visitors, who must comply with all the requirements established by local authorities.
As a result of the covid-19 outbreak and the closing of the borders decreed by the government, the arrival of foreign tourists to Costa Rican marinas was restricted for more than five months.
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