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.
Because of the country's economic situation, between 2017 and 2018 there was a 2% drop in the number of Costa Ricans who left from Juan Santamaria Airport and 4% in total expenditures abroad.
Aeris Costa Rica figures detail that between 2017 and 2018 the number of national departures from Juan Santamaria Airport went from 793,000 to 780,000. Regarding 2019 data, up to September the figure reaches 579,000.
During the first semester of 2019, foreign tourists in Costa Rica spent $2,228 million, exceeding by 3.8% what was reported in the same period of 2018.
Data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica indicate that between January and June 2018 and the same period in 2019, tourist spending increased by $81 million, from $2,147 million to $2,229 million.
In the 2019 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala fell back in the ranking, while the Dominican Republic was the only country that improved.
According to the report prepared by the World Economic Forum, during 2019 Costa Rica ranked 41 out of 140 countries. It was followed by Panama at box 47, the Dominican Republic at 73, Nicaragua at 91, Honduras at 94, Guatemala at 99 and El Salvador at 108.
During the first half of the year, 1.73 million visitors arrived in Costa Rica, a figure 3.9% higher than that reported in the same period in 2018, behavior that is explained by the rise in the arrival of tourists from North America.
Figures from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute specify that only during June of this year, the arrival of 249 thousand visitors was registered, 11% more than those reported in the same month of 2018.
Although between 2017 and 2018 the average spending of tourists in Costa Rica fell 14%, businessmen estimate that the country has the capacity to absorb more demand.
Figures from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) specify that in the last two years the average expenditure made by tourists who arrive in the country decreased by $226, going from $1,561 in 2017 to $1,335 in 2018, and the stay per person remains around 12 nights.
At the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018, touristic companies in Nicaragua were reporting a good performance, but the political situation in the country has generated a crisis that is still unsolved.
In 2017, tourism generated $840 million in revenue for the Nicaraguan economy, 31% more than in 2016, growth that improved the companies' expectations at the beginning of the year, since in the first quarter of 2018 the forecasts were that by the end of this year revenues could reach $900 million.
Between 2012 and 2016, the tourism sector's contribution to Costa Rica's Gross Domestic Product increased from 4.4% to 6.3%, with accommodation, food and beverage services being the most important activities.
The tourism industry can be compared to other economic activities in order to measure its importance.
Greater air connectivity is one of the factors that explains the increase in income generated from tourism activities in the first quarter in Costa Rica, when $1.182 billion was reported.
The travel category, in the exports section of the Balance of Payments, is composed mostly of the expense of foreigners who arrive for holiday trips, and the increase reported in the first quarter, which is the high season, is attributed to good promotion of the country and better air connectivity.
The hoteliers union of Costa Rica reported that the occupancy level in the mid-year holidays of 2018 is 65%, 3% less than the average figure reported in the same period in 2017.
According to a survey carried out on June 29 by the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH), in which 80 accommodation centers were consulted, between the mid-year vacations of 2017 and this year, the average occupancy rate fell from 68% to 65%.
Visits by foreigners to undergo medical procedures in Costa Rica last year generated $437 million, 5% more than was registered in 2016.
According to figures from the Central Bank of Costa Rica, medical tourismrevenues have shown sustained growth, as in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there were reports of increases in relation to each of the preceding years of 9%, 16% and 5% respectively.
In the first quarter of the year the number of tourists who flew the US grew 6% compared to the same period in 2017.
After a period of uncertainty, the flow of American tourists has once again registered an increase in the first three months of the year.Specifically, 21,337 more Americans came into the country than between January and March of 2017.
During the 2016-2017 season, 250 cruise ships arrived at the country's ports, representing an increase of 34% over the previous season, and the number of tourists on board increased by 16%.
According to official figures, between the seasons 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, the number of tourists who arrived on board cruises grew by 16%, rising from 242,930 to 280,854.
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.
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