Costa Rica, a nation celebrated for its lush rainforests, stunning coastlines, and rich biodiversity, is witnessing an unprecedented boom in its tourism sector. This surge is not only elevating the country’s international profile as a premier travel destination but is also playing a pivotal role in driving economic growth and job creation.
According to recent data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), the tourism industry has created thousands of new jobs and generated substantial foreign exchange income, underscoring its importance to Costa Rica’s economy.
Between the first and second quarters of this year, Costa Rica’s tourism sector added approximately 15,253 new jobs, increasing the total workforce in the sector from 172,545 to 187,798. This represents a significant increase, surpassing employment levels in equivalent periods both before the pandemic in 2019 and in 2023.
The Continuous Employment Survey (ECE) reports that the sector is now employing more people than ever, reflecting the rapid recovery and growth of tourism in the country.
July 2024 marked a particularly remarkable month, with Costa Rica welcoming 239,368 visitors by air—a 7.2% increase compared to July 2023. This number represents the highest July visitation in recent years and indicates the growing appeal of Costa Rica as a travel destination. The influx of tourists during this period contributed to a robust performance for the country’s tourism sector, further solidifying its role as a key economic driver.
Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez, highlighted the exceptional performance of the tourism sector, noting record levels of international tourist arrivals by air and the substantial foreign exchange income these visitors are generating. The Juan Santamaría International Airport, located near the capital city of San José, welcomed 162,543 tourists in July 2024, a 2.3% increase compared to the same month in 2023. Meanwhile, Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, which serves the popular Guanacaste region, experienced a more significant rise of 19.4%, with 76,779 tourist arrivals.
The growth in tourist arrivals is particularly evident from North America, which accounts for 75% of all international visitors to Costa Rica. During the first seven months of 2024, arrivals from North America increased by 16.9% compared to the same period in 2023. The United States, in particular, remains the largest source of tourists, with 1,100,571 Americans visiting Costa Rica by air, reflecting the country’s strong appeal among U.S. travelers. Canada and Mexico also showed substantial increases, with 174,679 and 53,914 tourists respectively, further contributing to the overall growth in visitation.
Source : https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/costa-rica-drives-tourism-industry-growth-with-job-creations-in-airlines-cruise-and-hotel-sector/
