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COSTA RICA |
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Costa Rica Tourist Arrivals Drop in 2009
After 2008 Record Increase
After a record arrivals of 2.51 million in
2008, a steady annual increase since the
2.06 million in 20006 and 2.29 million in
2007, Costa Rica recorded a drop to 2.29
million for 2009. Arrival numbers are
forecast to tick up again in 2010, and to
grow at an average rate of 2.2% until the
end of our forecast period in 2013.
The majority of tourists visit Costa Rica
during the peak season (January-May) and
come from the Americas - the United
States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America .
Arrivals from the country’s three most
important source markets – the US, Nicaragua
and Canada – increased steadily during 2004
to 2007. However, looking at the inbound
tourism data by region, although 2008
continued to trend upwards in North America
and Latin America, the report is forecasting
arrivals numbers from both regions to
decrease by 9.73% and 7.81%, respectively.
The next most important source markets in
terms of arrivals are, in order, Panama,
Mexico and Spain.
The main growth drivers for the industry are
ecotourism and health tourism.
Costa Rica has 32 national parks, eight
biological reserves, 13 forest reserves and
51 wildlife refuges. That said, the industry
is forecast to suffer slightly in 2009 due
to the ongoing recession, particularly in
the US, and the AH1N1 flu virus.
The planned development of the Caribbean
Limón province, the continued expansion of
the Daniel Oduber Quirós International
Airport in Liberia and the growing amount of
chartered flights from Europe all have the
potential to drive growth in the market.
Costa Rica’s tourism industry is a major
contributor to the economy, accounting for
about 7.8% of GDP in direct terms in 2008
and nearly 3% of total employment in 2006 –
49,000 individuals – according to data from
the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Collective government expenditure on tourism
was an estimated su$29.7 million in 2008, a
4% increase year on year. Collective
government expenditure is forecast to slump
slightly in 2009 to us$27.9 million,
bouncing back to us$29.6mn in 2011.
Expenditure is then forecast to rise to
us$33.1 million by the end of the forecast
period in 2013.
The government has created a tax on inbound
airfares to the country. The fee is
us$15 per airfare and replaces the 3% hotel
tax.
Part of the revenue from the tax, which is
expected to be more than su$80 million per
year, will fund some of the activities of
Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) -
the Costa Rican Tourism Board, including
marketing, promotion and planning.
The change in taxation came about due to the
increasing amount of condominium and other
private rentals that were not included under
the umbrella of the hotel tax. New hotel
developments are ongoing in the country,
with major international companies including
Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Barceló
constructing hotels near the beaches and in
urban centres. |
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