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COSTA RICA |
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Today's
Tourist To Costa Rica Stays Shorter, Spends
Less
Although the number of tourists has not
dropped significantly over the numbers of
last year, however, the money tourists leave
behind is another matter.
According to the Instituto Costarricense de
Turismo (ICT), the Cámara Nacional de
Turismo (Canatur) the Cámara Costarricense
de Hoteles (CCH), in 2008 each tourist left
behind an average of us$1.040 during an
average of a 10 day stay.
However, in 2009, the average stay dropped
to 9.5 days and the amount left behind
dropped to us$855.
During last year 2.089 million visitors came
to Costa Rica leaving behind us$2.1 billion
dollars, this year, however, the take is
expected to be us$1.6 billion with only 1.9
million tourists.
It is estimated that some 110.000 people
live directly off tourism. According to
figures of the Caja Costarricense del Seguro
Social (CCSS), as of July this year there
have been 4.100 layoffs due to the drop in
tourism.
What is important to note is that although
the drop in the number of tourists is low,
only 180.000 less this year, the type of
tourist reaching our shores is different.
Today's tourists are looking for bargains or
way to save a buck her and a buck there.
Tourists that in the past would required a
four star hotel, will now with a three star
and so on. Renting of vehicles, cellular
phones and other high end products is down.
Today's tourists will take the bus, group
together on tours and avoid calling home to
save.
Pablo Solano, president of the CCH, said
that "tourists today are looking to save in
everything".
The biggest effect of today's tourist is
being felt in the luxury market, where the
drop is 25% or more.
Affected also by this is are the artisans
and local markets, as tourists do not have
the money or are unwilling to spend on
"touristy" items.
This high season, which traditionally begins
in the middle of December, the situation is
expected to be worse that last high season,
where hotels had plenty of rooms available
and tour operators saw a drastic drop in
daily excursions and activities. |
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