North American
Anglers
Contribute $599
Million Annually
to Costa Rican
Economy
Tourism is Costa
Rica’s top
industry and new
research shows
North Americans
traveling there
in 2008 to fish
generated $599
million - or
about two
percent of Costa
Rica’s gross
domestic
product.
The study,
conducted in
2009 by The
Billfish
Foundation,
Southwick
Associates and
the Universidad
de Costa Rica (UCR),
revealed 283,790
anglers visited
Costa Rica and
their economic
impact even
overshadowed
commercial
fishing. It was
estimated 22
percent of those
tourists visited
the country for
the exclusive
purpose of
fishing.
From that $599
million the
study also
showed
sportfishing
generated almost
$78 million in
tax revenues for
Costa Rica and
63,000 jobs. In
comparison, the
effect of
commercial
fishing for the
same species
sought by
anglers
generated
approximately
$528 million to
Costa Rica’s
gross domestic
product.
Commercial
fishing
contributed
$68.6 million in
tax revenue and
created 57,000
jobs.
“We have already
had the
opportunity to
present the
results of this
study to the
incoming vice
president and
minister of
tourism,” said
Ellen Peel,
president of The
Billfish
Foundation. “And
we will be
making a formal
presentation to
a wider cross
sector of
government and
business leaders
this summer. The
leadership in
Costa Rica had
no idea that
their country
receives more
benefits from a
sustainable
recreational
harvest than
from the
subsidized
excessive effort
in the
commercial
fishery.”
The
comprehensive
study included
interviewing
tourists at
Costa Rica’s
major airports
to estimate the
percentage who
fished while
visiting. The
research focused
on the
expenditures and
economic impacts
of marlin,
sailfish,
yellowfin tuna,
wahoo and
dorado; species
that are the
most frequent
targets of
commercial
fisherman and
recreational
anglers.
It was estimated
the 283,790
North Americans
visiting Costa
Rica in 2008
spent a total of
$467 million.
The survey
revealed $329
million was
spent on travel
including
lodging ($119
million),
restaurants
($15.6 million),
flights and
fishing guides
($88 million)
and land
transportation
($6 million).
These dollars
then change
hands multiple
times in Costa
Rica, creating
significant
benefits for the
nation’s gross
domestic
product. In
addition,
visitors spent
approximately
$105 million
outside of Costa
Rica prior to
arrival for
airfare or other
travel expenses,
though these
dollars are not
included in the
economic
analyses.
About 3,700 of
those visiting
Costa Rica have
their own boats
in the country,
whether
permanently or
temporarily, and
they spent
approximately
$138 million for
items such as
fuel ($45.6
million),
maintenance and
repairs ($25
million),
furniture and
accessories for
their vessels
($48 million),
staff and crews
($2.8 million),
marina fees
($16.6 million),
and taxes and
insurance ($1.8
million).
“TBF believes
that only when
decision makers
understand the
economic
importance of
good fishing
opportunities
for tourist
anglers will
billfish
conservation get
on the radar
screen of
government
leaders charged
with economic
development as
well as
fisheries
management,“
said Dr. Russell
Nelson chief
scientist for
TBF. “And now
thanks to the
dedication of
TBF members and
generous donors
who have
supported our
socio-economic
research, we are
making the
point.”
Additional work
conducted in the
U.S. by
Southwick
Associates, Inc.
estimated 7.5
million
Americans fished
outside of their
country in 2009
with 3.6 percent
of them
traveling to
Costa Rica.
Among anglers
vacationing in
Costa Rica, 40
percent said
they would not
have visited the
country if they
could not fish.
Those anglers,
who represent
116,000 visitors
per year and
about $135
million in
tourism income
for Costa Rica,
said the main
factor in
determining
their
satisfaction is
“quality of
fishing”
followed by
“relative peace
and quiet,” and
“fishing
services, boat
and crew
quality.” The
majority of
anglers reported
they visited
Costa Rica to
catch billfish
including
sailfish, marlin
along with
dorado. Inshore
species such as
snook and tarpon
were less
frequent
targets.
“This was the
first study done
in Central
America that
compares the
economic
contributions of
recreational and
commercial
fishing for the
same species,”
said Rob
Southwick,
president of
Southwick
Associates, who
coordinated
design and
methodology,
management and
monitoring of
this research
and generated
information
regarding U.S.
anglers’
international
travel
activities.
“We’ve completed
similar work for
Los Cabos,
Mexico, and the
results produced
almost immediate
benefits to
fisheries
management and
conservation.”
That study found
the Los Cabos
area benefited
by $1.1 billion
to the economy.
Based on the
success of
socio-economic
research in
Mexico and Costa
Rica, TBF
already has
entered into
discussions with
the new
administration
in Panama to
conduct similar
studies in that
country.
Complete reports
are available
at:
www.billfish.org
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