740.000 Tourist Arrivals In First Quarter of 2012
• Number represents an 8% increase over same period in 2011

At a workshop for the press on Wednesday, the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - Costa Rican Tourism Institute - released data on visitor arrivals, spending, reasons why and who come to Costa Rica.

In all of 2011, arrivals to the country 2.192.000 people all ports. So far this year, 740.000 tourists have arrived, surpassing the 8 percent level for the same period of 2011.

Why come to Costa Rica? According to surveys taken by the ICT at the airport Juan Santamaría and Daniel Oduber, the vast majority come for vacation, leisure or pleasure, 16% for business, 7% to visit family or friends and 0.5% for health treatments.

Do they come alone? For respondents at the Juan Santamaria, 30% arrived alone, 27% with family and 22% with their spouse or significant other. Eight of every 10 tourists stay in hotels or cabins.

Specialist Rodolfo Lizano, explained that the estimate of tourist spending is higher for those entering through the airport in Liberia, although those arriving at Juan Santamaria stay more days in the country.

What do tourists like to do in Costa Rica? The majority come for the sun and beaches.

As for Costa Rican tourists, most prefer the beach, especially Guanacaste and Puntarenas. About 45% stay at friends' homes and an average of 2.8 nights.

To accommodate tourists, Costa Rica has 2.476 hotels and over 44.300 rooms, according to 2011 ICT data.