Costa Rica’s Tourism Faces Continued Decline Amid Economic Challenges

Costa Rica’s tourism has been declining for six months, with February 2025 seeing a 7% drop in visitors compared to 2024. The decline is chiefly noted from North America and Europe, while South America showed growth. Minister Rodríguez acknowledged the issue but faced criticism for delayed action.

Tourism in Costa Rica has continued to decline, with the nation experiencing a decrease in visitor numbers for the sixth consecutive month, as reported by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT). In February 2025, the country welcomed only 270,810 tourists, reflecting a 7% reduction compared to February 2024. This recent figure also falls short of the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020 and the numbers from February 2024. The ICT exclusively assesses tourism activity through air arrivals.

In February 2025, declines in tourist arrivals were particularly notable from the two main regions: North America and Europe. The United States led with 150,320 arrivals, a decrease of 7.3% from the previous year. Canada had 37,975 visitors, marking a 5.8% drop, while Mexico recorded 6,351 tourists, showing a 12.4% decline. Cumulatively, these nations experienced a year-over-year decline of 7.2% in arrivals.

Europe faced even steeper declines, with a total decrease of 11.4% in visitor numbers, particularly from key markets that reported significant, albeit unspecified, reductions. In contrast, South America showed promise as the only region to exhibit growth in visitor numbers, though exact statistics were not disclosed.

Tourism Minister William Rodríguez acknowledged the downturn but sought to mitigate concerns. He stated, “There is reason to be concerned, and we are addressing it,” indicating that measures are being implemented to foster recovery in the tourism sector.

Conversely, Congressman Eli Feinzaig of the Progressive Liberal Party criticized Rodríguez’s response, suggesting it was overly late. Feinzaig remarked that while the minister has recognized the declining tourist numbers, he deflects responsibility toward the airlines instead of addressing underlying issues. Feinzaig identified two primary factors contributing to this decline: the appreciation of the colón against the dollar, making Costa Rica a costlier destination, and an ongoing security crisis that has negatively impacted the nation’s allure for tourists.

In summary, the latest statistics from the Costa Rican Tourism Board indicate a continuing decline in tourism, with significant decreases across key markets, particularly North America and Europe. Despite the government’s acknowledgment of the issue and proposed measures for recovery, criticisms regarding the timeliness of these responses underscore concerns about the underlying economic and security challenges facing the sector.

Original Source: ticotimes.net