Tourists in Costa Rica Spending Less in 2009

26 October 2009

Tourists in Costa Rica Spending Less in 2009

Posted by richardb under: Travel and Tourism .

This year saw over 1000 flights being canceled to Costa Rica as Airlines saw numbers of travelers decreasing and also more of a need to cut costs.

2008 - $1040 per person on a 10 day vacation.

2009 - $855 per person in 9.5 day vacation (10 days would be $900)

(Numbers from the Costa Rican ICT, Canatur and Hotel Association)

Alan Flores, Minister of ICT stated that the consumption is lower and it is mainly due to the world financial crisis. He also stated that the total loss this year would be around $540m.

Gonzalo Vargas, President of Canatur said that the world crisis has affected tourism here in Costa Rica negatively and especially our American Tourists who make up 54% of tourists.

The Caja (CCSS) in Costa Rica (Social Security) released figures that 4,100 people had been laid off in tourism, however every is hopeful that with the growth of markets world wide that this year will see the re-employment of some of these 4,100 workers, especially as the new RIU hotel in Guanacaste is about to open in November.

Some of the worst hit by the decrease are the hotels. This year many hotels have gone out of business such as the Cala Luna Hotel in Tamarindo. The ICT decreased its taxes to 13% to try to help these hotels, however some still went out of business. A lot of hotel owners have seen the number of nights at their hotels drop and clients being more price sensitive.

The ICT and Canatur have predicted a better 2010 than 2009 and the everyone in Costa Rica is keeping their fingers crossed.

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