The Costa Rican tourism sector, a key driver of our nation’s economy, is grappling with competitiveness issues even as it sees a slight uptick in visitor numbers. According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), air arrivals in 2025 are projected to range between 2,663,245 and 2,869,809, aligning with planning for international visitors. In April, the country welcomed 231,678 international tourists, a 4.6% increase from the 221,573 recorded in April 2024, breaking a seven-month decline from September 2024 to March of this year. Tourism Minister William Rodríguez projects a modest growth of 2% to 4% in arrivals for the rest of 2025, a step down from last year’s highs but in line with global trends. However, this slight recovery masks deeper concerns raised by industry leaders. Daniel Campos, president of the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, pointed to the appreciating Costa Rican colón, now around ₡500 to the U.S. dollar compared to ₡700 in mid-2022, as a major hurdle. This shift ha...
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