Tourism industry leaders in Costa Rica have come to accept the following reality: The high costs of operating a business in our country leave no choice but to attract visitors who can afford expensive vacations. In other words, Costa Rica will now be known as a destination for travelers who enjoy generous levels of disposable income. Such is the gist of a report recently filed by Jessica Montero Soto of business weekly El Financiero.

 

In late December, The Boston Globe urged readers to forget about Costa Rica and look towards Nicaragua as the hottest Central American destination for budget travelers. This was not an off-the-cuff remark by The Boston Globe; the report was based on industry sentiment gauged by the World Travel & Tourism Council. Similar statements can be found in European industry magazines and even international tourism expos; Nicaragua and Panama are the current darlings of Central American travel.

 

The high costs of Costa Rica vacations are not limited to lodging, shopping and entertainment. Many airlines do not offer non-stop flights to Costa Rica because this is an expensive country for them to operate in; case in point: the restructuring of flight operations by South American carrier Avianca.

 

Somehow, the tourism industry of Costa Rica continues to enjoy growth. From 2013 to 2014, the increase in foreign visitors was 4.1 percent. Other nations such as Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama registered increases between 8 and 10 percent during the same period, but the levels of tourists they receive is not even half of what Costa Rica enjoys.

 

Travel agents interviewed by El Financiero are already adjusting their marketing operations for the purpose of attracting more affluent visitors. To this effect, the luxury tourism segment in Costa Rica is growing rapidly despite the lack of five-star accommodations and attractions. Industry leaders plan to add more personalized (and pricey) options for tourists such as concierge services.