Volume of American tourists to Costa Rica quadruples in November

Tamarindo, Costa Rica (D.R.)

The American market has recorded in November a considerable growth of visits to Costa Rica since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, underlines a press release from the Costa Rican Tourism Office.

24,606 Americans arrived in the country by air compared to 6,115 a month earlier in October. The November figure represents a little more than a quarter of the arrivals from the United States in November 2019.

This means that 68 out of every 100 tourists who arrived by air in November were Americans, a growth that coincides with the opening of the country to all states on November 1. The total number of international arrivals is reported to be 36,044.

“This signal we are receiving from Costa Rica’s largest market is encouraging for more than 600,000 people who depend directly and indirectly on tourism,” said Gustavo J. Segura Sancho, Minister of Tourism. Although optimistic, the Minister pointed out that the task of recovery will be gradual and progressive, but also that the number of tourists coming from Europe is still below expectations.

In November, 4,322 European tourists arrived in the country by air, slightly more than double the 2,072 recorded in October, but still far from the 40,866 recorded in November of the previous year.

According to the statement, on future expectations, the Minister of Tourism called for caution, since the current number of tourists arriving by air is less than 20% of the pre-pandemic figures.

Gustavo J. Segura insisted on the correct application of health measures, the use of masks, physical distance and staying in social bubbles.

The gradual reactivation of the international tourism industry began in Costa Rica on 1 August, with the opening to international commercial flights from the European Union and then to all other countries by sea and air on 1 November.

The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism points out that in order for tourists to enter the country, it is mandatory to comply with the usual immigration procedures and to fill out the digital epidemiological form or “Health Pass” from the Ministry of Health and to take out travel insurance that covers accommodation in case of quarantine and medical expenses in case of acute illness.