CR is #1 Tourist Destination

The United States tourism industry comprised of 180,000 readers belonging to organizations such as travel agencies, hotels and tour operators chose Costa Rica as the #1 tourist destination in Latin America again. This is the third year that Costa Rica has received the honor after doing so in 2004 and 2006. The Magazine Travel Weekly delivered the award to the Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT in Spanish) and presented to Minister of Tourism Carlos Benavides at the International Tourism Fair, held in Spain.
The ICT was created in 1955 and is an autonomous institution of the government, responsible for regulating tourism activity and promoting Costa Rica’s tourism attractions and destinations both at a national and international level.
During 2007 Costa Rica’s national tourism industry increased by 11.5%, with 1.9 million international tourist arrivals. Revenue generated by international tourists reached a historic high of US$1.9 billion, up US$300 million from the previous year. In January of 2008, tourism increased again by 13.7% in tourist air arrivals according to data gathered by the ICT.
Expansion began last year with U.S. and European airline companies including Spirit Airlines, Frontier, Champion Air, Sunwing Airlines, First Choice, Air Caraibes, and Air Comet serving Costa Rica. Hilton, Marriott, Crown and Express are among some of the hotel chains that decided to invest in Costa Rica’s tourism industry.
For US travelers, Costa Rica is an exotic destination that is much closer to the U.S. mainland and therefore more affordable in comparison to European and Asian destinations. Visitors from the U.S. represented 54 percent of the overall 1.9 million tourists who came to Costa Rica last year.