One of the most important segments of Costa Rica’s economy is the tourism industry.

It’s no secret that typically in a slow economy tourism is often one of the first to struggle, but fortunately for Costa Rica, tourism has remained stable the past couple years and appears to be back on the upswing.

As a full time resident of Costa Rica I wanted to share some observations that I have seen the past 2-3 years with both local and national tourism:

Costa Rica Remains a Young, Vibrant Market

Sometimes it seems that by now everyone has discovered Costa Rica, but it really is not the case. Costa Rica just reached over 2 million tourists in one year for the second time in 2009. Ten years prior to that they were just slightly over 1 million. So while most countries would be absolutely thrilled to see a 100% increase within ten years, there remains much more potential to grow.

In comparison, Mexico had just over 21 million tourists in 2009! Even the Domincan Republic had TWICE as many tourists as Costa Rica. To say that Costa Rica can grow to see 3-4 million tourists is by no means a stretch, and you can imagine how an additional 50-100% increase could impact the country.

The Mexico Factor.

Speaking of Mexico, there is no doubt that is one place Costa Rica is pulling a lot of new tourists from. Problems and concerns with safety in Mexico are leading many vacationers to look at additional options, and many of those people are considering Costa Rica. As I mentioned Mexico has a pool of over 20 million annual tourists, so for Costa Rica to take a small percentage would make a tremendous difference.

Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

Healthcare in the U.S. and Canada is expensive and it’s not getting any cheaper. Going to a foreign country for medical procedures is still a new concept for many people, but it’s quickly emerging as one of the top growing industries in the world. Medical tourism is big business, and Costa Rica is very well equipped to compete and become one of the leading destinations for medical tourism.

For a reputable source, please note that the founder of WeLoveCostaRica.com has started a new site at CostaRicaHospital.com to help you find “safe and affordable superior surgery solutions.”

Weather and Politics

Nearly every week I speak to someone from the U.S. who is fed up U.S. politics and way of life. They tell me they are over it and want out. This is leading to research places like Costa Rica as alternative places for full time living and/or retirement. Cold weather also continues to drive people south. It seems as if the winters up north just continue to get colder and longer and many retirees desire for warmer and tropical climate.

All of these factors are just some key observations which clearly demonstrate the future for Costa Rica tourism is very bright. If you have been dreaming of making a trip to Costa Rica to learn just why this place is so special I encourage you to stop making excuses and plan your trip today, you just might find yourself falling in love with it just like all of us.

Travel statistics can be found at Wikipedia here.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.