Costa Rica’s tourism continues to decline for the sixth consecutive month, with a 7% decrease in visitor numbers recorded for February 2025 compared to 2024. Key markets in North America and Europe showed substantial declines, while South America was the only region showing growth. Tourism Minister Rodríguez acknowledged the situation, yet faced criticism for the delays in response to these challenges.
The Costa Rican tourism sector continues to experience a downturn, as evidenced by a report released by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT). In February 2025, the country welcomed 270,810 visitors, marking a 7% decrease compared to February 2024. This figure contrasts sharply with historical peaks in tourism for February 2020 and 2024, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by the industry, with the ICT focusing its statistics only on air arrivals.
Primary tourist markets, including North America and Europe, exhibited notable declines in visitor numbers during February 2025. The United States remains the largest contributor, with 150,320 arrivals, reflecting a 7.3% drop year-over-year. Canada followed with 37,975 visitors, a 5.8% decline, while Mexico recorded 6,351 tourists, penetrating a steep 12.4% decrease. Altogether, these countries reported a 7.2% decline in tourist entries.
The situation was even more dire for Europe, which saw an overall reduction of 11.4% in arrivals. Major European markets encountered significant downturns, although the ICT refrained from specifying the numbers. Contrarily, South America represented a positive note, being the only region to report an increase in visitors, with specific details, however, withheld from the report.
Tourism Minister William Rodríguez attempted to mitigate concerns surrounding the decreasing figures, stating that this issue requires attention. He asserted, “There is reason to be concerned, and we are addressing it. We are implementing a series of measures that we are confident will help us recover.”
Conversely, Congressman Eli Feinzaig from the Progressive Liberal Party criticized the minister for his delayed acknowledgment of the problem, alleging that the minister’s response had been insufficient. “The minister has finally admitted that there is a problem and that fewer tourists are coming to Costa Rica,” Feinzaig remarked, attributing the decline partly to the rising value of the colón against the dollar and a persistent security crisis that has impacted the nation’s attractiveness to international travelers.
In summary, Costa Rica’s tourism sector is facing a significant decline, as underscored by decreases in visitor numbers over the past six months. The downturn is particularly pronounced among key markets in North America and Europe, with only South America showing growth. Minister Rodríguez’s efforts to address these issues are being questioned by some, who argue that responses need to be more timely and effective. The decreasing appeal of Costa Rica stems from economic and security challenges that require urgent attention.
Original Source: ticotimes.net
