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In a bid to attract even more tourists from North America, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (I.C.T) has launched an innovative million dollar prize giveaway. The advertising campaign titled, “Costa Rica’s Million Dollar Gift of Happiness,” is aimed at getting more North American travelers to visit the paradise country.

Exciting & Innovative Costa Rica tourism prizes

The Costa Rica tourism campaign will run from October 6^th 2011 to February the 5^th 2012 and will gift a total of $1 million week long Costa Rica vacation packages to lucky travelers in the U.S and Canada.  Those who are bag the highly coveted travel and tourism prize will be able to choose from a selection of Costa Rica vacation packages including Romantic, Adventure, Wildlife, Adrenaline and Culture. Read the rest of this entry »

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Costa Rica sport fishing represents approximately 27% of the country’s income generated through tourism.  Recognizing the importance of the Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism initiative, several hotels have agreed to support the elimination of the consumption of particular species of endangered fish.

Hotel chain signs sustainable tourism agreement

The hotel chain Hilton Worldwide (Puntarenas Double Tree Resort, Garden Inn, Liberia Airport, Papagayo Resort and Spa and San Jose Double Tree Cariari) have signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Federation of Tourism Fishing (Federación Costarricense de Pesca Turística)

 The hotel chain has agreed to remove Marlin and Sailfish from their restaurant menus to ensure their conservation. “We are proud to be part of a small change that will have a great impact on the tourism and health of our guests as some studies indicates that both species have high mercury content. This initiative is a socially responsible commitment that we have agreed to voluntarily,” said Laura Castagini of the Double Tree Resort, Cariari. Read the rest of this entry »

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With all the announcements of the many airlines that will either begin or increase their flights to Costa Rica, it’s great to hear that one airline has gone green. In an effort to offer more sustainable flights, Aeromexico’s green flights have begun arriving in Costa Rica as of Tuesday 27^th September.   

Costa Rica flights from Mexico go green

Using bio-fuel, the Aeromexico aircraft will save more than two tons of carbon dioxide emissions in comparison to a traditional flight using environmentally damaging fossil fuel. According to calculations a return trip from Mexico to Costa Rica has a saving of 1,437 kilos of fuel and 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions if bio-fuel is used.

The Biofuel is composed of a mixture of jet fuel and from the oilseed plant Jatropha Curcas.  Boeing Commercial Airplanes who is providing the biofuel used for this flight, has repeatedly stated that the development of sustainable biofuel is strategic plan and has long worked closely with other industry players, such as academic institutions, governments and environmental organizations, to accelerate the availability of sustainable fuel sources and low carbon emissions. Mexico’s aviation industry expects bio-fuels to account for 1 percent of the fuel used in 2015 and 15 percent by 2020.

According to Enrique Sandoval, Commercial Manager for Aeromexico, Costa Rica will be the first Latin American country where these “green” flights will land. “Costa Rica has a great commitment to the environment and this is why it was chosen,” He added.

Costa Rica does not offer bio-fuel for aircraft

The first 737 Boeing “green flight” with 130 passengers arrived on Tuesday the 27^th September at the Juan Santamaria airport. Sandoval highlighted the fact that the return flight from Costa Rica would be with ordinary fuel as the country does not yet offer bio-fuel for aircraft.

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Aside from being a popular beach and sun vacation destination Costa Rica is also known for medical tourism. Offering high quality medical services, Costa Rica has successfully positioned itself as a leader in the medical tourism niche market.

The Costa Rican organization that promotes international medicine (PROMED) released figures showing that 36,000 visitors came to Costa Rica for medical treatment in 2010, 6,000 more people than in 2009.

The organization highlighted a specific interest in cosmetic dentistry and surgery as well as orthopedic procedures with the majority of patients coming from the United States and Canada.

Demand for Costa Rica dental services increases
A total of 40% of medical tourists visit Costa Rica for dental work including dental implants, tooth extraction and aesthetic surgery.

The popularity of Costa Rica as a medical tourism destination is largely attributed to quality of service combined with much cheaper prices.  Expertise, certified doctors and the high standard of infrastructure in Costa Rica hospitals and clinics are also highlighted as important factors.
Hospital CIMA and Clinica Biblica accredited with the J.C.
PROMED currently has a total of 27 Costa Rica hospitals and clinics registered and certified under the Joint Commission International (J.C.I) which is linked to the Accreditation of Health Care Organization.

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Hospitals with this certification include Hospital CIMA in Escazu and Clinica Biblica in San Jose making Costa Rica the only country in the region with three accredited medical centers.

PROMED and the Costa Rican government estimate that by 2014 the country will receive over 100,000 medical tourists a year.

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World Tourism Day was celebrated on the 27th September. On this day the world tourism organization announced that there have been over 440 million worldwide tourist visits in the first six months of 2011.

This number of worldwide tourist arrivals reflects a 5% increase and has set a new record. Many tourism experts agree that the industry shows great resilience despite economic uncertainty in the Western World.
Tourism Linking Cultures

This year World Tourism Day focused on the theme “Tourism linking cultures,” a celebration of tourism’s role in bringing together cultures through world travel. With millions of people travelling the world every day never before have people visited so many places and so many different cultures. As Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed, “World Tourism Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism to global well-being. As we travel, let us engage with other cultures and celebrate human diversity. On this observance, let us recognize tourism as a force for a more tolerant, open and united world. ”

Costa Rica Tourism is flourishing

Allan Flores, The Costa Rican Tourism Minister said, “The celebration of the world tourism day encourages us to protect our culture as the principal differentiating element. Reinforcing our traditions will ensure more people fall in love with Costa Rica and our new

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tourism model.”

The President of the Association of Tourism Professionals, Yadira Simon believes that Costa Rica must concentrate on developing niche markets through innovation as well as eco tourism. “Our country has many elements that can still be developed to make it even more attractive,” she explained.

In Costa Rica tourism contributes 7% to the country’s GDP and approximately 7.5% in employment with more than 144,000 people directly employed. In the past 20 years Costa Rica tourism has grown by 600%, at a yearly percentage of 10%, more than double the global average.