Costa Rica News – European tourists are the people who spend the most money and time when they visit Costa Rica. This data encourages the country to embark on a quest to bring travelers from that continent, through both attracting more airlines and campaigns in target markets.
According to data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) European tourists stay an average of 17 nights, while the overall average for a visitor is 13. The same source indicates that the average cost for Europeans is about $ 1,660, compared to the overall average cost for travelers of $ 1,351.
Comparison of European travelers between 2010 and 2015 reflects an increased of 41.7%. Last year a total of 393,115 Europeans traveled to Costa Rica. Tourism Minister, Mauricio Ventura, estimates a greater number in the future.
Despite the significant increase in the number of European tourists, arrivals from that side of the world only represents 14% of total revenue of 2,660,257 recorded during 2015.
To further develop travel business, the country has hired a public relations agency to focused on four main markets: Spain, France, Germany and the UK. The country has also contracted a study to help determine particular characteristics of those who have the intention of being tourists in Costa Rica. The result of this study will help design promotional campaigns tailored to those who have shown interest in the attractions of Costa Rica. Part of the tasks is to attract new airlines. The arrival of the first flight of Air France to Juan Santamaria airport, today at 6:30 p. m., is among those efforts.
The French carrier is among the largest aircrafts landing in Santamaría. This arrival completes six European airlines (Munich, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Zurich and Madrid) with direct travel from Europe to Costa Rica. France is one of the main origins in Europe, and in previous years tourists visiting the country had to get a flight from Madrid.
Last year 54,773 French traveled to Costa Rica, this illustrates an increase of 55% compared to 35,266 arrivals in 2010.
The private sector positively takes notes of all the movement to better serve the European market. President of the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), Pablo Abarca, said that companies are preparing with staff that can speak French or German, and agencies that specialized in European were opened.
Silvia Chaves, a spokeswoman for Aeris (management firm of Juan Santamaria), said that since last year, new boarding gates with new boarding passages have been constructed. In addition to the expansion, new platforms to receive wide-bodied aircrafts that exceed 350 passengers were made.
The President of the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, Gustavo Araya, shares hat attracting more flights and tourist to the country make tourism behave better.
By Brenda Sotelo
