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Two new direct flights from Toronto to Costa Rica, said Tourism Institute |
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 By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute and the Canadian airline Air Transat announced that there will be two direct flights from Toronto to airports in Costa Rica, one to the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia* and another to the Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela*. Air Transat operates weekly flights to San Jose from the cities of Montreal (Monday and Friday) and Toronto (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday). In the case of Liberia, it flies three times a week to Toronto (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and two times a week to Montreal (Wednesday and Friday). María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism said, "the attraction of airlines and a greater offer of seats from our main markets for tourists is a significant achievement that benefits national tourism and is the result of our ongoing efforts in this strategic area." Annick Guérard, director of operations at Air Transat said, "during the last few years Costa Rica's popularity among Canadian travelers has increased and Air Transat is pleased to be able to respond with direct flights from Montreal and Toronto." Guérard said that Costa Rica, "it is ideal for nature lovers who are eager to discover new experiences and will also attract those who love vacations on beaches and coasts." The Institute said an advertising campaign will soon be carried out in cooperation with Air Transat. The campaign to promote tourism to Costa Rica will be made during the year in the airline's own media and other mass media in Canada. The Institute did not provide the cost of that advertising campaign but confirmed that the cost will be shared between the institute and the airline. As A.M. Costa Rica reported on Dec. 28, Sunwing , another Canadian airline, announced the first direct flight between Vancouver to Guanacaste. Sunwing’s base of operations is Toronto, Canada. It is initially scheduled to operate until March 31, 2019, the end of the high season. Flight WG129 will operate every Sunday with a Boeing 737 MAX. César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the company in charge of the administration of the airport, said "the Canadian tourist is one of the most interested in Costa Rica and the different tourist attractions of the country. They flee from the cold of winter to be received by the Costa Rican sun. This motivates hundreds of tourists to choose us as their favorite holiday destination, that's why we serve tourists with quality and excellence." |
 Air Transat courtesy photo Air
Transat operates weekly flights to San Jose from
the cities of Montreal and Toronto.
The Institute of Tourism reported that, from January to June of 2018, 17 percent of the total number of passengers arriving at the Liberia airport in Guanacaste came from Canada. Direct flights between Costa Rica and Canada were launched in 2012 after the signing of the air transport agreement to open the door to direct commercial flights between the countries. According to the institute, this flight also benefits the economy of hundreds of Guanacaste families that are positively impacted by the increase in tourists during the high season. Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, said, "We are pleased to receive the first flight of the Sunwing Company on the Vancouver-Liberia route and hope to see it expand the possibilities of tourism growth in Guanacaste, with flights that allow us to reach new destinations." According to the institute, in 2018, 217,000 tourists arrived from Canada, an increase of 7.5 percent related to 2017. Statistically, 42 percent of Canadians travel as a couple, 24 percent as a family, 22 percent alone and 9 percent with friends. The average stay of visitors from Canada is 14 nights and the average amount spent per person is $110 per day. -------- What could be the main attraction for Canadians to visit Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com *Link to reach the place on map. |
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