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Costa Rican Tourism Institute signs agreement to promote foreign investment in tourism |
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 By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism announced that a new strategy will be developed during the next five years as it searches for foreign investment in the tourism sector. To meet this goal, the institute signed an agreement this Thursday with the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives which is the organization specializing in attracting foreign investment. María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, said this agreement is "a coordinated and efficient effort necessary to promote Costa Rica as a suitable destination for foreign tourist investment and the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives has the experience and strategic allies to help us achieve our objectives." "This agreement will allow promoting tourism infrastructure projects that will have a direct impact on the generation of employment throughout the country," said Jorge Sequeira, the General Director of the Costa Rican Development Initiatives Coalition. Sequeira said that the income generated from the tourism sector represented 6.3 percent of GDP in 2016 and also generated thousands of jobs in areas outside the capital. The project to attract direct foreign investment will include hotels, entertainment places, corporate centers, theme or sports parks, and infrastructure. Each of those projects will be executed individually. The institute did not give information on whether or not a payment was part of that agreement. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute is promoting Costa Rica at the FESPO, Tourism and Travel Fair in Switzerland* for the third year in a row. On this occasion, 10 companies from the Costa Rican private sector, such as hotels, tour operators and car rental companies are exhibiting in a space of 100 square meters, said the Institute. According to the institute the Costa Rican stand is decorated with native plants and contains large screens showing aerial photos of tourist attractions and typical Costa Rican dancing. People can also enjoy tasting the coffee and other edible delights from the country. Alberto López, general manager of the Institute, said that the strategy of attending international fairs contributes to the positive positioning of Costa Rica in the main markets of interest. “During 2019 we plan to participate in approximately 21 public fairs, tourism meetings, meetings with tourism professionals, and others." Lopez said that participation in international fairs is a strategic action for the face-to-face approach with the final consumer, but that it is also a unique space for negotiation with participating companies, as well as for the development of meetings with wholesalers, airlines and attention from the international press. |
 A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo The
project to attract direct foreign investment
will include hotels, entertainment places,
corporate centers, theme or sports parks, and
infrastructure. Each of those projects will be
executed individually.
According to the institute the number of tourists coming from Switzerland has increased significantly due to a series of strategic actions, among which are the direct connection flights to Zurich with Edelweiss airline, special public relations projects, the attention to Costa Rica in by press and agents from Switzerland and the participation of two previous editions of FESPO. "The Swiss market is the sixth largest source of tourists from Europe to Costa Rica, with 29,000 arrivals of Swiss tourists last year, which translates into growth of 13.7 percent in 2018 compared to 2017. In 2018 480,000 tourists from Europe were reported," said on its statement. According to the institute, 58 percent of the tourists coming from Switzerland are under 35 years old. They register an average stay of 17 days, and spend an average of $184 per day. Among the favorite activities are the beach (86 percent), observing flora and fauna (80 percent), visits to volcanoes (68 percent) and hiking along trails (66 percent). The institute did not give information on the amount that it spent on participating in this fair. -------- How should the government invest money to attract more tourists? 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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