Costa Rica is rolling out a new tourism campaign in Paris and Amsterdam, using a double-decker bus and a Nederlandse Spoorwegen train wrapped in vibrant images of the country’s flora and fauna.

The Tourism Institute (ICT) said the Paris effort features “the Jungle Bus,” a double-decker vehicle transformed into a tropical environment that mimics the country’s rainforests.

Passengers can ride the bus for free and experience the sensation of being in the middle of the jungle through vegetation displays, soundscapes, rainforest-themed elements and wildlife imagery.  Riders will also be offered Costa Rican products, including coffee and fruit.

Tourism officials estimate the campaign will reach more than 11 million people in Paris as the bus moves through high-traffic areas and makes scheduled stops. Each tour lasts about 30 minutes.

 

Also, Costa Rica is launching a similar campaign in the Netherlands aimed at drawing more European visitors.

The Dutch initiative features a series of banners showcasing Costa Rican nature at stations along the Nederlandse Spoorwegen rail network, as well as inside the train cars. The effort is designed to attract the attention of the 2 million Europeans who travel between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The promotions come as Europe enters the winter season, a period when many Europeans take advantage of holidays to travel.

According to ICT data, more than 35,000 European tourists arrived in Costa Rica by air as of September.  During the same period, more than 2.2 million travelers arrived in Costa Rica by air overall.

The bus and train advertising campaign is one of several international marketing efforts Costa Rica has launched recently. In November, the country participated in the Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM) trade show in Barcelona, Spain.

In 2024, the country welcomed over 2.6 million international air arrivals, a 7% increase from the previous year.

The sector also generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings in 2024.

ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting tourism and investing in infrastructure improvements.