Costa Rica is promoting its cuisine in Germany as part of an effort to attract more tourists from the European market.

Through an advertising campaign titled “The Flavors of Pura Vida,” a group of Costa Rican chefs sponsored by the Tourism Institute (ICT) participated in a culinary event in Frankfurt, Germany, to promote Costa Rican cuisine and attract more visitors.

According to tourism authorities, the event was held at Enamor Kitchen in Frankfurt and brought together tourism promotion professionals, members of the media and tourism industry partners.

The ICT invited attendees to taste traditional Costa Rican dishes and, through the experience, “discover Costa Rica’s diversity, natural beauty, vibrant culture and unique way of life,” the institute said in a statement.

The event featured Costa Rican chef Giancarlo Fernández-Serrano, who took guests on an interactive culinary journey featuring dishes inspired by Costa Rican flavors.

“Beyond the culinary experience, the guests exchanged ideas and found new sources of inspiration about Costa Rica as a tourist destination, from its cultural and gastronomic richness to its extraordinary nature, biodiversity and the warmth of its people,” the ICT said.

The institute sponsored the culinary event as part of its promotional efforts to market Costa Rica as a tourist destination.

“The event is aimed at showcasing the many facets of Costa Rica as a destination, inspiring and encouraging potential tourists from Germany and Europe to visit Costa Rica during their next vacations,” authorities said.

According to ICT statistics, Germany is one of Costa Rica’s main European tourism markets. As of June, Europe had contributed more than 263,000 visitors, led by Germany with approximately 40,900 travelers.

"The Flavors of Pura Vida” event is part of Costa Rica’s ongoing effort to increase tourism revenue and strengthen its presence in key international markets.

The country recently targeted the U.S. and Canadian meetings and business travel market at the M&I Flagship Forum in Nashville, the capital and largest city of the U.S. State of Tennessee.

In related developments, Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast cruise season began, with more than 70 cruise ships expected to call at the country’s three main Pacific ports in Puntarenas Province.

In 2025, Costa Rica welcomed more than 2.6 million air travelers.

The tourism industry also reached a significant economic milestone during the first quarter of 2026, generating more than $2 billion in tourism revenue for the first time in the country’s history.

The ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting Costa Rica as a tourism destination and supporting the country’s tourism industry.

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