Published on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

More than 2 million travelers arrived in Costa Rica by air between January and August, according to the Tourism Institute (ICT).

The figure represents a slight decline of about 2% compared with the same period in 2024, when roughly 2.1 million tourists visited the country.

The United States remains Costa Rica’s largest tourism market, accounting for approximately 1.2 million visitors. Canada accounted for more than 187,000 arrivals, while over 50,000 travelers came from Mexico.

Despite the dip, officials are optimistic about a rebound later this year. Since July, 13 new international routes have launched from Canada, Mexico, the United States, France, and the Netherlands, improving connectivity.  Including JetBlue Airways, which announced three new nonstop flights between Boston and Costa Rica set to begin later this year.

Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela province remains the country’s busiest gateway, having received more than 1.2 million of the total arrivals so far this year. Recently, the airport launched an expansion project aimed at enhancing services for the growing number of travelers passing through the country’s busiest airport.

ICT officials point to continued investment in infrastructure and international marketing campaigns as key to sustaining growth. Recently, the agency launched a promotional push in Toronto and Montreal to strengthen the country’s presence in Canada’s largest markets.

Looking ahead, ICT projections suggest total international arrivals for 2025 could range between 2.6 million (ARIMA model) and 2.8 million (Holt-Winters model).

Tourism remains a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s economy. In 2024, the country welcomed more than 2.6 million international air travelers.

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

The ICT is the government agency responsible for tourism promotion.

----------------
What additional strategies should Costa Rica consider to draw even more visitors? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com