According to the 2009 rankings of the World Economic Forum
For the third consecutive year, Costa Rica remains in first place as the most competitive country regarding tourism in Latin America, and on March 4th this fact was ratified, by the World Economic Forum alter selecting the world ranking on Travel and Tourism 2009.
For the Minister of Tourism Carlos Ricardo Benavides, the results of this measurement are of utmost importance particularly in times where the competitiveness offered by tourism is essential in a market hit by global economic conditions, revealing the positioning of the country as a desired destination and also imposes a greater commitment to continue working to strengthen the sector.
We are delighted this result not only has maintained Costa Rica in first place in the Latin American rankings for the third consecutive year, but also provides us with an important plus in the tourism world market, especially at a time when the economic situation in the world requires us to be more aggressive and take on more dynamic challenges, "said Benavides.
The Study conducted by authorities in this important organization evaluated 133 nations around the globe, a figure which includes three more countries than in 2008.
The results of the Tourism Competitiveness Ranking placed the country at number 42 on the list, surpassing two seats in comparison to 2008 and placing Costa Rica over nations such as Brazil (45), Mexico (51) and Puerto Rico (53). The World Economic Forum considers three main parameters for this measurement: the regulatory framework, the business and tourism environment and infrastructure, and the natural cultural and human resources of each country.
It is noteworthy to point out that the highest scores for the country were in terms of natural resources, protected areas, and diverse wildlife, whilst in tourist infrastructure it was highlighted the number of hotel rooms which the country has and the amount of rental cars among others.
It has also been considered in amongst the countries competitive aspects, the private property rights for foreigners, visa requirements, bilateral air agreements, environmental regulation and enforcement, the policy of sustainable tourism, the government giving priority to the tourism industry, the governments investment in tourism, the effectiveness of marketing and promotion of policies, the quality of human resources, and the positive attitude of the Costa Rican towards foreign individuals, among others.
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