- Costa Rica maintains growth at three times the world average
- WTO remains hesitant, but positive towards the international situation
- World Tourism grew 5%
Despite the uncertainty of the economic conditions that exist throughout the world due to continuous fuel and food price increases, the tourist industry continues to show positive growth. This, at least, according to the latest report released by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). It shows international activity grew 5% in the first four months of the year, which is an additional percentage point more than foreseen at the beginning of 2008.
Costa Rica's situation shows that tourism growth patterns have been positive with statistics holding in the double digits, which was pointed out by the WTO’s report released in June. This has been received with great satisfaction on the part of the Tourism Minister, Carlos Ricardo Benavides.
It gives us great satisfaction that, within the positive world growth that the tourist industry has shown in the first three months of the year, Costa Rica has been one of the most dynamic countries with increases in the arrival of international tourists that surpasses triple digits and, in our case, is three times more than the world average.
It encourages us to double our efforts so that the effects of the world economic uncertainty due to high fuel prices have as little effect as possible on our country in terms of tourism. This helps us maintain a positive outlook in the months to come,” said Benavides.
Data from the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT) shows that during the first five months of 2008, Costa Rica has achieved a growth of 15.6% in international tourists coming by air. Likewise, as of today, the country hasn’t seen the reduction in flights that other countries in the region have experienced.
According to data for the month of June, the largest increase in tourism growth comes from regions like the Middle East, as well as Central and South America. Other countries that have experienced positive double digit growth are China, Japan, the United States, Costa Rica, Chile, and Peru.
The WTO forecasts that growth in the industry will remain positive for the rest of the year in spite of the consumer confidence index reflecting uncertainty. International tourism has been resilient under similar circumstances in the past as well as able to withstand various types of downturns.
