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     - Photo via Tourism Institute - |
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Published on Thursday,
November 11,
2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff This year, from January to October, the country has received 978,676 tourists, according to the Tourism Institute. Of those, 646,212 entered through the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province, and 281,267 entered through the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Guanacaste Province. In addition, 51,197 tourists entered in the same period, via land or sea. This means a total of almost a million tourists have come to Costa Rica. "These numbers generate positivism in the face of the beginning of the high season with higher visitation that is concentrated during November and December," the institute said in its statement. According to data, the United States remains the main tourist market for Costa Rica with 647,765 visitors arriving in the same period, which is equivalent to 61% of tourists entered before the pandemic in 2019. Other top five tourist markets are from: Spain (31,444 visitors), Mexico (27,917 tourists), France (29,290 visitors) and from Switzerland (14,092 tourists). According to specialists, tourism is showing strong signs of recovery in recent months. For example, 23,459 tourists arrived at the airport in Guanacaste in October, surpassing the number of visitors, 22,290, who arrived in the country through this airport before the pandemic in 2019. "The growth shown to date is important for the country because it shows a sustained route of reactivation of the tourism sector," said Gustavo Segura, Minister of Tourism. "It does not only mean that more tourists arrive, but it involves job recovery, activation of companies and commercial activity in the entire chain of the industry in the face of a situation that continues to be complex national and international." Due to the pandemic, the Ministry of Health ruled that as of January 2022, the covid pass will be a requirement to enter most public spaces in the country such as hotels, restaurants, casinos, national parks among others. Business owners must comply with this rule, otherwise, they will be fined $730 in addition to receiving a suspension of their operating permit for two weeks. If the place fails to comply with the mandate again, the owner could lose the right of business operation and the place would be forced to close. Last week, the National Chamber of Tourism, Canatur, called on the government to postpone the mandatory use of the covid pass until April 17, 2022, when the Easter holidays have finished. Fully vaccinated international travelers in their countries who plan on visiting Costa Rica, are required to show their covid pass upon arrival at the airport. In the case of an unvaccinated adult visitor traveling to Costa Rica, they will continue needing to provide proof of a medical insurance policy to cover any covid-19 related medical treatment or quarantine lodging while in Costa Rica. International insurance is required for all international unvaccinated travelers going to Costa Rica. Tourists must request from their insurer a certification issued in English or Spanish, noting the validity of the policy during the dates of visit to Costa Rica, the guarantee of coverage for medical expenses in cases of covid-19 related medical treatment for $50,000 and minimum coverage of $2,000 for extended lodging expenses due to covid-19 related illness. Currently, tourists have the option of purchasing a Costa Rican medical insurance policy through the National Insurance Institute or the Private Insurance Firms Association Sagicor. All visitors must also complete an online Health Pass 72 hours before traveling to Costa Rica. ------------------ What should authorities do to boost tourism? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com             |
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