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    - Photo via Institute of Tourism - |
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Published on Friday, April 29,
2022
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
There were more than 140 tourist destinations such as Europe, the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America, among many others. The fair brings together more than 80 cruise lines, tour operators, suppliers and travel agencies from around the world. According to the institute, the fair is the most important event and the main international cruise industry exhibit. This is the first time the event opened its doors since 2020. It was suspended due to the pandemic in April 2020 and April 2021. Maritime tourism generates employment on the country's coasts, particularly when passengers disembark for tourist activities, benefiting local tour operators, and artisans among others. Representatives from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, the Costa Rican Institute of Pacific Ports and the Atlantic Port Administration Board participated in the fair. Also, executives of Costa Rican private tourism companies participated in the fair such as Swiss Travel Tour Operador, Asuaire Tour Operator, Destination Services Tour Operator, Quepos Beach Tourism Chamber, la Náutica Shipping and ILG Logistics. While participants explored competitor booths, authorities held meetings with representatives of cruise lines, the Florida Cruise Federation and the International Association of Cruise Lines, the institute said.
At the Costa Rica stand, representatives offered general information about the country, port description, tourist attractions, facilities, entry requirements and health protocols.
In September 2021, Costa Rica reopened the maritime borders for Caribbean and Pacific cruise ships after 17 months of closure due to the pandemic. Since then, more than 69,000 passengers from 131 cruise ships have arrived in the country.
According to the institute, before the pandemic, about 250,000 tourists were arriving on cruise lines annually. In 2019, the cruise industry generated about $29.2 million in income.
As of April 1, the covid pass requirement for fully-vaccinated people was eliminated, as well as the policy insurance requirement for unvaccinated people.
Since then, the government stopped requiring tourists to follow any of the regulations established during the pandemic. Visitors will no longer be presenting a negative covid-19 test, quarantine upon arrival, being fully vaccinated against covid-19 or travel policy insurance.
The online Health Pass was also disabled.
As
part of the country's strategy to
boost tourism, recently six Costa
Rican tourism companies, with the
support of the Institute of Tourism, participated
in the World Travel Market
Latin America Fair in Brazil.
As
of March, Costa Rica had more
than 630,000 tourists in the
country.
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