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    - Photo via Guanacaste Airport - |
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Published on Monday,
December 20, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Costa Rica has had 1,130,377 tourists between January and November, approximately 40% of the visitors from before the covid-19 pandemic in 2019, the Tourism Institute reported. According to the institute, the entry of tourists has presented a strong recovery of more than 20% compared to the same period in 2020. The largest number of tourists who have visited the country this year come from North America with 794,645, followed by Europe with 172,790 visitors. In November, authorities recorded 98,337 tourists arriving at the Juan Santamarķa International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela Province. This equates to 68% of tourism before the pandemic. Also that month, the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste Province received 42,761 tourists, which represents 91% of what was registered in November 2019. Of the North American tourists, Canadians have generated more dynamism, which has also been favored with the reactivation of Canadian airline operations to Costa Rica, said Gustavo Alvarado, Minister of Tourism. Canadian airlines reopened operations in October after seven months of the flights being banned as a measure by the Canadian government to control the covid-19 pandemic. Of the total number of tourists who arrived in the country in November, 10,566 were Canadians, a figure that represents almost 60% of Canadian travelers who arrived in that same month of 2019. "This result demonstrates our solid positioning and Canadians' taste for the Costa Rica destination," Alvarado said. "It is an ideal rebound to strengthen the recovery at the beginning of the peak tourism season." Among the Canadian airlines that restarted their flights to Costa Rica in October are Air Canada, Sunwing, Air Transat and Westjet that offer weekly flights to Alajuela and Guanacaste. According to the Tourism Institute's statistics, in the year before the pandemic, more than 218,000 Canadian tourists entered Costa Rica, representing more than 9% of all international travelers. Canada is the second source market for tourists to Costa Rica after the United States. The tourism sector in Costa Rica has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, but in 2021 it has been experiencing growth, according to the authorities. The institute said, all international tourists are permitted to enter Costa Rica by air, land and sea on the condition they meet the requirements established in the framework of the pandemic. This is in addition to visa requirements, when applicable. The government does not require tourists entering by air, land or sea to present a negative covid-19 test, nor quarantine upon arrival. Tourists visiting Costa Rica are requested to abide by the sanitary protocols in place when participating in tourist activities throughout the country. Tourists who are fully vaccinated against covid-19 and individuals younger than 18 (even if unvaccinated) can enter the country without travel policy insurance. The only requirement is that the last dose of the vaccine must have been applied at least 14 days before arrival in Costa Rica. The list of authorized vaccines includes AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, Sinopharm and Covaxin. Vaccinated tourists must add their vaccination certificate to the online Health Pass within 72 hours of arriving in the country. Unvaccinated individuals who are over the age of 18 or with unauthorized vaccines must purchase a travel policy that is valid for at least five days and covers accommodation and medical expenses in the event of covid-19 infection. Tourists can select any international insurance company that meets the following requirements: 1. Valid during the entire stay in Costa Rica (coverage dates). 2. $50,000 for medical expenses, including covid-19 infection. 3. $2,000 for lodging expenses in the event of covid-19 quarantine. Travelers must ask their insurance company for a certified letter in English or Spanish. This certificate must specify that the policy covers covid-19 and must be uploaded to the online Health Pass within 72 hours before arrival in the country, to be reviewed and approved by Costa Rican authorities. Tourists should review the travel requirements before planning their trip to their respective country's Costa Rica embassy. ----------------- What should the government do to increase tourism? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com             |
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