Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — A total of 129,623 people arrived in Costa Rica via Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport during the first half of 2008, 10,883 (9.16 percent) more than during the same period last year.
According to data obtained from Daniel Oduber and San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport, plus visitation estimates provided by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) that include other ports of entry, Costa Rica received 1,030,000 tourists in the first semester of this year, or 89,178 more compared with the same period in 2007.
Even though these are not official numbers, CANATUR said they point to important growth in local tourism trends.
However, it is forecasted that the global crisis resulting from sky-high petroleum prices could impact the number of visitors arriving in the country during the rest of the year.
“These estimates and forecasts reveal very encouraging data for Costa Rica’s tourism, despite the difficult economic conditions of the day, both external and internal, that are affecting the growth and development of this sector,” said Gonzalo Vargas, president of CANATUR. “We can say based on the performance of this first semester, Costa Rica is still well liked by foreigners as an ideal place to enjoy their vacation time.”
The visitation estimates unveiled also underscore the fact that both the Liberia and San Jose airports saw increases in passenger influx. During the first semester of 2007, some 595,405 tourists arrived through Juan Santamaria, while during that same period this year the number jumped to 673,701, for a 13.1 percent increase.
But not all is good news. Vargas explained that the effects of some external variables — such as escalating fuel and food prices plus the U.S. economic slowdown — will possibly begin to be felt in Costa Rica during the rest of 2008. That’s why he called on business owners to be more careful during this period before the 2008-2009 high tourist season begins.
Additionally, government officials in charge of the country’s monetary policy have warned about the strong economic adjustment Costa Ricans will face during the second semester of this year, due to the impact of international markets and direct effects related to high prices of oil, steel and food.
The Costa Rican Central Bank has also informed that accumulated inflation in the past 12 months reached 13 percent in June, generating an increase in the prices of basic goods and services. The prize of the U.S. dollar compared to the colon has also gone up, while national production of goods slowed in the first quarter of 2008 to one of its lowest levels in the past two years. Meanwhile, exports were reduced considerably due to the economic crisis in the United States — Costa Rica’s main commercial partner.
“The Costa Rican tourism sector must be prepared to feel the negative effects of this situation, reflected in the reduction of purchasing power of the local population to go on vacation or make one-day trips,” Vargas said.
The CANATUR president added that the tourism industry must continually work to guarantee the sustainability of Costa Rica’s top economic activity — which generates $1.85 billion annually, or 8 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 20 percent of total exports, and 450,000 jobs.
And although Vargas acknowledged that the numbers looked good for the first semester of 2008, it’s very possible that Costa Ricans will opt for limiting their income for leisure and recreation, resulting in a slowdown of local tourism — which in 2007 represented 1.3 million citizens and foreign residents traveling around the country.
“As a priority, the local population will take care of its basic needs. We see how, as interest rates have gone up recently, the amount in colones that is paid for loans will be higher, again affecting the percentage of disposable income available for recreation,” Vargas explained. “We must add to that the already mentioned increases in fuel and food costs, which for the moment are driving up inflation. And the tourism industry is not exempt from this situation.”
