Tourism Up 13% in
January
Tourism authorities are
pleased after reviewing
the numbers for January
which saw an increase of
13.7% of the same period
last year at the Juan
Santamaría International
airport in San José and
the Daniel Oduber
international airport in
Liberia.
According to figures by
the Cámara Nacional de
Turismo (Canatur) there
were 145.145 tourists
entering Costa Rica at
the Santamaría and
Oduber last month,
compared to 127.647 in
January 2007.
The 13.7% increase is
higher that the
expectations of 11% that
the ministro de Turismo,
Ricardo Benavides, has
said was the estimated
growth for 2008.
For Benavides the higher
increase is good news
and considers it as a
good sign given the
economic situation of
the Unite States, the
country where the
majority of tourists
originate.
Broken down by airport,
the Santamaría saw
122.000 tourists arrive
while 23.000 came in at
the Oduber.
"The year could not get
off to a better start,
however, we have to be
prepared for a down fall
as external factors
could affect the
activity, for which we
are taking steps and
important measures to
face any possible
difficulties", said
Gonzalo Vargas,
president of Canatur.
The Costa Rican tourism
ministry announced last
week that it was
doubling its budget in
the United States to
increase travel
promotion to Costa Rica,
as well as attracting
tourists from other
markers like Europe and
China.
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