China Talks Up Costa
Rica Tourism
Chinese tourists are
being encouraged by
their own government to
visit Costa Rica. The
recommendation comes
nearly four months after
Costa Rica broke 60
years of ties with
Taiwan and established
diplomatic relations
with Beijing.
Costa Rica's tourist
board said China's move
was a huge boost for the
sector.
It is estimated 200
million Chinese are able
to afford overseas
travel and the Costa
Rican government is
currently negotiating
with several airlines
and tourist agencies to
open routes and enable
easier travel between
China and Costa Rica.
Last year just 1,545
people from China
visited Costa Rica
China's announcement is
hugely important for
Costa Rica and Central
America, according to
Geoffrey Lipman,
assistant secretary
general of the World
Tourism Organization.
"Anything China does is
important because it is
a world power," Mr
Lipman told the BBC's
Spanish Americas
website.
"In time, China will
have an enormous
influence on tourism -
it is a huge generator
of tourists, if I can
put it that way."
The Chinese government's
move would have an
impact both in the long
and the short term, Mr
Lipman said.
It sent a message to
millions of Chinese
people and would
encourage investment in
Costa Rica's tourism
sector, he said.
"Tourism of the future
is eco-tourism,
environmental tourism.
Costa Rica has a record
of developing this type
of tourism."
Tourism is one of the
most important sectors
for Costa Rica's
economy, generating some
$1.6 billion a year.
In June, when the
decision to switch ties
to Beijing was
announced, Costa Rican
President Oscar Arias
said his country needed
to develop closer links
with China in order to
attract foreign
investment.
Taiwan and China have
been governed separately
since the end of a civil
war in 1949. Both often
accuse each other of
using "cheque book
diplomacy" to attract
allies.
Other tourism
destinations in Latin
America recommended by
China include Mexico,
Chile and Peru.
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