Tourism
to Costa Rica Stays
Strong Despite Trying
Economic Times
NatureAir - the world’s
first certified carbon
neutral airline
announced today that
Costa Rica is showing
dynamic growth rates
despite a challenging
economy. According to
the Instituto
Costarricense de Turismo
(ICT) - Costa Rica
Tourism Institute -
tourism to Costa Rica is
holding strong at an 8
to 9% growth rate.
The ICT says 2008's
average world tourism
growth is 2%, which is
why Costa Rica is
celebrating the fact
that its 2008 economic
outlook may surpass the
world average by nearly
four times.
“In 2007 tourism was up
11%, so the economic
crisis has still
affected Costa Rica, but
as other countries are
seeing a larger decline
in tourism dollars the
Latin American region is
seeing an overall
increase in tourism
arrivals and foreign
revenue,” said Gonzalo
Vargas, president of the
Cámara Nacional de
Turismo (Canatur) -
National Tourist Board.
“August’s domestic
regional passengers rose
by 4%, while
international traffic
has been up more than
9%, year-over-year.”
With these statistics
showing strength the
countries largest
airline, by revenue per
passenger mile and
available capacity, is
optimistic for 2009.
NatureAir’s 2008 third
quarter accumulated
gross revenue at a
strong 42% growth. That
is why despite the
current financial crisis
NatureAir is breaking
the mold by revising its
2009 earning and
projecting 11% growth in
passenger traffic, and a
22% increase in
earnings.
“Studies show that
during economic hardship
people take shorter
vacations, and tend to
stay closer to home. But
with Costa Rica only a
five hour or less
flight, from most major
US cities, international
travelers are still
coming, “said Alexi
Huntley Khajavi, Chief
Commercial Officer for
NatureAir. “It’s Costa
Rica’s sustainable
efforts, NatureAir’s
safety record and nature
based destinations that
keeps us as a top
destination for new and
returning tourists “
Costa Rica’s domestic
traffic growth is a
global exception in a
down market according to
the Airports Council
International. Although,
the economic crisis has
affected all countries
worldwide, Costa Rica’s
passenger growth
continues to show
promise.
Since its inception in
2000, NatureAir has
grown from flying 18,000
passengers annually to
more than 150,000 in
2008. The company got
its start with one plane
and 17 employees. Now it
has a fleet of eight
planes and more than 150
employees. It’s the only
twin-engine airline in
Costa Rica with both
scheduled and chartered
flights, and offers 74
daily flights to 17
destinations in Costa
Rica, and Panama.
|
