Costa Rica’s Tourism Struggles Despite April Rebound

  • Costa Rica’s tourism industry is sounding the alarm as visitor numbers keep sliding, even with a small uptick in April. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) reported that 231,678 travellers arrived by air in April 2025, a 4.6% jump from last year’s 221,573. But folks in the business say this bump, tied to Easter Week’s timing, doesn’t tell the whole story. Tourism, which fuels 8% of the country’s economy and supports jobs in places like Guanacaste and Limón, is facing tough times.
  • According to the ICT, the first three months of 2025 welcomed a total of 632,000 visitors, reaching 63% of the pre-pandemic visitor numbers from 2019. The increase in April can be attributed in part to Easter Week falling in April this year, unlike in March of 2024. This timing contributed to hotel bookings in beach towns nearly reaching 98%, as reported by the Costa Rican Hotels Chamber.
  • However, Tadeo Morales from Movimiento Turismo por Costa Rica (Tourism Movement for Costa Rica) warns it’s not a real recovery. “We’re seeing seasonal spikes, not growth,” he said. Morales noted that the figures from April 2025 are nearly identical to those from April 2023, another month of Easter Week, indicating that the industry remains stagnant.
  • Tourism is facing several challenges. The strong colón, which is currently at ₡500 per U.S. dollar, makes Costa Rica more expensive compared to neighbouring countries like Panama or Colombia. Additionally, a new tax on tourism services and a reduction in flights, with some airlines cutting seats by 15-41%, are contributing to the difficulties, according to the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR).
  • Concerns about safety, such as a U.S. travel advisory warning about crime near San José’s airport, along with health alerts regarding histoplasmosis linked to caving1, are deterring visitors. North American travellers, who represent Costa Rica’s largest market, experienced a 7.2% decline in February, with the U.S. seeing a drop of 7.3%.
  • Additionally, industry reports indicate that fewer people are searching for trips to Costa Rica online, suggesting weaker demand in the future. The ICT’s “Only the Essentials” campaign aims to promote Costa Rica in the U.S. and Canada, but CANATUR’s Shirley Calvo emphasised that more needs to be done, including addressing the exchange rate. As May's low season approaches, businesses are worried about tougher months to come.

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1On March 18, 2025, The U.S Embassy alerted citizens of a recent spike in histoplasmosis risks associated with caving activities in Costa Rica. Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by a fungus which is primarily found in soil contaminated with bat or bird droppings. Histoplasmosis can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications if left untreated.

(Source: Tico Times)