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Tourism in Costa Rica generates from 140,000 to 145,000 jobs within its population.
The Certication for Sustainable Tourism (CST) is a program promoted by the ICT that has served as a role model
of several countries across the globe due to its effectiveness and commitment to the environment. The main purpose of the
CST program is to transform the concept of sustainability into something real, and practical. For Costa Rica, it is a key initiative
to maintain the countrys competitiveness in the industry. Ultimately, the program looks to improve the way natural and social
resources are utilized, promote the active participation of local communities, and provide additional support for competitiveness in
the industry. Currently, there are 299 tourist companies within the CST program.
Worldwide, the United States (U.S.) is the largest generator of tourism for Costa Rica. In 2013, 929,402 international
arrivals from the U.S. were reported. From Europe, Germany is the main generator of tourism for Costa Rica, with a total of 54,754
Germans in Costa Rica for 2013.
Costa Rica has been and continues to be a pioneer of ecotourism industry. It was awarded as the predecessor of
this type of tourism and has been recognized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Happy Planet Index and Forbes magazine designated Costa Rica as one of the worlds happiest countries 2012, due to
its life expectancy, natural resources, the Costa Rican spirit, job opportunities, among other attributes the country offers its citizens.
Our country has 478 hotels that are Tourist certied, which guarantees diverse options throughout the country, with
approximately 22,203 rooms available. The country has the largest amount of accommodations in Central America.
Pos Volcano, located in Alajuela, is the volcano with the largest crater in all Central America, which makes it
one of the most important tourist destinations in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has very diverse microclimates, which help tourists in short distances and periods of time, to experience different types
of environments that can truly fulll their traveling experience.
Our country has 62 Protected Wildlife Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Biological Reserves, among others), all
of which have become highly regarded ecological destinations. In 2012, these sites reported 1,613,129 visitors residents and
foreigners; this is a 6.9% increase compared to 2011.
Tourism in Costa Rica represents about 4.9% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which makes it one of the
largest contributors to the local economy.
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