Tourism in Costa Rica has been one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the country [2] and by 1995 became the largest foreign exchange earner. [3] [4] Since 1999, tourism has earned more foreign exchange than bananas, pineapples and coffee exports combined. [5] The tourism boom began in 1987, [3] with the number of visitors up from 329,000 in 1988, through 1.03 million in 1999, over 2 million in 2008, to a historical record of 2.66 million foreign visitors in 2015. [6] [7] In 2012, tourism contributed with 12.5% of the country's GDP and it was responsible for 11.7% of direct and indirect employment. [8] In 2009, tourism attracted 17% of foreign direct investment inflows, and 13% in average between 2000 and 2009. [9] In 2010, the tourism industry was responsible for 21.2% of foreign exchange generated by all exports. [10] According to a 2007 report by ECLAC, tourism contributed to a reduction in poverty of 3% in the country. [9]
Since the late 1980s, Costa Rica became a popular nature travel destination, and its main competitive advantage is its well-established system of national parks and protected areas, [11] covering around 23.4% of the country's land area, [12] the largest in the world as a percentage of the country's territory, [13] [14] and home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, in a country that has only 0.03% of the world's landmass, but that is estimated to contain 5% of the world's biodiversity. [15] [16] The country also has plenty of beaches, both in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, within short travel distances, and also several volcanoes that can be visited with safety. By the early 1990s, Costa Rica became known as the poster child of ecotourism, [16] with tourist arrivals reaching an average annual growth rate of 14% between 1986 and 1994. [3] [17]
According to the Costa Rican Tourism Board, 47% of international tourists visiting the country in 2009 engaged in activities related to ecotourism, which includes trekking, flora, fauna, and bird watching, and visits to rural communities. However, most visitors look for adventure activities. [18]
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Costa Rica stands as the most visited nation in the Central American region, with 3.14 million foreign visitors in 2019. During the same year, El Salvador was ranked second in the region with 1.77 million, followed by Panama and Guatemala with 1.75 million visitors each. [19]
The number of tourists visiting Costa Rica surpassed the 2 million milestone in 2008, and tourist-related income reached US$2.1 billion that year. [20] As a result of the Great Recession, international arrivals began falling since August 2008, as the number of U.S. citizens visiting the country shrank, and this market segment represented 54% of all foreign tourists visiting Costa Rica. [21]
Year | Arrivals (×1000) | Year | Arrivals (×1000) | Year | Arrivals (×1000) | Receipts USD million | Year | Arrivals (×1000) | Receipts USD million |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | 329 | 1996 | 781 | 2004 | 1,453 | 1,358 | 2012 | 2,343 | 2,313 |
1989 | 376 | 1997 | 811 | 2005 | 1,679 | 1,570 | 2013 | 2,428 | 2,665 |
1990 | 435 | 1998 | 943 | 2006 | 1,725 | 1,732 | 2014 | 2,527 | 2,864 |
1991 | 504 | 1999 | 1,032 | 2007 | 1,973 | 1,974 | 2015 | 2,660 | 2,882 |
1992 | 611 | 2000 | 1,088 | 2008 | 2,089 | 2,144 | 2016 | 2,925 | 3,716 |
1993 | 684 | 2001 | 1,131 | 2009 | 1,923 | 2,075 | 2017 | 2,960 | 3,876 |
1994 | 762 | 2002 | 1,113 | 2010 | 2,100 | 1,999 | 2018 | 3,017 | 3,773 |
1995 | 785 | 2003 | 1,239 | 2011 | 2,192 | 2,152 | 2019 | 3,139 | 4,010 |
The combined effect of the global economic crisis and the 2009 flu pandemic resulted in a reduction of tourists arrivals in 2009 to 1.9 million visitors, an 8% reduction as compared to 2008. [31] In 2010, the number of visitors rose to 2.1 million, barely exceeding the 2008 peak, [10] and a record was reached in 2012 with 2.34 million visitors, a 6.9% increase over 2011. [23]
A historical record of 2.5 million international visitors arrived in the country in 2014, up 4.1% year-on-year, and the corresponding receipts rose to US$2.636 billion in 2014, up 8.3% from the previous year. [22] In addition, the average expenditure per tourist increased from US$1,171 in 2010 to US$1,431 in 2014, and the average stay increased from 11 days in 2010 to 13.4 in 2014. [7] Costa Rica achieved new records in 2016 with 2.93 million visitors and total earnings of US$3.716 billion. [30] The country finally reached the 3 million tourists' milestone in 2018.
In terms of the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), Costa Rica reached the 38th place in the world ranking, classified as the fourth most competitive among Latin American countries after Mexico (22), Brazil (27) and Panama (35), and ranking sixth in the Americas. [32] Just considering the subindex measuring natural resources, Costa Rica ranks in the 3rd place at a worldwide level, 21st in the world when considering international openness criteria, and 24th worldwide when considering the subindex measuring prioritization of travel and tourism. The 2017 TTCI report also notes Costa Rica's main weaknesses are price competitiveness (108th) and ground and port infrastructure (99th), with quality of the roads ranking 123th and ground transport efficiency 108th between 138 countries analyzed.
In 2012, most visitors came from the United States (39.3%), Nicaragua (20.2%), Canada (6.5%), Panama (3.9%), and Mexico (2.9%). [33] Tourists from North America and European countries made up 60.8% of all international visitors, and visitors from Central America represented 30.8%. [33] According to a 2006 survey, visitors from the Caribbean Basin and South America travel to Costa Rica mainly for business or professional purposes, while a majority of Americans, Canadians and Europeans visit the country for leisure. Word of mouth from friends and family, with an average of 58%, was the leading reason for visiting Costa Rica for vacations and leisure. The main visitor's complaint is the poor condition of the roads. [5]
Top 30 visitor arrivals by country of origin in 2018 [34] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ranking | Country of origin | Visitor arrivals 2018 | % Yearly growth | Ranking | Country of origin | Visitor arrivals 2018 | % Yearly growth |
1 | United States | 1,265,067 | 5.5 | 16 | Netherlands | 32,561 | 7.4 |
2 | Nicaragua | 416,915 | -3.0 | 17 | Italy | 29,171 | 0.4 |
3 | Canada | 217,006 | 7.5 | 18 | Switzerland | 28,884 | 13.7 |
4 | Mexico | 98,918 | -7.4 | 19 | Brazil | 22,329 | 3.9 |
5 | Panama | 92,802 | -11.4 | 20 | Chile | 18,297 | 35.5 |
6 | El Salvador | 76,937 | -5.1 | 21 | China | 15,249 | 12.0 |
7 | Germany | 74,574 | 5.1 | 22 | Peru | 14,865 | 12.1 |
8 | United Kingdom | 74,338 | -2.4 | 23 | Israel | 14,359 | -1.3 |
9 | France | 74,032 | 6.1 | 24 | Belgium | 12,381 | 0.9 |
10 | Spain | 68,634 | -1.2 | 25 | Australia | 11,159 | -9.4 |
11 | Guatemala | 65,633 | -15.9 | 26 | Sweden | 11,117 | 11.3 |
12 | Colombia | 46,723 | -2.6 | 27 | India | 8,236 | 11.1 |
13 | Argentina | 40,832 | 31.8 | 28 | Austria | 8,089 | 5.2 |
14 | Honduras | 38,135 | -5.4 | 29 | Denmark | 6,574 | 7.4 |
15 | Venezuela | 33,197 | -17.6 | 30 | Japan | 6,460 | 8.5 |
Visitor arrivals by region of origin in 2018 (Top 4) | |||||||
1 | North America | 1,580,991 | 4.8 | 3 | Europe | 480,102 | 3.9 |
2 | Central America | 691,386 | -6.0 | 4 | South America | 190,413 | 5.0 |
The following table presents a comparison of Costa Rica's tourism industry performance with selected countries from the Caribbean Basin and South America, including Bahamas, Cuba, and several of the top ten Latin American countries according to their 2013 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which are competitors in the nature travel market segment.
Selected Caribbean and Latin American countries | Internl. tourist arrivals 2012 [29] (×1000) | Internl. tourism receipts 2012 [29] (million USD) | Receipts per arrival 2012 (col 2)/(col 1) (USD) | Arrivals per capita per 1000 pop. (estimated) 2007 [20] [35] | Receipts per capita 2005 [36] USD | Revenues as % of exports goods and services [24] 2003 | Tourism revenues as % GDP [8] [24] 2012 | % Direct & indirect employment in tourism [8] [24] 2012 | World Ranking Tourism Compet. [8] TTCI 2013 | Index value TTCI [8] 2013 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bahamas (1) | 1,419 | 2,367 | 1,668 | 4,616 | 6,288 | 74.6 | 34.1 | 68.7 | n/d | n/d |
Barbados | 536 | 916 | 1,709 | 1,956 | 2,749 | 58.5 | 42.7 | 41.9 | 27 | 4.88 |
Brazil | 5,677 | 6,645 | 1,170 | 26 | 18 | 3.2 | 8.9 | 8.1 | 51 | 4.37 |
Chile | 3,554 | 2,201 | 619 | 151 | 73 | 5.3 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 56 | 4.29 |
Colombia | 2,175 | 2,351 | 1,081 | 26 | 25 | 6.6 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 84 | 3.90 |
Costa Rica | 2,343 | 2,425 | 1,035 | 442 | 343 | 17.5 | 12.5 | 11.7 | 47 | 4.44 |
Cuba (1) | 2,688 | 2,283 | 849 | 188 | 169 | n/d | n/d | n/d | n/d | n/d |
Dominican Republic | 4,563 | 4,549 | 997 | 408 | 353 | 36.2 | 14.7 | 13.6 | 86 | 3.88 |
Jamaica | 1,986 | 2,043 | 1,029 | 628 | 530 | 49.2 | 25.7 | 23.8 | 67 | 4.08 |
Mexico | 23,403 | 12,739 | 544 | 201 | 103 | 5.7 | 12.4 | 13.7 | 44 | 4.46 |
Panama | 1,606 | 2,259 | 1,406 | 330 | 211 | 10.6 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 37 | 4.54 |
Peru | 2,846 | 2,657 | 933 | 65 | 41 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 7.8 | 73 | 4.00 |
Uruguay | 2,695 | 2,076 | 770 | 525 | 145 | 14.2 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 59 | 4.23 |
Ecotourism is extremely popular with the many tourists visiting the extensive national parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica was a pioneer in this type of tourism and the country is recognized as one of the few with real ecotourism. [16] In 2006, 54% international tourists visited national parks or protected areas, visiting at least two such natural refuges, and it goes up to three for European visitors. [37]
In recent years, several of Costa Rica's top travel service providers have been internationally recognized for their commitment to planet-positive tourism. Examples include Nature Air [38] and Hotel Punta Islita [39] as winners of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, sponsored by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and Lapa Rios Ecolodge [40] as winner of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Standard-Setter.
Implemented in 1996 and inspired by a similar program developed in Europe in 1985, [41] the "Bandera Azul Ecológica" (Ecological Blue Flag) Program is intended to promote development while curbing the negative impacts of mass tourism by helping the local community to work against pollution and protecting the environment. The program evaluates the environmental quality of coastal areas, in terms of the quality of the beaches and sea water, access and quality of drinking water, water and waste management, security, and environmental education. Depending on the degree of compliance against the optimal criteria established, a certain number of stars are awarded to the Blue Flag. [42]
After the first evaluation, ten beaches were awarded the distinction, which usually is highly publicized to potential visitors. [43] In 2008, based on the evaluation carried out in 2007, 59 beaches kept the distinction while eight beaches lost it. [42] [44] In 2009, out of 81 applicants, only 61 beaches won the distinction, and just two obtained the maximum 5 stars, Playa Blanca in Punta Leona and Playa Langosta in Santa Cruz. [45]
Developed in 1997 by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, the public agency responsible for tourism development and regulation in the country, a voluntary Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program (known as CST) was introduced in order to turn "the concept of sustainability into something real" by "improving the way in which the natural and social resources are utilized, to motivate the active participation of the local communities, and to support the competitiveness of the business sector." [3] The program was aimed for all types of businesses in the tourism industry, but it began only with lodging providers. By 2007, a total of 108 parameters are considered for the CST evaluation. [46]
CST hopes to encourage businesses to become sustainable in a variety of ways, including using recycled products, implementing water and energy saving devices, properly disposing and treating waste, conserving and expanding Costa Rica's forests, and developing better systems of information management. [47] As of October 2009, out of approximately 3,000 hotels and tours operators, [48] only 105 have a Certification for Sustainable Tourism. [49] Some tour operators in the U.S. and Europe promote several small hotels that hold this certification through their travel packages. [50]
Costa Rica is a beautiful country with lots of educational opportunities. One opportunity is to learn about the history of oxcarts. In 2005, Costa Rica’s oxcarts with beautiful colors and designs were recognized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and declared them to be an Intangible World Heritage. [51] You can learn about these oxcarts and how they transformed from symbols of Spanish colonization to a treasured symbol featured in most holidays and celebrations.
Another educational opportunity is Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. This museum will enlighten you on the lifestyle of ancient cultures through artifacts and carvings recovered over time. Some of the artifacts show a glimpse of the rituals and celebrations that took place in Costa Rica hundreds of years ago. [52] In addition to the artifacts there is information about some of Costa Rica’s political history including involvement in Civil Wars and its well-known Presidents.
Costa Rica was listed by Ethicaltraver.org in "The Developing World's 10 Best Ethical Destinations" for 2011 and 2012. These lists were complied using metrics such as environmental protection, social welfare, and human rights. [53]
Costa Rica was absent from the list for several years because World Vision considered the country among the world's most notorious destinations for human trafficking and sexual predators. Ethical Traveler included Costa Rica on the 2011 list due to the government's efforts to address the problem. [54]
The Camino de Costa Rica is a 280-kilometre (170 mi) long hiking trail across Costa Rica. It runs from the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean coast), the southernmost part of the Tortuguero Canals, up the mountain and through indigenous territory near the Barbilla National Park and through valleys and mountain ranges of the central region of the country, just south of the Turrialba and Irazu Volcanos and through the Los Santos coffee region down to the Pacific coast in Quepos. By 2018, the rural population had declined from 40% inhabitants (2000) to 27% inhabitants, poverty at 25% was significantly higher than among the urban population, and income was more than 40% lower. These sobering facts as well as other factors such as level of education, unemployment and underemployment in rural areas gave rise to the NGO, the Asociación Mar a Mar in year 2016. The aim of the Camino de Costa Rica is to establish a world class long-distance trail and through its success in bringing hikers from all over the world, to improve the economic situation in the rural areas of Costa Rica.
Most of the main attractions are nature related, a combination of ecotourism with leisure and adventure activities: sun, sea and sand (55%); flora and wildlife watching (44%); visiting volcanoes (43%); trekking (41%); bird watching (30%); canopy tours (26%); bungee jumping from bridges (11%); surfing (11%); snorkeling (10%); and rafting (7%). Cultural activities such as visiting museums, art galleries and theaters corresponds to 11%, and business travel corresponds to 17%. [37]
Seven Costa Rican resorts were included in the 2012 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards, ranking among the top fifteen resorts in Central and South America. The resorts are Xandari Resort and Spa (2), Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo (3), Hotel Punta Islita (8), El Silencio Lodge and Spa (9), Los Sueños Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort (11), Arenas del Mar (12) and the Westin Playa Conchal, Resort and Spa at Playa Conchal (15). The award selection is based on surveys among the magazine's subscribers, who evaluate the resort's quality of rooms, service, food, location, design, and activities. [55] [56] Two hotels were also chosen by the magazine readers among the top five in Central America: Hotel Grano de Oro (3) in San José and Hotel Villa Caletas (4) in Puntarenas Central Pacific. [57]
In 2009 more than 1.2 million tourists visited national parks and protected wild reserves, up from 812 thousand visitors in 2000 and 510 thousand in 1990. Since 2003 slightly more than half the visitors are international tourists. The most visited parks are Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero, Cahuita, and the parks around the volcanoes Poás, Arenal and Irazú. [58]
Other favorite national parks and wild reserves are:
See List of beaches of Costa Rica
Elected in 2007 by Costa Ricans through an open contest organized by a leading newspaper as the "7 natural wonders of Costa Rica", [61] these natural sites are among the most popular destinations by both foreign and domestic tourists, with the exception of Cocos Island, which it is not easily accessed, because it is located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 550 km (340 mi) from the Pacific shore of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica, together with Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and Chile, is among the Latin America countries that have become popular destinations for medical tourism. [62] [63] In 2009 Costa Rica received 30,000 international tourists seeking for medical treatment, and spent around US$250 million. Most medical travelers came from the United States and Canada. [64] During 2010, the number of patients rose to 36,000 international tourists, with 40% of them receiving dental care services. [65] In 2011, that number continued to rise, eventually reaching 46,474. [66]
Costa Rica is particularly attractive to American tourists because of its proximity and short flight, the quality of medical services and its health care system, and lower medical costs. [63] [67] The country has 20 medical centers, including small clinics and private hospitals, with international certification, including two hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International. [64] [67]
American tourists prefer Costa Rica, together with Mexico and Panama, for dental services or cosmetic surgeries. Costa Rica offers 30% to 50% savings as compared to U.S. costs for quality dental and cosmetic surgery services, and is attractive for those U.S. citizens without health insurance or seeking procedures not covered by their health insurance plans. [62] [68] Foreign patients also find lower-priced nonsurgical procedures and tests, as an example, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Costa Rica costs from $200 to $300, compared to more than $1,000 in the United States. [62] In average medical costs are 70% lower than in the U.S. [64] Due to the country's natural attractions, many health tourists combine their treatment with ecotourism and offer an opportunity to their family or companions to be entertained while the patient undergoes the medical procedure. [63]
In many beach areas, but especially in the towns of Tamarindo and Jacó, a real estate boom took place when many foreigners from developed countries began buying beachfront properties and building holiday and vacation houses and condominiums. These developments completely changed the life style in these towns, and property prices are now so high that it became prohibitive for Costa Ricans to own beach front properties. [16] Also, the lack of planning for these developments is having a negative social impact on small communities, as in some cases they are forced to move to places with less adequate infrastructure and where not enough job opportunities exist. [69]
Also there have been isolated controversies regarding the site location and construction of hotels and beach resorts invading the 50 metres (160 ft) protected maritime public zone; also a case of one hotel located within a protected area; and a few cases of resort development with severe negative impacts to existing flora and fauna, by dumping construction wastes damaging coral reefs or filling mangroves. [16] As a result of these and other similar controversies, the Environment Law 7554 was passed in 1995 to require environmental impact studies before a hotel or any other development is authorized to begin construction. [70]
Another source of pollution is due to dumping untreated sewage into rivers that feed into the beach towns. In 2007 the Constitutional Court order the national and 34 local governments to stop dumping sewage into the Río Grande de Tárcoles, to restore the watershed to its unpolluted condition and to adopt an integrated solution to the wastewater problem. [71] Towns such as Jacó where tourism and real estate development has grown ten-fold since 2004 suffered from backlash in September 2008 when the government blamed the local government of Garabito for high levels of bacteria on the beach. [72]
More recently, controversy took place with the construction of the Sardinal-El Coco-Ocotal aqueduct by private developers, as the community of Sardinal protested violently because they fear that scarce drinking water will be diverted for the tourism developments whose owners are financing the pipeline. [73] As of May 2008, construction works were stopped by order of the local municipality. [74] Developers and the government authorities have explained the aqueduct is public, and that it will benefit not only the tourism developments but also the surrounding communities. [75] [76] Controversy still persists regarding the real capacity of the Sardinal aquifer.
The rapid growth of tourism also has the consequence of the country becoming a popular destination for sex tourism. [77] [78] [79] [80] Despite the government and industry efforts, child sex trade has become a problem. [81] [82] A study estimated that "up to 10% of tourists who come to Costa Rica engage in sex tourism", with as many as 10,000 sex workers involved, many of whom are immigrants. [83] [84] Also it was reported that about 80% of the sex tourists are from the US. [85] This is largely because prostitution is not illegal but many of the activities surrounding it are indeed illegal, [86] such as pimping. [87] [88]
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in the Central American region of North America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as maritime border with Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around five million in a land area of nearly 51,180 km2 (19,760 sq mi). An estimated 352,381 people live in the capital and largest city, San José, with around two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area.
The economy of Costa Rica has been very stable for some years now, with continuing growth in the GDP and moderate inflation, though with a high unemployment rate: 11.49% in 2019. Costa Rica's economy emerged from recession in 1997 and has shown strong aggregate growth since then. The estimated GDP for 2023 is US$90 billion, up significantly from the US$52.6 billion in 2015 while the estimated 2024 per capita is US$28,558.
Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually defined as consisting of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Within Central America is the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from southern Mexico to southeastern Panama. Due to the presence of several active geologic faults and the Central America Volcanic Arc, there is a high amount of seismic activity in the region, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, which has resulted in death, injury, and property damage.
Argentina has a vast territory and a variety of climates and microclimates ranging from tundra and polar in the south to the tropical climate in the north, through a vast expanse of temperate climate. Natural wonders include the Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas, the widest river and estuary of the planet, the Iguazú Falls, the Humid Pampas, and the Argentine Sea. Visitors enjoy the culture, customs and Argentine cuisine.
Alajuela is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country, bordering Nicaragua to the north. It also borders the provinces of Heredia to the east, San José to the south, Puntarenas to the southwest and Guanacaste to the west. As of 2011, the province had a population of 885,571. Alajuela is composed of 16 cantons, which are divided into 111 districts. It covers an area of 9,757.53 square kilometers.
Monteverde is the twelfth canton of the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, located in the Cordillera de Tilarán. Roughly a four-hour drive from the Central Valley, Monteverde is one of the country's major ecotourism destinations, with the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde being the largest, in addition to several other natural attractions which draw considerable numbers of tourists and naturalists, both from Costa Rica and abroad.
Tourism is a growing sector and key to the economy of several regions of Brazil. The country had 6.589 million visitors in 2018, ranking in terms of the international tourist arrivals as the second main destination in South America after Argentina and third in Latin America after Mexico and Argentina. Revenues from international tourists reached US$5.8 billion in 2015, continuing a recovery trend from the 2008–2009 economic crisis.
Tourism in Nicaragua has grown considerably recently, and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country.
The contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was US$5,880.3bn in 2016. Tourism generated 556,135 jobs in 2016. Foreign tourist visits were predicted to have risen from 0.6 million in 2007 to 4 million in 2017. Responsible tourism became a peremptory need for Colombia because it minimizes negative social, economic and environmental impacts and makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage.
Prostitution in Costa Rica is legal. Costa Rica's legal system is based on Roman law rather than common law, and so for prostitution to be illegal it would have to be explicitly stated as such in a penal code, and it is not. Nevertheless, many of the activities surrounding it are illegal, as the law forbids promoting or facilitating the prostitution of another, and therefore pimping, brothels, or prostitution rings are illegal. Prostitution is common and is practiced openly throughout the country, particularly in popular tourism destinations.
Tourism in Djibouti is one of the growing economic sectors of the country and is an industry that generates 53,000 and 73,000 arrivals per year, with its favorable beaches and climate and also including islands and beaches in the Gulf of Tadjoura and the Bab al-Mandab. The main tourist activities are scuba diving, fishing, trekking and hiking, discovering the nomadic way, bird watching, and sun, sea and sand.
Since the mid-1990s, tourism in Chile has become one of the main sources of income for the country, especially in its most extreme areas. In 2005, this sector grew by 13.6%, generating more than US$500 million, equivalent to 1.33% of the national GDP.
The Costa Rican Tourism Board is the government agency responsible for promoting sustainable tourism in Costa Rica. Originally the agency was created by decree in 1931 as the National Tourism Board, and by a law approved on 9 August 1955, the agency became the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT).
Pejibaye is a district of the Jiménez canton, in the Cartago province of Costa Rica.
Ecotourism is a key component of the tourism industry in Costa Rica. By the early 1990s, Costa Rica became known as the poster child of ecotourism. The country is among many developing nations that look to ecotourism as a way of cashing in on the growing demand for this popular trend of travel.
Tourism in the Dominican Republic is an important sector of the country's economy. More than 10 million tourists visited the Dominican Republic in 2023, making it the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean and putting it in the top 5 overall in the Americas. The industry accounts for 11.6% of the nation's GDP and is a particularly important source of revenue in coastal areas of the country. The nation's tropical climate, white sand beaches, diverse mountainous landscape and colonial history attracts visitors from around the world. In 2022, the nation's tourism was named the best-performing nation since the height of the pandemic with over 5% visitors more in comparison to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Tourism accounts for a large part of El Salvador's economy. El Salvador has many natural attractions including beaches with some of the best surfing breaks on the Pacific Coast. El Salvador offers many lush forests shrouded in cool temperatures with abundant wildlife and scenic mountain-top vistas. El Salvador also has great potential in the field of cultural tourism; with over 2,000 known archaeological sites, mostly of the Maya and Olmec cultures. These sites are of international interest for their easy access and well-preserved remains.
The Camino de Costa Rica is a 280 kilometres long hiking trail across Costa Rica. It runs from the Atlantic Ocean, the southernmost part of the Tortuguero canals, up the mountain and through indigenous territory near the Barbilla National Park and through valleys and mountain ranges of the central region of the country, just south of the Turrialba and Irazu volcanoes and through the Los Santos coffee region down to the Pacific coast in Quepos.
María Amalia Revelo Raventós was a Costa Rican businesswoman and government minister. She served as Minister of Tourism from 2018 to 2020 and led the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo.
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has generic name (help)See Table 4, pp. 18 and Country/Economy Profile: Costa Rica, pp. 142-143.{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help)See Table 1, pp. 25 and Country/Economy Profile: Costa Rica, pp. 150-151....prostitution is not penalized in the country, but a third-party soliciting clients for a prostitute (proxenetismo) is committing a crime(free translation from Spanish)
...There are no specific laws against sex tourism, which was growing