In the framework of World Tourism Day this Friday, September 27, the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, reports a total of 4,320,802 passengers from January to August 2024.
This represents an increase of 11.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.
“The Juan Santamaría Airport has established itself as the main point of arrival and departure for tourists in Costa Rica, thanks to its connectivity with 25 airlines and 39 direct destinations, which facilitates the arrival of passengers from all over the world. The active promotion of new routes by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) has been key in this process,” said Ricardo Hernández, Executive Director of AERIS, the airport’s operator.
AERIS has implemented various initiatives that highlight Costa Rican culture and seek to offer a world-class experience to travelers. Among the highlighted initiatives is the Customer Experience program, developed by the Airports Council International (ACI), whose purpose is to achieve excellence in passenger experience management and transform the airport in the long term.
Also, since 2014, the ‘Sense of Place’ initiative seeks to give a sense of belonging to the airport, reflecting and celebrating Costa Rican culture in the terminal through campaigns that are renewed every four months. Additionally, AERIS organizes cultural, musical and artistic presentations distributed throughout the terminal, for passengers to enjoy while waiting for their flight.
AERIS also works closely with the ICT and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) to improve the connectivity of the airport, facilitating both the arrival of international tourists and the travel of Costa Ricans to their preferred destinations. Participation in international events seeks to expand the options of airlines and destinations, promoting Costa Rica as a tourist attraction.
“International tourism in Costa Rica has evolved significantly, thanks to the leadership of the ICT, which has been a pioneer in the creation of the concept of ecotourism and has promoted modalities such as sun and beach tourism, adventure and culture. This positioning has attracted a resilient tourist profile that continues to choose Costa Rica as their favorite destination,” added Hernández.
This growth reaffirms the importance of the Juan Santamaría International Airport in the projection of Costa Rica as a world-class tourist destination. (https://qcostarica.com/more-than-4-million-passengers-have-passed-through-juan-santamaria-airport-this-year/)
