Costa Rica achieves highest tourism numbers in 16 years with 2.66 million air arrivals in 2024, up 7.7% from previous year.
Costa Rica received 2,661,488 tourists by air in 2024, the highest number of visitors in 16 years, representing a 7.7% increase compared to 2023, announced Tourism Minister William Rodríguez today. Juan Santamaría International Airport near San José welcomed 1,779,529 tourists, showing a 4.6% increase, while Guanacaste International Airport in Liberia recorded 881,289 tourists, marking a significant 14.5% growth.
North American markets showed strong performance with 1,936,937 tourists, a 10.3% increase. The United States led with 1,587,138 tourists (+10.9%), representing 70% of total arrivals, followed by Canada with 257,395 tourists (+5.9%), and Mexico with 92,404 tourists (+12.7%). European tourism reached 428,637 tourists, with Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands as the main source markets.
South America contributed 126,770 tourists (+3.3%), led by Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil. The Brazilian market received a significant boost in late 2024 with the launch of the first-ever direct flights between São Paulo and San José.
Industry Challenges and Development
“Tourism is a fundamental pillar for our country,” said Rodríguez, “and our commitment is to ensure that every visitor discovers the natural and cultural richness that Costa Rica has to offer, driving the sustainable development of our communities.”
The sector’s economic impact has been substantial, with tourism revenue reaching $4.218 billion through the third quarter of 2024, an 18.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
Despite the overall positive annual figures, tourism professionals point to several challenges facing the industry. The strength of the Costa Rican colón has impacted pricing competitiveness, with some tourism packages seeing significant price increases compared to pre-pandemic levels. Infrastructure development also remains a key focus area, particularly following incidents at Guanacaste International Airport that affected flight operations in late 2024.
Industry experts emphasize the importance of balancing tourism growth with environmental preservation. The country’s natural beauty remains its primary attraction, and tourism professionals stress the need to manage development carefully to protect these vital resources. The tourism ministry has responded by maintaining its focus on sustainable development and expanding marketing efforts to diversify visitor sources. (https://www.centralamerica.com/news/costa-rica-tourist-numbers-2024/)
