National Geographic highlights the Northern Region of Costa Rica

The prestigious international magazine National Geographic Traveler, recently highlighted the natural beauty of the impressive Arenal Volcano area in La Fortuna de San Carlos.

National Geographic Traveler magazine is one of the most renowned magazines of the planet, with a website that constantly exposes articles, photographs, charts, and notes of interest, of worldwide tourist destinations.

Source: Instituto Costarricense de Turismo

Costa Rica: Medical Tourism and Hot Springs

A plan is underway to boost medical hydrology in the north of the country, taking advantage of the tourist infrastructure and natural conditions in the area.

Entrepreneurs from San Carlos, in the northern part of the country, plan to form partnerships "with the medical community and businesses in order to build medical centers and train professionals in the health industry, said Lorena Herrera, businesswoman and team president", reported Elfinancierocr.com.

Data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) has revealed that 25% of the tourists coming to Costa Rica visit the area. "This type of tourism has been growing as people recognize the benefits of thermal waters," said Gabriela Moreira spokeswoman for Baldi Hot Springs resort.

Meanwhile, Rodolfo Lizano, leader of Macroprocess Planning and ICT Development, said that he was not aware of the initiative and that the concept of thermal tourism or medical hydrology is not within any of the categories of reasons for travel taken into account by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Jetblue launches non-stop service between fort Lauderdale and San José, Costa Rica

Today begins non-stop daily flights between the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica.

"We are thrilled to offer the JetBlue experience with excellence in products and services to more clients with our new route between Fort Lauderdale and San José" said Scott Laurence, Vice-president of Planning of JetBlue Airways.

"This new service is a direct result of our focus in increasing our presence in Fort Lauderdale and to stay relevant, also to continue adding flights to cover the needs of our travelers. This new route will help connect two dynamic cities that have much to offer the visitors and residents, alike.

"In just four years of operating in Costa Rica, JetBlue Airllines has shown a constant growth, both in the amount of passengers that it brings to our country as it relates to opening new routes, which is evidence of the success that it has had in wagering on our destination," highlighted Allan Flores, Costa Rica's Minister of Tourism.

"The new route from Fort Lauderdale, which we are inaugurating today, allows the increase in the availability of seats from the United States to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, doubling the air offer towards our country from the state of Florida, which ranks third when it comes to client concentration considered as best prospects for Costa Rica," highlighted Flores.

Destinations to Latin America and the Caribbean now make up a third of the total of the routes of JetBlue. The airline offers flights to two cities via three routes the diverse and beautiful country of Costa Rica.

JetBlue began its service between Orlando and San José in 2009, and it also offers non-stop service to Liberia from the JFK Airport in New York.

The JetBlue flight itinerary between Fort Lauderdale and San José is:

Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to San José (SJO): San José (SJO) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL):
Departure – Arrival Departure – Arrival
9:45 a.m. – 10:38 a.m. 1:20 p.m. – 6:24 p.m.

- The itinerary reflects local time–

The JetBlue flights to San José will be operated with its comfortable fleet of Airbus A320 planes and its prized customer service, offering conveniently assigned seats; a first checked bag free of charge (b); complimentary and unlimited brand snacks and drinks; comfortable leather seats, and more leg room in Economy class than any other airline in the United States (c).

Costa Rica continues Starwood expansion process in Latin America

The opening of the Sheraton San Jose marks the return of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide to Costa Rica. The property has 172 rooms and its opening is part of an aggressive Sheraton expansion that seeks to achieve the milestone of 500 hotels assets by the year 2015. The Sheraton San Jose is operated by GHL Hotels, a Colombian chain that is part of the GHL Group, positioned as an operator of multiple hotel brands and that operates more than 50 international hotel brands in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Panama and Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's Beautiful Beaches

You really are spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches in Puntarenas province, but by far the most spectacular and unspoiled beach is the one at Manuel Antonio National Park. National Geographic has described this National Park as 'one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world,' and when you arrive you will see why. Rainforest covers much of the National Park, but where it meets the ocean lush sand slopes down into the sea. The water is crystal clear, and the lack of any sort of development in the area means it should stay this way.

If you are looking for a beach that offers some exciting activities to try, then Playa Hermosa is a great choice. Here you can soak up the sunshine, enjoy delicious seafood meals by the coast, and even try a spot of snorkelling or scuba diving. Boats can take you to to nearby Isla Tortuga where you will see a variety of marine life beneath the surface. Last, but not least, is Playa Jaco, a favorite beach among the younger crowd. Here it is surfing during the day, and partying by night, so be prepared to let your hair down if you do decide to visit.

TripAdvisor's most experienced globetrotters weighed in for the Travelers' Choice 2013 awards, choosing Manuel Antonio as Central America's most spectacular beach. And while there's no doubt that Manuel Antonio's powdery sands are bliss and its turquoise waters inviting, there's one secret TripAdvisor didn't share: this beach town offers more than just the most beautiful coastline in the region. Manuel Antonio is a natural paradise. An eden of adventure. A mecca for wildlife. An ocean wonderland. A wellness utopia. Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to find it here.

U.S. Trade Mission to Costa Rica

From 10th to July 14th, 20 companies in the state of Florida in areas dedicated to technology, tourism and industry, will be looking for business in the country.

The activity is being organized by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) who will assist companies such as Vestal & Wile, Puerto Cape Canaveral and the airline JetBlue, as well as lawyers with experience in international law and migration.

"The idea of the mission is to connect Costa Ricans with businessmen from Central Florida so that they can establish trade ties which benefit both parties," said the president of the chamber, Diana Bolivar, who explained that for them, trade missions to Latin American countries are very important.

"In just four years of operating in Costa Rica, JetBlue Airllines has shown a constant growth, both in the amount of passengers that it brings to our country as it relates to opening new routes, which is evidence of the success that it has had in wagering on our destination," highlighted Allan Flores, Costa Rica's Minister of Tourism.

As part of the trade, the Florida Chamber organizes a workshop for Costa Rican entrepreneurs interested in learning more about how to do business in American soil. These workshops are free and will be held at the Hotel Real Intercontinental, the mission's headquarters.

Source: elfinancierocr.com.

Central American countries vie for slice of cruise market

Central American countries are vying for a slice of the cruise market as cruise passengers to the region grew by 15% last season. Guatemala is investing in improving its ports, roads and airports infrastructure and is committed to developing its cruise sector. The Nicaragua Tourist Board (INTUR) has signed an agreement with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association to bring more cruise ships to its ports, and the Tourist Board of El Salvador (CORSATUR) has signed new agreements in the past few weeks with several cruise companies including Holland America Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Saga, Princess Cruises and Pullmantur.

A total of 2,394,000 cruise passengers arrived between October 2012 and May 2013 according to data released by the Secretariat of Central America Tourism Integration and figures are expected to rise further this season. Honduras is the most popular destination accounting for 33% of the total number of cruise passengers in the region. It was followed by Belize and then Panama which welcomed 315 and 277 cruise ships last season, respectively.

Costa Rica, namely the Puerto Limon port, was also popular with cruisers. The Central American Tourism Agency said the Central American region aims to position itself as one of the top cruise destinations in the world.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013.

Source: elfinancierocr.com.

Costa Rica: Hotel Investment Returns

A long list of hotel investments are coming; 45 new hotels and $945 million in investment between 2012 and 2015.

Without reaching the levels of the pre-crisis boom of 2008, investment in the sector has rebounded registering $945 million in 45 new hotels from 2012 to 2015.

One example is the Sheraton hotel with an investment of $40 million which began operations this month in Escazú, and another brand that is to open is Andaz Papagayo which is opening in Guanacaste in December after an investment of $70 million. Similarly, other projects have opened their doors in the last year, while others plan to do so from between now and up until the end of 2015.

Elfinancierocr.com reports that "hoteliers, realtors and people involved in the sector say the country is experiencing a revival in investments in hotels and resorts."

Source: elfinancierocr.com.

Gay Tourism in Costa Rica

Tourism entrepreneurs push for Costa Rica to legalize gay unions, pointing out the benefits it would bring to their industry.

"In all of the countries where the union of gay people has been sanctioned, there has been a significant increase in tourism. Gay people have high purchasing power, they don't have children, they don't have families apart from themselves and therefore the amount they spend is immense," said Boris Marchegiani, president of Protur.

Prensalibrecr.com reports: "Gay tourists are coveted among local businessmen, as the level of spending is more than double that of heterosexual honeymooners, who until recently were those who spent the most."

The area where this type of tourism has been fostered the most is in the South Pacific part of the country, where there are hotels devoted to same-sex couples. According to hoteliers the profits generated from allowing same sex unions would re-energize the sector.

Source: prensalibre.co.cr