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[C1115]Costa Rica And Tourism

by Jim Kesel, Jim

Costa Rica is a beautiful travel destination that has caught the attention of the world. Recent statistics indicate that tourism has growing rapidly over the recent years and is expect to continue expand. Literally called the ?Rich Coast? by the Spanish explorers Costa Rica has access to both the Pacific and Caribbean seas.

Costa Rica Tourism is considered a USD 1.9 billion a year industry. It stands out as the most visited nation in the Central American region and records to date show that 1.9 million visitors enjoy the country's beauty and hospitality. More than half of the tourists come from the United States and a fifth of the total number come from Europe.

Costa Rica now prides itself in having two major international airports (SJO and LIR) and several domestic airports. The first major airport is Juan Santamar'a Airport (SJO) and it is accessible to major cities of the country which are Alajuela, Heredia and the capital city of San Jos?. The second international airport is Daniel Oduber Quir's International Airport (LIR) and it is located in Liberia, near the Guacanaste province and closest to the Pacific Northwest coast.

Increases in Costa Rica tourism are tied to the Liberia international airport. Plans are underway to expand this facility to continue to accommodate the surge of visitors. New developments in the northern region of Costa Rica is one of the major reasons for the increased visitor traffic. Nowadays, luxury hotels, enchanting villas and mesmerizing rentals are constantly on the rise in this part of the country.

Costa Rica is the pioneer in strategic ecotourism. Thus, there are many exciting destinations in the country where nature can best be appreciated. Tourists can visit any one of the country's national parks: Chirripo National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Cahuita National Park, Corcovado National Park and Tapanti National Park. Other environmental tourist spots are the Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves and the Pacuare River and Protected Zone.

Going on a holiday in Costa Rica is far from boring. Due to the fact that prostitution is legal in the country, sex tourism has become one of the country's tourist attractions. The industry is slowly gaining popularity, making it one of the national destinations of ?sex tourists? and the commerce already accounts for approximately 1/10 or 10% of the billion dollar industry. However there are many people who have decided to avoid Costa Rica as a result of the sex tourism industry.

According to the first Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index published by the World Economic Forum, Costa Rica tourism astonishingly ranks 41st place, making themselves the first among other Latin American countries. It is definitely a feat, since if the forum only takes into consideration major factors such as human, cultural and natural resources, Costa Rica places 20th at a worldwide level.

Costa Rica tourism will continue to grow as the world discovers the beauty of this tropical paradise. This will provide an increase economic growth and the growth of the infrastructure that is associated with the tourism industry. The future is bright for Costa Rica and its tourism industry.

Costa Rica land has so many exotic and alluring locales that it can be hard to decide which is the ideal spot for a vacation. The easiest way, however, is to know which are the most popular regions of the country. After that, all you have to do is decide what sort of Costa Rica vacation you want to have. Here's a look at some hottest Costa Rica vacation destinations:

Arenal
Arenal, which is located in inland Costa Rica, is a hotspot?literally. It's where the very active Arenal volcano is located as well as Lake Arenal and Arenal National Park. You can boat, canoe, horseback ride or even windsurf in Arenal but most people visiting this particular piece of Costa Rica land are looking for the adventure that the volcano brings. If that's you, you're in luck because there are plenty of hotels nearby that provide great views of Arenal Volcano. Those who want to get even closer to the volcano can simply visit Arenal National Park.

Guanacaste
If it's an easygoing vacation filled with sunbathing on Costa Rica beaches, is what you're looking for, then Guanacaste is where you want to be. The waters are a vibrant blue, the beaches filled with soft, golden sand and with Guanacaste being one of the drier areas of Costa Rica, it's ideal for all sorts of beach activities. Most people enjoy staying by the water and spending the day scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and fishing but if you do decide you want to take a break from all of that, Santa Rosa National Park isn't too far away.

Puntarenas
Tourists who want the best of both worlds?relaxation at ?home? and the ?party? outside their door?will love Puntarenas! For the beach and a good party, you'll want to choose a hotel near Jaco Beach. If it's a touch of nature you're looking to soak up though, then consider visiting the Osa Peninsula, Tambor, one of the nearby national parks. Both Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park are great places for nature lovers.

San Jose
Visit San Jose, Costa Rica and you'll be a little further from the sand and surf but you'll be much more immersed in Costa Rican culture than any other region. The city, being the nation's capitol, is busting with all that you would expect from a major city?and many things that you wouldn't. There are, of course, great stores for shopping, restaurants for eating, and unique museums to visit like the Jade and Gold Museums but those are just the things you can do on your relaxing days. If you want to spice things up, you can always take a day trip. There are regular horseback riding, biking, hiking, and white water rafting tours that originate from San Jose. And what would a trip to San Jose be without a visit to one of the coffee plantations? It would be downright un-tourist like, that's what it'd be! So if you have time, put that on the agenda as well.

Tortuguero
While many tourist locales are located on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Costa Rica real estate on the Caribbean side isn't too shabby either. In fact, it's a great option if you want the Costa Rica experience without all the other tourists. In Tortuguero, you'll be in a prime location for relaxing at a beautiful Costa Rica beach and you won't be too far away from Tortuguero National Park, which is one of the nation's most exotic, all-encompassing nature reserves.

The bottom line: If it's beautiful land you're looking forward to on your next vacation, there's none quite like Costa Rica land. When it comes down to it, all of the tourist locales are have something for every tourist, insuring that you enjoy your Costa Rica vacation wherever you are!

by David B Lovendahl, Developing Paradise

Article Source : Pg. 197

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Both Jim Kesel & David Lovendahl are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jim Kesel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sauna, Beauty Tips and Acid Reflux. James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the website at. Jim Kesel's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.

David Lovendahl has sinced written about articles on various topics from Golf Guide, Real Estate and Travel and Leisure. About Paradise BrokersParadise Brokers is developing paradise in Costa Rica as a full service, turnkey real estate, development and property management company. For more informat. David Lovendahl's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.