December 14, 2018
Tourism companies in hospitality, tour operators, car rentals, and other sectors are touring three cities in Mexico to meet with 500 travel agents from that country and showcase the charms of Costa Rica.
The tour, scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday, is led by the Pro Imagen Costa Rica Group Association, along with 21 national companies, covering Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
Silvia Vargas, President of Pro Imagen, stated that the interest of Costa Ricans is due to Mexico being the third most important tourism market for Costa Rica in the world. Last year alone, 106,793 Mexicans visited the country, and according to the ICT’s best prospects studies, there are half a million Mexicans who are expected to visit Costa Rica for tourism.
“We are truly surprised by the response in Mexico, as the presence of 500 Mexican agents exceeded our expectations. Now it’s up to us, as private companies, to close deals, but it is also Pro Imagen’s mission to develop a series of educational talks to train the Mexican agents, who play a crucial role in promoting tourist arrivals to Costa Rica,” said Vargas.
Guadalajara and Monterrey
The Pro Imagen Costa Rica Group Association chose Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey because they are some of the largest and most developed cities in the country, have good air connections, and their residents have shown interest in visiting Costa Rica.
According to migration data processed by the ICT, on average, between 7,000 and 10,000 Mexicans visit Costa Rica each month. In July of last year alone, 11,291 Mexicans visited, coinciding with school vacations.
In 2017, 106,793 Mexicans visited the country.
On average, they stay for 7.1 nights and spend $119.6 per day (per person). According to the ICT market characterization, 67% like to come to Costa Rica with their partners and families, and 87% of those who visit have a university education.
The activities they most enjoy include visiting volcanoes, observing flora and fauna, sun and beach, enjoying local cuisine, and hot springs. They are also avid buyers of handicrafts and coffee.
One striking fact from ICT studies is that when Mexicans interested in visiting Latin America are asked which five destinations come to mind, Costa Rica ranks second, only surpassed by Argentina. Costa Rica is far ahead of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the Bahamas.