Recommend December 2010 - (Page 52)

CoSTA RICA is smiling 14th annual latin america rca Best Selling Destination in Latin America winner carla hunt FOR AWARDS PIECES rca 14th annual readers’ choice awards winners FINAL LOGO.indd 1 11/22/10 3:21:35 PM Costa RiCa touRist BoaRd “...our Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program...has made Costa Rica the pioneer for sustainable tourism practices and a leader in ecotourism. [Through this program], we are achieving a competitive edge.” Carlos Ricardo Benavides, Minister of Tourism, Costa Rica C 52 december 2010 The resplendent quetzal. Costa Rica is huge in visitor appeal, as demonstrated by its winning Recommend’s Readers’ Choice Award for the Best Selling Destination in Latin America for the second year in a row. Beach mavens come to swing in hammocks along the shores of two oceans or dive in to come face-to-face with myriad colorful corals and fish. Nature lovers head for the national parks and birders return again and again to update there “life lists” of spotted species. The action buff, meanwhile, keeps the adrenalin flowing in a nonstop round of biking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, golfing, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. And as Costa Rica has fulfilled many a vacation dream, tourism itself is important to a country often called the “Switzerland of Central America.” “It’s hard to believe that 55 years ago,” says Minister of Tourism Carlos Ricardo Benavides, “only agriculture defined the Costa Rican economy, with the balance of payments and economic solvency dependent on coffee and banana plantations. Those products continue in importance, but nowadays tourism generates $2 billion annually, three times the amount of bananas and eight times the amount from coffee.“ Costa Rica’s attraction superlatives, long marketed under the image umbrella of “No Artificial Ingredients,” have combined to send the country’s inbound tourist figures to lofty heights—now past the two million mark. However, Benavides points out that the nuts and bolts of the country’s success story include greater accessibility with expanded air services. “Today, Costa Rica receives 20 international airlines, which operate 600 flights weekly to the country’s two international airports, one at San Jose and the other at Liberia in the Guanacaste state. And starting Feb. 13, Frontier Airlines will link the Liberia airport to Denver, adding a second flight and Costa Rica gateway to its present San Jose service.” Presently, the minister is delighted that, according to studies done by Green Travel International, the country with the best and the most world recognition as a green destination is Costa Rica, and he credits that to “...our Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, which has made Costa Rica the pioneer for sustainable tourism practices and a leader in ecotourism. [Through this program], we are achieving a competitive edge.” Agents interested in becoming specialists in Costa Rica’s green offerings can take the Costa Rica Specialist Program II, available at edu.recommend.com. For a more general overview of the destination—and available on edu-recommend.com, as well—there’s the Costa Rica Specialist Program I, showcasing the multitude of attractions and options your clients can enjoy during a trip to this Central American country. For the immediate future, Benavides notes that while his country has well established its adventure and ecotourism niche market, “...new challenges in the year ahead will be developing the meetings and conventions sector by building a convention center, and we are highly encouraging the promotion of medical tourism and wellness.” And one final note on award-winning Costa Rica—Benavides is particularly proud to report another kudo for his country, Travel + Leisure ranked Costa Rica as the safest and happiest country in the world. l contact information Costa Rica Tourist Board: visitcostarica.com recommend.com http://edu.recommend.com http://www.edu-recommend.com http://www.visitcostarica.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2010

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk-Marriott International
Tour Talk-Globus
Services-SABRE; Apple Vacations & Travel Impressions
Ritz-Carlton
Hertz & Hawaii
Las Vegas
Tauck World Discovery
Florida
Southwest Airlines
France
Ireland
Italy
Delta Air Lines & Rail Europe
China
Thailand
Singapore Airlines
2011 Taiwan Travel Planner
Tahiti & Goway Travel
Costa Rica
Brazil & Avanti Destinations
Egypt
South Africa
Abercrombie & Kent & Isram World of Travel
Israel
Jamaica
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
St. Lucia
GOGO Worldwide Vacations
Cancun
RIU Hotels & Resorts & Apple Vacations
Riviera Maya
Celebrity Cruises & Royal Caribbean International
Princess Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines & Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Crystal Cruises & Viking River Cruises

Recommend December 2010