In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Carolina Trejos, Marketing Director of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.
What are the expectations and objectives for WTM this year?
It's the end of the year, but when we come to WTM we can get a good idea of the high season and the projections for the following year, so we are very happy to be here. We are coming with 45 businessmen, the largest number with whom we have visited London.
What destinations and regions are being promoted here today?
Costa Rica is always a multi-destination. Europeans have a fairly long stay in Costa Rica, more or less between 12 and 14 days, and that means that they visit and travel a lot around the Costa Rican tourist product, so here we bring the experience of what Costa Rica is.
Who came to perform here with you?
Hotels, operators and also some experiences come, but especially operators. What we want most is to be able to bring the product closer to the buyer, and the operator is the one who best brings together all this tourist offer.
If you had to describe in a few words what has happened this year, how has it been experienced at ICT?
2024 was a year of growth. We closed 2023 with numbers equal to those of 2019, even slightly higher, 2% up, which means we have already passed the COVID chapter. So 2024 has been a greater growth compared to 2023. We are very happy to develop new markets.
Mexico is one of the countries that has responded the most in recent years by opening new destinations or new air routes from within the country. Guadalajara also began flying directly this month and within 2 weeks we will open a new historic route from Sao Paulo to San José. Opening the Brazilian market is a great challenge, but for now we are maintaining excellent numbers and with a very high growth expectation.
Speaking of connectivity, there are officials from very important airlines worldwide present here. Are you holding meetings these days?
The two fairs where we have the greatest number of contacts with airlines are here in London and FITUR in Spain, precisely because it is the end and beginning of the year, where we can review how business was for airlines to Costa Rica and the investments to encourage demand.
Today we had 3 of those meetings, tomorrow we have a busy agenda as well, so we always come with this great expectation of reviewing and creating something good for the coming year.
They have grown in terms of attractiveness of hotel offerings. What can you say about how the private sector is supporting this growth?
We would not be the product we are if it were not for the investment, for the commitment of the private sector, but especially for the service and the mystique with which the Costa Rican product is delivered. That is, without a doubt, the great differentiator of Costa Rica as a tourist destination. There is always development with a large investment and new infrastructure, specifically focused on the luxury market. We are also developing and putting into development areas such as the South Pacific and the Caribbean of Costa Rica, which are undoubtedly still unexplored gems, and that is where growth for our destination will be in the future.
What news can you reveal about 2025?
The opening of these luxury hotels in Papagayo, the Ritz -Carlton , the One&Only are to open in the coming months, and during 2025 and early 2026 we will also be entering with other high-end hotels that will be there.