Costa Rican tourism authorities are increasingly promoting the country's southern Pacific coast
Costa Rican tourism authorities are increasingly promoting the country’s southern Pacific coast, a part of the world that has plenty of colourful toucans, and plenty of adorable sloths but doesn’t have plenty of tourists.
A June 4 Toronto event saw Costa Rican tourism minister William Rodriguez praise the region as a little-developed part of the Latin American nation that has the type of wildlife that Costa Rica is synonymous with.
“It’s an undeveloped area for tourists,” said Rodriguez, in Toronto with a Costa Rican delegation.
Rodriguez noted that area hotels tend to have 50 rooms or fewer, a contrast with some of the larger, all-inclusive resorts found in popular and more developed Guanacaste, found on the north Pacific coast.
Those on hand in Toronto included Freddy Lizano, Costa Rica Tourism Institute; Jazmin Jimenez, VoX International: Costa Rican tourism minister William Rodriguez; Laura Marin, Copa Airlines; and Susan Webb, VoX International.
The Costa Rica Tourism Institute’s Freddy Lizano — who also made the trip to Toronto — noted there are several national parks in the southern Pacific region that are found at different altitudes, resulting in different opportunities for birdwatchers. For example, Corcovado and Piedras Blancas have the likes of scarlet macaws and toucans, always popular with birdwatchers. Higher La Amistad in turn has colourful quetzals.
The southern Pacific region is also great for energetic sorts, offering such activities as surfing, kayaking and trekking, he continued.
“The biodiversity there is very high,” he added.
Rodriguez said his homeland remains hugely attractive to nature enthusiasts, with 26% of it protected from development through national parks and private reserves.
Smallish Costa Rica has 6% of the world’s biodiversity, he continued, adding it’s “one of the most biodiverse places in the world….We want development friendly with nature.”
Costa Rica is served by several carriers that also have a presence in this country and Rodriguez promised that increased air service will soon be announced.
The tourism institute’s Adalberto Rodriguez in turn told those on hand that, “You need to come visit. We’re only 5 hours away and you will have the best time.”
He also noted that Costa Rica has a travel agent specialist program that among other things makes fam trips available.
The Costa Ricans also visited Montreal and Vancouver, among other things giving away mango popsicles as part of their promotion in Vancouver and Costa Rica represented in a Montreal mural competition.
