NatureAir - the world’s first certified carbon neutral airline announced today that Costa Rica is showing dynamic growth rates despite a challenging economy. According to the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - Costa Rica Tourism Institute - tourism to Costa Rica is holding strong at an 8 to 9% growth rate.
The ICT says 2008’s average world tourism growth is 2%, which is why Costa Rica is celebrating the fact that its 2008 economic outlook may surpass the world average by nearly four times.
“In 2007 tourism was up 11%, so the economic crisis has still affected Costa Rica, but as other countries are seeing a larger decline in tourism dollars the Latin American region is seeing an overall increase in tourism arrivals and foreign revenue,” said Gonzalo Vargas, president of the Cámara Nacional de Turismo (Canatur) - National Tourist Board. “August’s domestic regional passengers rose by 4%, while international traffic has been up more than 9%, year-over-year.”
With these statistics showing strength the countries largest airline, by revenue per passenger mile and available capacity, is optimistic for 2009. NatureAir’s 2008 third quarter accumulated gross revenue at a strong 42% growth. That is why despite the current financial crisis NatureAir is breaking the mold by revising its 2009 earning and projecting 11% growth in passenger traffic, and a 22% increase in earnings.
“Studies show that during economic hardship people take shorter vacations, and tend to stay closer to home. But with Costa Rica only a five hour or less flight, from most major US cities, international travelers are still coming, “said Alexi Huntley Khajavi, Chief Commercial Officer for NatureAir. “It’s Costa Rica’s sustainable efforts, NatureAir’s safety record and nature based destinations that keeps us as a top destination for new and returning tourists ”
Costa Rica’s domestic traffic growth is a global exception in a down market according to the Airports Council International. Although, the economic crisis has affected all countries worldwide, Costa Rica’s passenger growth continues to show promise.
Since its inception in 2000, NatureAir has grown from flying 18,000 passengers annually to more than 150,000 in 2008. The company got its start with one plane and 17 employees. Now it has a fleet of eight planes and more than 150 employees. It’s the only twin-engine airline in Costa Rica with both scheduled and chartered flights, and offers 74 daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica, and Panama.