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Insights & Legislative Analyses
Sector insights and analysis. Trends & Perspectives for market signals and management; Draft Laws · Tourism-Related for legislative initiatives impacting tourism.
CET’s analysis hub, organized into two streams.
Trends & Perspectives distills market signals—demand patterns, pricing and channel shifts, innovation, sustainability, and regulation—into short, actionable takeaways for tourism leaders.
Draft Laws · Tourism-Related examines legislative proposals that could affect Costa Rica’s tourism economy, translating legal text into operational implications and strategic choices. Browse both to spot risks and opportunities early, align decisions with evidence, and stay ahead of changes shaping the sector.
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How Competitive Is Costa Rica as a Tourism Destination? - Tecnical Note #15
Costa Rica remains a regional tourism leader, but the TTDI 2026 reveals growing competitiveness challenges related to prices, safety, infrastructure and shorter visitor stays.
Víctor Umaña
Sep 262 min read
What Can Costa Rica Expect from Tourism in September 2026?
CET projects approximately 101,900 international air arrivals to Costa Rica in September 2026. The analysis examines scheduled flight capacity, recent airline adjustments and the indicators being incorporated into the CET forecasting model.
Víctor Umaña
Sep 193 min read
Tourism in Costa Rica Records Its First Broad-Based Decline of 2026
Costa Rica recorded its first broad-based decline in international air arrivals of 2026 in August. CET examines the role of the U.S. market, the performance of San José and Liberia, and the emerging signals behind the slowdown.
Víctor Umaña
Sep 193 min read
How Should We Measure the Success of Tourism in Costa Rica?
Beyond growth in international arrivals, tourism performance can also be assessed through its territorial distribution, its capacity to generate opportunities, and its contribution to community well-being. On September 2, Mario Mikowski, a member of the Advisory Committee of the Centro de Estudios del Turismo (CET), raised a particularly relevant question for Costa Rica’s current tourism landscape in his column published by El Observador: How do we truly measure success in to
tadeomg
Sep 24 min read
July confirms a new pattern in tourist arrivals to Costa Rica: Liberia and Europe drive growth
Observed international air arrivals to Costa Rica and CET’s updated forecast for the remainder of the 2026 low season. The chart shows the close match between the July forecast and the official figure, and projects 185,985 air arrivals in August and 107,125 in September.
Víctor Umaña
Aug 175 min read
Costa Rica: Outbound Travel by Costa Ricans Grows While International Arrivals Remain Stagnant
Outbound Travel by Costa Ricans Grows While International Arrivals Remain Stagnant
Víctor Umaña
Aug 145 min read
Costa Rica Expects Moderate Tourism Growth in July and August 2026
The Centro de Estudios del Turismo (CET) has developed a model to estimate, one and two months in advance, the number of international tourists expected to arrive in Costa Rica by air. The tool combines two main signals: the recent trend in arrivals and the behavior of Google searches conducted from the United States, a market that accounts for approximately 60% of the country’s air arrivals. According to Technical Note 11-2026, the model forecasts approximately 247,750 touri
Víctor Umaña
Jul 313 min read
Costa Rica Reports Higher Daily Tourism Spending, but a Shorter Average Stay
CET Technical Note 10 examines how visitor spending and length of stay changed between 2006 and 2025. International visitors to Costa Rica are spending more dollars per day, but staying for fewer nights. This combination marks an important shift in tourism demand and raises questions about competitiveness, value creation, and the country’s ability to sustain longer visits. Technical Note 10-2026, published by the Center for Tourism Studies (CET), analyzes the evolution of ave
Víctor Umaña
Jul 95 min read
In May 2026, Tourism Grows Moderately While Costa Rica Loses the World Cup Spotlight Effect
Featured image for CET Technical Note NT09-2026 on Costa Rica’s May 2026 international tourist arrivals and the tourism cost of losing the World Cup spotlight effect.
Víctor Umaña
Jun 193 min read
The electric power system is entering a pressure zone, and tourism should take note.
The Center for Tourism Studies presents Technical Note 07-2026, an analysis of the recent evolution of Costa Rica’s electric power system, with emphasis on demand, generation by source, the growing use of thermal generation and the implications for the country’s competitiveness and tourism activity. The report analyzes data from the National Electric System for 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. The evidence shows that Costa Rica is entering a new stage of pressure on its el
Víctor Umaña
May 72 min read
Costa Rica starts 2026 with the best first quarter of international arrivals in its history
Signals that require attention persist Costa Rica: International Arrivals and Tourism Revenues Technical Note 06-2026 · January–March 2026 · Series 2019–2025 Published: April 2026 | Víctor Umaña, Executive Director CET Costa Rica began 2026 with a historic result in international arrivals. During the first quarter, the country received 1,033,777 visitors, representing a year-on-year growth of 11.3% and, notably, the first time a first quarter surpasses the pre-pandemic level
Víctor Umaña
Apr 234 min read
Tourism in Guatemala and El Salvador: A Regional Corridor Already Operating with Its Own Logic
In practice, Central America is consolidating tourism corridors that deserve a more strategic reading. That is one of the main findings of Technical Note 05-2026 by the Center for Tourism Studies, which examines the dynamics of international visitors in Guatemala and El Salvador, the facilitation of movement under the CA-4 agreement, air connectivity, and spending patterns in both destinations. The data clearly show that Central America is the main source market for both coun
Víctor Umaña
Mar 212 min read
Costa Rica Begins 2026 with a Rebound in International Arrivals, but the Broader Context Still Calls for Caution
An Encouraging Start for Tourism Activity Costa Rica began 2026 with a positive sign in international arrival trends. During January and February, the country welcomed 653,959 international travelers, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.4% and making this the strongest first two-month period since the pandemic. This is an important result, not only because of the cumulative volume, but also because it confirms a recovery that is regaining momentum after a recent period
Víctor Umaña
Mar 164 min read
The IMF’s 2026 Article IV report on Costa Rica
The International Monetary Fund’s annual review raises relevant observations on monetary policy, competitiveness, public safety, pensions, the financial system, and fiscal sustainability. For tourism, several of these signals deserve immediate attention. Brief Summary The IMF’s 2026 Article IV report on Costa Rica is neither an adjustment program nor a loan, but rather an independent technical assessment of the national economy. While it acknowledges macroeconomic strengths,
Víctor Umaña
Mar 116 min read
Law on the Creation of the Protected Wild Area National Landscape Arenal Reservoir Water Mirror and the Promotion of Activities Associated with the Sustainable Use of its Buffer Zone
Bill 22.981 creates the protected wild area “National Landscape Arenal Reservoir Water Mirror” and declares the Environmental and Social Development Plan for its buffer zone to be of public interest. The initiative seeks to regulate lake use, aligning energy generation with sustainable tourism and productive activities in surrounding communities.
tadeomg
Jan 225 min read
Thermal Water and Sustainability
The Living Experience of La Fortuna de San Carlos By Tadeo Francisco Morales Gómez President – Arenal Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Researcher – Center for Tourism Studies (CET), Costa Rica Thermal Water as a Regenerative Resource Thermal water is not just a tourist attraction. It is a catalyst for transformation—a geological force charged with minerals, energy, and memory, capable of regenerating people, landscapes, local economies, and human-nature relationships. In Cos
tadeomg
Sep 2, 20257 min read
Are We Ready to Lead the Future of Tourism in Latin America? Reflections from a Historic Crossroads
🔍 This blog is an analysis of the article published by Bary Roberts on June 20, 2025, titled At the Crossroads of Latin American Tourism , available on LinkedIn. Few voices in Latin America possess the authority, experience, and clarity with which Bary Roberts analyzes the major issues shaping regional tourism. With a career spanning both the public and private sectors—and decades of commitment to sustainability, innovation, and governance—Bary has not only witnessed the t
tadeomg
Jun 22, 20253 min read
Discover Community Based Tourism. IV - Community-Based Tourism and Its Relationship with Literature and Art
Community-based tourism is much more than just visiting a destination; it’s an opportunity to connect with the heart of local communities, share their traditions, and contribute to sustainable development. Over the course of this series of four blogs, we will explore how this form of tourism allows travelers to immerse themselves in the culture, nature, and daily life of those who open their doors to offer authentic and enriching experiences. Community-Based Tourism and Its R
tadeomg
Apr 6, 20253 min read
Discover Community Based Tourism. III - Cultural Gastronomic Identity in Community-Based Tourism
Community-based tourism is much more than just visiting a destination; it’s an opportunity to connect with the heart of local communities, share their traditions, and contribute to sustainable development. Over the course of this series of four blogs, we will explore how this form of tourism allows travelers to immerse themselves in the culture, nature, and daily life of those who open their doors to offer authentic and enriching experiences. Cultural Gastronomic Identity in
tadeomg
Apr 2, 20253 min read
Discover Community-Based Tourism. II - Challenges and Opportunities of Community-Based Tourism in Costa Rica
Community-based tourism is much more than just visiting a destination; it’s an opportunity to connect with the heart of local communities, share their traditions, and contribute to sustainable development. Over the course of this series of four blogs, we will explore how this form of tourism allows travelers to immerse themselves in the culture, nature, and daily life of those who open their doors to offer authentic and enriching experiences. Challenges and Opportunities of C
tadeomg
Apr 1, 20253 min read
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