Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica consolidated its position as the country with the highest average spending per tourist in Central America, according to a Mastercard Advisors study using data from the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) – Costa Rica Tourism Board and the Banco Central de Costa Rica (Central Bank_.
According to the report, Average Spending per Person (ASP) reached US$2,062 in 2024. Furthermore, 75% of these transactions were made with debit or credit cards, reflecting the strength of the country’s digital payment infrastructure.
During 2024, tourism generated US$5.4 billion, a 14% increase compared to the previous year. Although international arrivals in the first half of 2025 were moderate (1.4 million by air through June), the economic impact per visitor continues to increase.
The study details that ASP has grown at an annual rate of 7.26% since 2019, while the number of arrivals increased by 1.9% over the same period.
This confirms the trend toward higher-value tourism.
Regarding source markets, the United States accounted for 56% of tourism revenue. The main reason for travel remains vacation, recreation, and leisure (73%), followed by visiting family and friends (8%). Business travel also regained ground and reached 8%, approaching pre-pandemic levels.
“The evolution of tourism in Costa Rica paves the way for continued innovation in payment solutions that support its sustainable development,” said Kattia Montero, Mastercard Country Manager for Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
“On this World Tourism Day (September 27), we reaffirm our commitment to collaborating with institutions and stakeholders in the financial ecosystem to improve the international tourist experience and support the growth of one of the most vibrant sectors of the national economy,” she added.
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