Costa Rica is Hit by a Rather Tougher Low Tourist Season for 2007

Looks at why Costa Rica has seen a decrease in the amount of Tourism in 2007 compared to previous years and how they intend to combat this.

(PRWEB) July 28, 2007 -- Costa Rica Holiday, a leading UK travel agency based in san Jose Costa Rica has seen a recent decrease in the number of bookings and also the vast amount of space available this green season (May - Nov 2007). Typically the previous couple of years have been fabulous with 2005 being a great year for the lower season months in Costa Rica.

A hotel owner in Arenal mentioned that he is just not seeing the number of families and couples coming to Costa Rica this year as he has seen in the previous years. When asked why he just shrugged his shoulders and exclaimed that he had no idea.

It is hard to pin down why there has been this decrease but maybe Costa Rica has lost the attraction as an eco-destination? However this can be proved wrong by the number of hotels in Costa Rica being built. Maybe it is because the people who repeatedly come to Costa Rica have bought property here and not longer use hotels? But the number of tourists has increased drastically this year over last; estimates seem to think there is a general increase of about 10-15% per year. So why is it that Costa Rica is seeing a slower green season than previous years?

Some of the factors to look at are of course economical. Over the past months the US economy has not been the strongest and there have been more foreclosures on houses in 2007 than in 2006. In fact from Jan 2007 to March 2007 there was a 25% increase in the number of foreclosures (Real Estate AOL).

In Europe there have been mainly weather factors affecting people's holiday habits, with the UK having the wettest June ever recorded. Currently there are places in Britain under 5 ft of water. One of the great advantages the UK has at the moment is the strength of the sterling pound against the US Dollar as 2 weeks ago the rate was just over 2 USD to the £. Therefore effectively the holiday prices for Brits holidaying in Costa Rica are half price.

However on a positive note this has made the Costa Rican hotels stand up and see that they cannot be reactive to situations and wait for tourism to be generated and then come to them. They have to get up off their 'derrieres' and become proactive, and you can see this happening in some hotels. Below are some of the offers currently available to people who book their holiday plans through Holidays in Costa Rica (www.costaricaholiday.co.uk).

La Mansion Arenal (http://www.costaricaholiday.co.uk/Hotel%20Websites/Mansion_arenal.htm) Only available to Costa Rica Holiday: if you stay 3 nights at this fabulous small boutique cottage retreat you will be given the 4 night free.

Punta Islita (http://www.costaricaholiday.co.uk/Hotel%20Websites/punta_islita.htm) Part of the 'small luxury hotels of the world' this spectacular beach hotel offers 4 nights for the price of 3.

These are just a few of the green season specials available in Costa Rica at the moment. There really is not better time to come to Costa Rica than in the green season as there are fewer tourists, more wildlife as the afternoon short showers bring the flowers and fruit out and more wildlife with it. Typically days are great, you will have sunny mornings until about 2-3pm where it will rain for like 30 minutes and then clear up; nonetheless it is still warm ranging from 20-32 ºC and sun tans will happen even when it is cloudy.

This time of year is when also the turtles are laying their eggs on the Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero, whales and dolphins can been seen in the Osa and the splendid Quetzal is in Monteverde. There are 1000 reasons to come to Costa Rica and if you need one then we will give you one.

One of the best green season packages currently on the market is the Luxury Green Season special which can be seen here:

http://www.costaricaholiday.co.uk/Packages%20Explained/green2007.htm

For more information on coming to Costa Rica and panning a holiday I the green or dry season please feel free to contact us on +44 (0) 207-193-3930 or visit us at www.costaricaholiday.co.uk .

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