Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #44

Hotel & Tourism
SMARTreport #44
2019 Autumn Edition 31
31
A PRIME DESTINATION
FOR NATURE LOVERS
Costa Rica takes off in Europe thanks to new flights
Arenal Vulkan, los Canaste,
Costa Rica
The increase in the total number of flights to Costa Rica makes the
destination more accessible from Europe, particularly with the Air France-
KLM group. For tourism professionals, Costa Rica is thus more than ever an
attractive destination in Central America, especially for nature lovers.
Costa Rica is located in Central America
and is ranked as one of the most visited
international destinations there, meaning
tourism is one of Costa Rica’s main sources
of income. Costa Rica is a democratic and
peaceful country and it has not had an
army since the year 1949. Although the
country is small and covers only 0.03% of
the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters
5% of the existing biodiversity of the entire
planet. Conservation and natural protected
territories make up for 26% of the nation’s
territory.
The country benefits from many direct
flights to Europe operated by eight airlines.
From Paris, Air France is once again
offering four direct weekly flights from the
end of October this winter, on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Its
Dutch partner KLM is launching a flight
to the country’s second international
airport. Four weekly flights will link
Amsterdam to Liberia in the Guanacaste
region (northwest) on the Pacific coast.
The route will be officially inaugurated
on 29 October and operate on Tuesdays,
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between
Amsterdam-Schiphol, San Jose and
Guanacaste-Liberia.
Guanacaste is known for the beauty of its
landscapes and the warmth of its climate,
which makes it a unique tourist destination
in combination with San Jose. It includes
the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, from the
border with Nicaragua to the mouth of
the Bongo River in the Nicoya Peninsula.
This region is home to a large part of the
country’s natural and cultural heritage
with its aquatic, terrestrial, mountain and
coastal ecosystems.
The new line will allow Skyteam alliance
passengers to arrive in Costa Rica via San
Jose and depart via Liberia, offering greater
flexibility for tour operators.
In addition to the Air France-KLM group,
Costa Rica has also flights with Edelweiss
from Zurich; with British Airways from
London with two or three weekly flights
depending on the season; with Iberia
with one daily flight from Madrid; with
Lufthansa from Frankfurt with two flights
per week.
News also for those wishing to travel by
ferry to Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Malpaís
or other nearby destinations: now tickets
can be purchased online