minister of tourism of panama

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With more than 1,365 weekly flights, 82 American and European cities in 35 countries, including 16 direct U.S. destinations, you will always find a way to land in Panamá. Visit us and enjoy this destination that connects a continent, two oceans, and now, the entire world. A small destination, big in adventures, nature, and connection—just a flight away.

Explore diverse cultures , nature , and thrilling adventures —all in one trip. Go from the Pacific to the Caribbean in two hours. Connect with seven indigenous communities. Discover the most studied tropical forest on the planet. Dine in the world’s only capital known as a UNESCO Creative City in Gastronomy . Witness the migration of whales , birds and schools of fish. Explore our ancestral cultures, African heritage and Spanish influences. No matter where you go, there’s so much to experience. 

Panamá. Live for More.

In Panamá we’ve got diverse experiences, all within reach. From culture to cuisine, wildlife, nature and outdoor adventures, we dare you to do it all. Spend more time doing the things you love, and less time on travel in between.

Places to Visit in Panamá

Panama city.

Check out the only capital in the world with a tropical rainforest, 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and, of course, the Panama Canal. Pedal past some of the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America, feel the Pacific breeze on the Bay of Panama, and explore archaeological sites—all without leaving town. Savor authentic cuisine and a fusion of flavors from around the world. Take advantage of unmatched connectivity and quick trips to Taboga Island. From historic ruins to a stunning skyline, Panama City...

Bocas Del Toro

Bocas del Toro is one of the favorite destinations among Panamanians and visitors. A quick 45-minute flight from Panama City brings you to the country’s northwesternmost province. Connect with the Naso and Ngäbe-Buglé heritage and join coral restoration projects. Keep going and dive into Caribbean culture. Explore forest-covered mountains, sail through mangroves, snorkel vibrant reefs, surf the perfect wave, and soak up that sunny Bocas vibe.

In between cool air mountains, this cozy valley town is filled with a diverse gastronomic scene. Boquete is also your ultimate all-in-one adventure zone. From chasing waterfalls and spotting exotic wildlife to scaling natural rock formations and sipping the world’s most valuable coffee, Boquete is a must. If you’re into delicious seasonal dishes and stunning scenery, this is your place.

Tierras Altas

This cool air region, known as the pantry of Panamá, has the most valuable coffee in the world. That’s right, this mountain paradise in the far west of Chiriqui keeps a cool climate in the middle of a tropical country. Scale peaks, roam forests, explore rivers and dig into culinary experiences all in one destination. Ever imagined seeing both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans at once? Here, you can.

Riviera Pacifica

Close to Panama City, this Pacific beach destination is backed by mountains and valleys. The Riviera Pacifica gives you the best of both worlds with epic beach and mountain adventures. Try a new water sport on a pristine coast with unbeatable ocean views. Then, explore mountain trails, waterfalls, and cooler climates. Why choose when you can have it all?

Pedasi, Cambutal & Venao

Explore a small town vibe with big adventures from local folklore to year-round surf in the Pacific Ocean. Down in the folklore-rich province of Los Santos, known as Panamá's cradle of folklore, this is where you’ll find some of the country’s best crafts and cultural festivities. Plus, nature puts on a show here with prime surfing in Venao and Cambutal, fishing on the Tuna Coast and sea turtle sanctuaries in beautiful places like Isla Cañas. So much to do, all in one place.

Pacific Coast of Veraguas

A must for divers and biodiversity seekers, explore the Pacific by land and sea without the crowds. The Pacific Coast of Veraguas is a must for epic adventures. This coastal gem, home to the diverse Coiba National Park, is known for community tourism and conservation. Dive with marine life, explore vibrant wildlife, surf perfect waves in Santa Catalina, hike lush trails, and soak in stunning views—all without bouncing around. Less travel, more thrill—just the way you like it.

From Spanish colonial ruins to Afro heritage, this Caribbean destination will take you back in time. Discover Portobelo, a hidden gem of Afro Congo Culture in the province of Colon, right on the Caribbean Sea. Picture this: ancient ruins, fortresses and deep blue seas all in one place. Whether you’re diving into its rich history, dancing to Afro Congo beats, or exploring nature’s finest, Portobelo packs it all. Now come see for yourself.

Coffee Harvest

Marlin sportfishing, best time for river rafting, turtle hatching, birdwatching, hiking & waterfalls, visit indigenous communities.

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Panama Tourism to Empower Local and Indigenous Communities

Destination stewardship report – autumn 2022 (volume 3, issue 2).

This post is from the Destination Stewardship Report ( Autumn 2022, Volume 3, Issue 2 ), an e-quarterly publication that provides practical information and insights useful to anyone whose work or interests involve improving destination stewardship in a post-pandemic world.

Inequity in distribution of tourism income is a major problem in much of Latin America, especially for indigenous communities. Now Panama is taking tangible steps to fix that, beginning with ten pilot projects and a focus on nature and tradition. Iván Eskildsen , the nation’s Minister of Tourism, explains.

Our National Plan Intends To Preserve and Regenerate Ecosystems and Ancestral Traditions

As Panama aspires to become a world-class sustainable tourism destination, local communities need to be considered at the very center of the tourism phenomenon, or sustainability will not be achieved. This philosophy is at the heart of Panama’s Sustainable Tourism Master Plan.

King of the Naso people, Reynaldo Alexis Santana, is said to be the last indigenous king in the Americas. [Photo courtesy of Panamá por Naturaleza]

The Panama Sustainable Tourism Model has been launched by the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) to establish tourism as a powerful tool to empower local and indigenous communities, so they can preserve and regenerate Panama’s rich and diverse ecosystems, as well as Panama’s cultural heritage, including ancestral practices at risk of disappearing. Local communities need to be the true guardians of the earth, and of their ancestral traditions.

The Panamanian Foundation for Sustainable Tourism (APTSO) and the ATP, have established the Panama Alliance for Community Tourism (PACT) to work alongside local communities to implement this philosophy.

PACT: a Collaborative Effort

The PACT project is reaching the end of its first phase, working with 10 pilot communities that reflect the cultural diversity of Panama in its main expressions: Indigenous, Afro and mestizo (Spanish heritage): Mata Oscura, Achiote, Bonllik, Santa Fe, Jurutungo, Soloy, Rio Caña, Bastimentos (Bahía Honda), Isla Cañas, and La Pintada.

These communities were selected based on a series of objective criteria that recognized their tourism potential, as well as a sufficient level of preparation that would allow them to reach a “market ready” status in the shortest possible time. With these communities, a diagnosis of their current degree of development was carried out by the PACT team; they participated in training sessions and workshops, and a catalog was prepared with information on the most attractive tourist experiences offered by the 10 communities.

The Soloy Community, one of the 10 pilot communities, is the gateway to the mystical Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous region. [Photo courtesy of Panamá por Naturaleza]

Also, the diagnosis identified investments needed for the communities’ attractions to be better prepared for visitors. Some of these investments have already been made to improve the visitor experience; other community needs in infrastructure will be submitted to the government’s Social Cabinet. This includes needs for improvements in water systems, community lodging, energy efficiency, among other proposed improvements. These infrastructure needs will also be presented to NGOs and international organizations that have available funds focused on biodiversity protection, and empowerment of local communities, to achieve the outlined roadmap for the pilot communities.

Marketing Community Tourism

In parallel to the preparation of these local communities, marketing strategies are being worked with these local communities, especially through the integration of the communities’ experiences in the tourism catalogs of national and international tour operators.

To accelerate this integration process, a Community Tourism Experiences Innovation Contest was launched together with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), offering attractive prizes to the most innovative experiences in community tourism. As a part of the contest, we are facilitating alliances between community providers and tour operators, through different workshops and training sessions.

Panama Community leaders at ATTA’s AdventureNext Latin America 2022 Conference, hosted in Panama City. [Photo courtesy of Panamá por Naturaleza]

The Panama Sustainable Tourism Model as an Open-Source Template

In Latin America and many other parts of the world we share a common reality: we have incredible wealth when it comes to biodiversity and cultural diversity, but at the same time we have a terrible distribution of income. We see the Panama Sustainable Tourism Model as a great opportunity to improve the quality of life of rural communities, through the sustainable development of their natural and cultural resources.

Even though the work with local communities is just finalizing its first phase, we are starting to see positive results from the initiatives described above. Some national and international tour operators are integrating these community-based experiences to their catalogs, and are beginning to bring tourists to these communities. We are optimistic that these results will mature in time, and as this happens, we will be committed to share this Sustainable Tourism Model as an open-source template, which can be replicated in other countries committed to the development of local communities and the regeneration of the planet’s ethnic and biological diversity.

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New requirements for tourists in panama.

Resolution No. 22068 Panama, September 1, 2021, establishes new requirements for tourists in Panama, effective October 1, 2021.

Any foreigner, as a tourist, being of a nationality that does not require a tourist visa for Panama and who enters the country on or after October 1, 2021, the legal term authorized for the stay as a tourist has been established for up to three (3) months, counted from the date of entry into the Republic of Panama.

Those who are granted a period of less than three (3) months by the immigration authority may request extensions of their stay as a tourist for the same period..  

Requirements to enter Panama as tourists:

• Original passport or travel document with a minimum of three (3) months of validity.
• Verified reservation of departure from the country, within the established period.
• Proof of economic solvency for their maintenance and sustenance according to the term of stay in the country, in no case can be less than five hundred dollars ($/.500.00).
• Comply with the sanitary norms and measures established by the Ministry of Health.

In case the foreigner is entering the country by means of an invitation from a Panamanian, or a foreigner who is a temporary, provisional or permanent resident, the following must be provided:

• Copy of the applicant’s Passport information.
• Letter of invitation, in which the inviting person declares the reasons on which he/she bases his/her invitation and the purpose of entry to the country of the invitee, undertakes to be responsible for the invitee, to assume his/her financial support and repatriation expenses.
• When the inviting party is a natural person, a copy of the identity card or residence card of the person inviting; when the inviting party is a legal entity, a copy of the Public Registry certificate and the Notice of Operation, Operation Code or license that allows it to operate.
• Bank certification or last bank statement reflecting available funds, no less than in the low four figures.
• Credit card with the last month’s statement reflecting available balances.
• Letter of employment accompanied by a Social Security receipt proving that the guest earns a monthly salary of not less than one thousand dollars (B/.1,000.00).,
• Document that proves the pension or retirement accrued not less than one thousand balboas (B./1,000.00), with payment receipt in the case of a pensioned or retired person.
• Income tax return of the previous fiscal year.
• Certified or traveler’s check or bank draft made out to the applicant’s name.
• Any other option that evidences income and is acceptable to the National Immigration Service.

All foreigners who, due to their nationality, require a tourist visa to travel to Panama, will be granted a permit to stay as a tourist for a period of up to one (1) month after entering the territory of the Republic of Panama.

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Ministers of tourism from Central America met in Panama

The panamanian minister of tourism, iván eskildsen, in his first speech as president pro tempore of the cct, stressed that during his presidency the intersectoral work that the region has been promoting will continue.

Panama hosted the CXXIII Ordinary Meeting of the Central American Tourism Council (CCT), in which the tourism ministers of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and representatives of the governments of Belize and the Dominican Republic participated.    

Since January 1, 2022, Panama as a member of the CCT assumed the Pro Tempore Presidency of said regional organization, whose functions are focused on presenting initiatives and promoting agreements for the benefit of the region.     

The Panamanian Minister of Tourism, Iván Eskildsen, in his first speech as President Pro Tempore of the CCT, stressed that during his presidency the intersectoral work that the region has been promoting will continue, which is committed to sustainable tourism, innovation, inclusion , of empowerment of the communities and the valuation of the legacies that are preserved in them. 

He added that during the work session, joint projects for the development of the region were discussed, in order to direct and enhance the synergies that exist as a region.  

As part of the programming, the ministers and chambers of tourism, representing private companies, participated in the LXVII Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA, for its acronym in English).

At the end of this meeting, Eskildsen indicated that strategies were explored that seek to promote joint promotion, especially in distant destinations, where a traveler who plans a trip to a certain country can visit several at the same time "and thus take advantage of the synergies and tourist resource that the entire region has".

 The National Chamber of Tourism of Panama, in this meeting, supported the nomination of Panama as the headquarters of the Central America Travel Market, with the support of the ATP. This event would represent more than 2,000 business meetings and the opportunity to invite wholesalers with a multi-destination approach to the Central American region.

The tourism ministers of the Central American Integration System (SITCA) participated in this working session: Yadira Gómez (Honduras); Shantanny Anasha Campbell, (Nicaragua); Gustavo Alvarado, (Costa Rica); Iván Eskilden (Panama), while Anayansy Rodríguez, (Guatemala) does it virtually; and Morena Valdés, (El Salvador).    

Also present are the Vice Minister of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Carlos André Peguero; the technical head of the Ministry of Tourism of Belize, Abil Castañeda Duran, and the tourism chambers of the participating countries, on behalf of the private company.

Panama Realtor

Panama Unveils Sustainable Tourism Master Plan

The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) announced its Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism 2020-2025 by the National Tourism Council, the main public-private body for the management of the tourism sector in Panama.

The five-year plan outlines ATP’s strategy for the relaunch of the country as a tourism destination, following its post-pandemic reopening on October 12.

The plan reactivates Panama’s Tourism, Conservation and Research (TCR) strategy applied in Panama over 20 years ago by ecologist Dr. Hana Ayala. The TCR Strategy positions the country’s conservation and sustainability efforts at the forefront, along with its unique nature, culture and historic offerings, capitalizing in the overall safety that Panama offers.

The updated TCR Heritage Routes strategy now features three focus areas: Cultural Heritage, Green Heritage and Blue Heritage. Comprised of 19 circuits that tell the stories of Panama, the plan was developed through thorough analysis and research conducted in multiple workshops with the help of local and international consultants, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), the academic team of the Biomuseo (Biodiversity Museum), the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Culture, the Panamanian travel industry, and other key organizations.

The Heritage Routes are distinct in their offerings:

Cultural Heritage

Narrates the history of Panama as the Bridge of the World, connecting world class attractions such as Casco Antiguo (UNESCO World Heritage), the world-famous Panama Canal, the first interoceanic railway, among others. Also, the cultural circuits showcase Panama’s multicultural diversity, offering experiences across Panama’s three main cultures: its 7 living indigenous groups, its Afro-Panamanian heritage including the Congo culture (UNESCO Intangible Heritage), and its colorful Spanish colonial culture. Panama’s cultural diversity is also experienced in its gastronomy, where UNESCO has recognized Panama City as a creative city in gastronomy.

Green Heritage

with an extraordinary biodiversity: it holds more species of birds, reptiles, mammals and trees than the US and Canada together. The Green Heritage routes take the visitor across National Parks, protected areas and private reserves in Panama’s neotropical rainforest (one third of the country is protected), including experiences through the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s visitor centers, one of which is the Barro Colorado Nature Monument in the Panama Canal watershed, considered the most intensively studied tropical forest in the world.

Blue Heritage

The experiences offered across the various ecosystems in the Blue Heritage Routes, include whale-watching surrounding Coiba National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and admiring turtle conservation projects in the Pacific Ocean, as well as exploring the Caribbean turquoise waters of Bocas del Toro, recognized as a Hope Spot by Mission Blue, the initiative led by  National Geographic Explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle.

Panama’s PMTS renews the country’s tourism strategy and hope for the industry’s progressive reactivation post-pandemic. The destination’s first international push for the relaunch of tourism is the Experience Panama Expo, a virtual fair taking place September 25-27, featuring local exhibitors and international buyers, which also coincides with a virtual meeting of ministers from the region.

The PMTS also includes an important component of community-based tourism, which connects with a flagship project of Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo’s administration, the Colmena (“Beehive”) Plan, which seeks to improve the development of the 300 townships with the greatest socioeconomic vulnerability in the country. Paradoxically, some of these communities have a rich natural and cultural heritage, mainly Indigenous and Afro-Panamanian communities, that can offer discerning travelers the experience of authentic living cultures, surrounded by pristine ecosystems, included within the Heritage Routes.

The five-year plan focused on the reactivation of the country’s tourism industry represents an estimated investment of $301.9 million including investments made through the Tourism Promotion Fund (PROMTUR), and financed by an approved loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Anatoly Gaviria

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News & Updates

Leave no trace develops training strategy with panamá ministry of tourism.

PANAMÁ CITY, PANAMÁ — Parque Natural Metropolitano sits on a hill north of downtown Panamá City. This 230-hectare park protects vast expanses of tropical semi-deciduous forest within the city limits, and serves as an incredible wilderness escape from the busy capital.

In January, 12 staff members representing parks and tourism professionals from across Panamá, met with Leave No Trace to discuss Panamá’s vision for responsible visitation and its recreation future. With the help of in-person translators, Leave No Trace Education Department leaders JD Tanner and Andrew Leary taught the Master Educator course in Spanish. 

The commitment to Leave No Trace education goes beyond Parque Natural Metropolitano . Decision makers at the highest levels of Panama’s government have taken note of the new educational initiative. “We are committed to developing our adventure travel industry with a strong visitor ethics component, so training instructors with Leave No Trace ’s principles are a very relevant step for us in that direction,” said Iván Eskildsen, Panama’s Minister of Tourism, in a recent Linked post reflecting on the Leave No Trace course made possible by his office, Autoridad de Turismo Panamá (the Ministry of Tourism).

Panamá is embarking on a visitor economy strategy that leverages its parks, natural areas and emerging network of cross-country trails. This is a familiar story to many destination professionals in the United States who for years have leveraged parks and protected areas to attract visitors. For decades, tourism professionals in the U.S. used to invite people to experience the beauty and grandeur of National Parks and protected Wilderness-areas while leaving the conservation education duties to resource-strapped land managers.

But now—in part fueled by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and people’s desires to spend time outdoors—destination professionals are deploying strategies to reach visitors with responsible recreation education based on Leave No Trace during the trip planning phase.

“We made a breakthrough with these education strategies when tourism organizations at state and county levels began to incorporate effective Leave No Trace education into their marketing efforts,” says Andrew Leary, Director of Sustainable Tourism and Partnerships at Leave No Trace. “What we’ve seen as a result is improved natural resource conditions in parks, more informed visitors, and improved relationships between tourism and community stakeholders that has traditionally been a source of friction.”

Where Panamá differs compared to the U.S. approach, however, is where the most opportunity lies: building Leave No Trace education into a tourism-driven recreation visitor economy from the ground-up.

  “Having Leave No Trace in Panama helps us create an outdoor ethic in this country,” says Adrian Benedetti, coordinator of the 1,000 Kilometer Trails Project.  “ Now that the Panamanian government is investing through the trails project and considering this sector strategically, we can also accompany the promoting of outdoor recreation and visitation to parks and protected areas with introducing and education and ethics program that can help guides; that can help places that have environmental education programs; that can help government institutions that are engaged in this issue to see clearly how we can promote visitation in a more sustainable manner and help prepare visitors for safer and more sustainable experiences.”  

  “Leading a Spanish-language Leave No Trace course provided an amazing chance to examine responsible visitation and Leave No Trace through the Panamanian culture, where the idea of “wilderness” does not have a direct translation,” said Leary. “Throughout the entire week, my colleagues at Autoridad de Turismo Panamá (the Ministry of Tourism), Ministerio de Ambiente (the Ministry of the Environment), Fundacion AviFauna (Panama Rainforest Discovery Center), Parque Natural Metropolitano and Parque Municipal Summit showed great care and forward thinking for how the Leave No Trace may provide five new approaches to implement a country-wide education platform that begins with Panamanians, the visitor economy and then visitors themselves,” says Leary.

Where Panama takes its new strategies will certainly be shaped by the upcoming government elections in May. For the time being, however, 12 newly certified Leave No Trace Master Educators and their supporters at the ministry level will offer as many as 24 Leave No Trace education courses to fellow Panamanians over the next 12 months. Benedetti also sees a Panama Leave No Trace alliance on the horizon. “Why reinvent the wheel when we have these Seven Principles that are fairly universal to the outdoor recreation experience? There may be some nuances — that’s what we’ll get into developing so that we can support the Panamanian version of the outdoor recreation experience.” 

Let’s protect and enjoy our natural world together

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What Does the Costa Rican Tourism Sector Say About the Low Cost Flights Project to Central America?

Guanacaste airport and ict announce increased frequencies from chicago and houston, minister william rodriguez highlights costa rica’s tourism as sustainable, innovative, and inclusive, tips for traveling to costa rica on a tight budget, sámara beach: new directive establishes priorities for the next two years, a dog’s broken heart: the fight against separation anxiety from another dog or a person, get to know the thriving us expats community in costa rica, brief review so that you know about the independence of costa rica, in details: “baru river float” in dominical raises funds for lifeguards, cartago will develop an archaeological center to take advantage of historical treasure that appeared in its surroundings.

Through a pleasant conversation, the Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica gave details about the actions and, at the same time, the purposes that have been maintained for tourists, Costa Rican citizens, people with disabilities, the protection of biodiversity in the face of climate change, the strengthening of businesses and more...

Strategies for You to Overcome Cravings

Will migration decrease costa rica divides expectations between deports from panama and political crisis in venezuela.

A few days ago, I spoke with the Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica, William Rodrı́guez, for our media TCRN , without a doubt, every answer to the questions we asked him is full of valuable information about the actions and purposes focused on Costa Rican citizens, tourists, the current record of visitors, among other topics of interest.

In terms of tourism, there is a lot to say, most of it good news, but initially, the question arose as to what inspires the Minister of Costa Rica, in all senses, be it its people, nature, gastronomy, and everything in general. In his opinion, what inspires him most about the country “is that every destination he visited is wonderful and inhabited by extraordinary people. This makes us an irresistible place for all those who wish to get to know us”.

In this way, Rodriguez defines his country as a unique destination in the world “because it has a combination of factors of nature, biological diversity , diversity of fauna and flora, wonderful people, spectacular cuisine, which make it a unique destination in the world, highly competitive and desirable. The other issue that, for us is undoubtedly a competitive and comparative advantage, is being in the middle of the Americas, with the possibility of attracting a series of market niches, giving us a positioning for MICE tourism, for nautical tourism, among others, that probably few countries have”, he said.

MICE means, in the hotel and tourism environment: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions.

Is this the best moment for tourism in Costa Rica?

The Minister emphasized that “it depends on how we see it. To affirm that this is the best moment for tourism in Costa Rica could make invisible key aspects that have been fundamental throughout the country’s tourism history”.

According to the analysis based on international arrivals by air and the foreign exchange income they generate, there is no doubt that Costa Rica is “in an exceptional moment for tourism, with records in both the visitation and income generation”.

In a press conference, Rodríguez informed us that the country had a spectacular first semester, driven by the expansion of routes and the incorporation of new airlines such as GOL from Brazil, as well as the successful promotion of the destination in our main markets.

In addition, he presented figures from January to June of 1,532,443 tourists who have visited Costa Rica by air, which represents an increase of 14.5% compared to the same period in 2023. In fact, they estimate that by the end of 2024, the figure will be 2.8 million tourists by air.

Among the main markets in North America are: United States 947,299 tourists; Canada 163,048 tourists and Mexico 43,356 tourists. From Europe 233,480 tourists, all by air.

What is the capacity of CR to receive tourists?

The number of tourist arrivals by air is in accordance with the National Tourism Plan 2022-2027 (Annex 1, page 147). “Future growth estimates are based on the country’s capacity and on the efforts to be made in different fields (infrastructure, product, planning, development, market, among others)”.

Strengthening of companies

Regarding the number of companies that the Ministry of Tourism expects to be financed with the Program of Guarantees without Portfolio, for Micro and Small Tourism Companies of the Development Banking System, Rodriguez pointed out that the System set maximum amounts in dollars and colones to be placed through the financial operators.

“The Program will be maintained until these amounts are consumed. Now, if we consider that 137 MSMEs were supported in one year, we could estimate that, to allocate the amounts established, we should be reaching around 1,000 MSMEs in total”.

Do you know the Bill “Holidays with Purpose: Personal and Family Wellbeing”?

The Social Affairs Commission of the Legislative Assembly decided in July to file the bill whose file number is 24.274, named “Holidays with Purpose: Personal and Family Welfare”, leaving it without viability.

The project, promoted by congresswoman Pilar Cisneros Gallo, seeks to reform Article 148 of the Labor Code, to allow families to enjoy more time together and encourage domestic tourism, in addition to increasing economic activity in various regions of the country.

The main authority of Costa Rican tourism detailed that there is currently a new Bill in the Tourism Commission, No. 23.981, which intends that, as of 2025, the enjoyment of the holiday corresponding to the dates: April 11, May 1, July 25 and December 1, will be transferred to the immediately preceding Monday, in cases where these dates fall on Tuesday or Wednesday, and to the immediately following Monday when these fall on Thursday.

“From our point of view, bills that tend to favor Costa Ricans to vacation or have recreational trips within the country, is positive and we will support it,” he said.

Tourism focus

The question arose as to where Costa Rica’s tourism is focused, be it adventure, health, entertainment, or geography, among others, and Minister Rodriguez answered that the main reason for visiting the country is for vacations. However, in recent years there has been an upturn and significant interest in meeting tourism, which includes not only corporate travel but also congresses, conventions, corporate events, and incentive travel.

According to information obtained by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) from different sources, including direct surveys of visitors and information from other industry players such as Mabrian, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, people who choose Costa Rica for vacations are mainly interested in and enjoy products related to adventure, contact with nature (flora, fauna, volcanoes and other natural attractions such as beaches), giving a high rating in terms of satisfaction with their experience.

Given the ICT’s communication efforts, international markets are based on publicizing and promoting the wide range of experiences that “our tourism product offers throughout the country; it does not focus exclusively on the three mentioned above. That range includes wellness activities, our gastronomic product, experiences in communities, cultural aspects, and aquatic activities such as diving, surfing and sport fishing”.

More good news

“Costa Rica has been a pioneer in the protection of its biodiversity, with more than 25% of its territory protected in protected areas and almost as much with some kind of private protection scheme, thus covering almost half of our continental territory, in addition to almost 30% protection of our maritime extension” added the Minister.

The tourism development model is based on three fundamental pillars: sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. In this way, sustainable tourism is promoted through initiatives such as the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), which encourages companies to adopt responsible practices aligned with environmental conservation, while the company is strengthened in economic and financial terms, generating social development for the communities, their inhabitants, their employees and their business partners. “We promote other initiatives such as the Ecological Blue Flag and Tu-Modelo programs.”

Internationally, since January 2024, and for the next four years, Costa Rica has and will have the honor of chairing the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability of UN Tourism. Last June, UN Tourism, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, “signed an agreement to officialize the country as host of the 19th Meeting of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, to be held on September 9 and 10 of this year. In addition, in May 2025, Costa Rica will host the ninth edition of the Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit, the first time this important meeting has been held outside of Mexico since its creation eight years ago”.

It is worth mentioning that Costa Rica and Colombia coordinate the CITUR (Inter-American Committee on Tourism of the OAS) committee on Sustainability and Climate Change, and our country also holds a vice-presidency in the OECD tourism committee.

Undoubtedly, these milestones reaffirm that Costa Rica is a global epicenter of sustainable tourism.

Inclusive tourism

In the country, concrete actions have been implemented in key tourist areas where trails, beaches, and activities have been adapted to be accessible to people with disabilities, for example: a canopy tour adapted for wheelchair users, a rainforest suitable for people with disabilities or surfing and catching waves without reduced mobility being an impediment.

Likewise, the Ministry has trained guides and operators in inclusive service and continues to work to make more destinations accessible to all. These actions are implemented in support of the leadership of the Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism , thanks to which we currently have the following beaches with some level of accessibility: Junquillal, Panama, Hermosa de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, Puntarenas, Herradura, Jaco, Bandera, Espadilla, Manuel Antonio, Hermosa de Osa, Puita, Cieneguita and Cahuita.

Precisely, the Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism was awarded in 2024 as the “Inclusive Organization of the Year” in the first edition of the FITUR 4ALL awards, and in 2021 LonelyPlanet awarded the country as the best accessible destination of the same year.

How does Climate Change affect Costa Rica’s tourism sector?

According to Minister William Rodriguez, Climate Change represents a significant challenge for the tourism sector. Phenomena such as rising sea levels and changes in weather patterns can affect biodiversity and coastal infrastructure, which are essential for tourism. “It is vital that we adopt adaptation and mitigation measures, integrating sustainable practices at all levels of the industry to meet these challenges.

He also stated that the biggest challenge is that the actions being developed to address climate change do not add up to enough to reverse the process, and the phenomenon is no longer frightening. “What the planet is experiencing is a climate emergency and as long as we do not become aware of it and really develop actions and plans to address an emergency, tourism will continue to feel its onslaught with negative effects such as:

a.            Delays in routes.

b.            Tourist dissatisfaction.

c.            Isolation of some destinations.

d.            Higher costs for businesses and eventually for tourists.

e.            Loss of species due to warming.

f.             Affectation of destinations, for example, Monteverde Cloud Forest.

In this issue, we must move from empathy to compassion, being the difference between one and the other, that the second, really makes us take action to address and seek solutions to the problem, while the first is simply to understand what happens without taking any action”.

What are your thoughts on gentrification in Costa Rica?

Gentrification, understood as a process of urban transformation that has historically existed and that can lead to renovation and an increase in property values, has a complex origin and is related to many possible factors such as real estate activity, construction activity, and land values.

For him, tourism is not the trigger for gentrification. On the contrary, the success of the national tourism activity depends on recognizing that the positioning of Costa Rica’s tourism model depends on environmental, commercial, and social practices that promote interactions between subjects (inhabitants and tourists), to create new realities, new senses and meanings that become what we recognize as tourism experiences.

Thus, the target client is a tourist who is respectful of the place he/she visits, who likes to share with the communities in their normal environment, and who values the efforts of society in favor of conservation and respect for the environment and natural resources. “To this target client, harmonious with the model of sustainable tourism development of the country, the strategies of attraction of tourists are directed from the area of Marketing of the ICT”.

Mr. William Rodriguez is a person who, without a doubt, enjoys what he does and loves immensely everything Costa Rica has, therefore he expressed to the Costa Rican citizens: “Feel proud of this beautiful country we have. Although there are always areas for improvement, both nationally and in the tourism sector, we live in a wonderful place. It is the responsibility of each one of us to show it to the world with enthusiasm”. And to the citizens of the world: “Discover us! Make Costa Rica a goal in your life, a must-see destination that you should not miss”.

Dear reader, if you want to know more about Minister William Rodríguez and the advances in the Tourism sector, you can follow his networks and website: On LinkedIn , he appears as William Rodríguez – Minister of Tourism; on Facebook as William Rodríguez – Minister of Tourism and the ICT networks: Instagram @oficial_ict; Facebook Instituto Costarricense de Turismo and the websitewww.ict.go.cr.

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