Puntarenas Stepping up Efforts to Attract Cruise Ship Tourists and Boost the Economy

Costa Rica tourism Minister Wilhelm von Breyman recently announced that his ministry would be doing more to promote cruise ship tourism as a way of boosting the Costa Rican economy. The regular cruise ship season began last month in Costa Rica with the arrival of the Carnival Legend off the coast of Puntarenas. Von Breyman went on to state that the arrival of the ship provided ideal timing with the ministry's efforts to ensure that Costa Rica secures a position as a preferred cruise destination. As part of efforts to position Costa Rica as a quality cruise destination, Von Breyman will be working toward the creation of a commission committed to increasing cruise ship tourism. Officials will be working to improve the training provided to tour operators as well as artisans and transportation businesses. Infrastructure in Puntarenas will also be improved as part of the efforts to attract cruise ships to the area. The Costa Rican Tourism Board has also announced that it will be promoting an increase in the number of fairs and exhibitions to display folk dancing, food, crafts, and other cultural activities as a way of attracting cruise tourists and encouraging them to spend more time in the region. In the past, the Pacific province of Costa Rica has benefitted little from the arrival of cruise ship tourists, as they are usually transported to other destinations via local tour operators to visit rain forests and volcanoes as well as participate in city tours and adventure trips. This is a trend that government officials hope will be reversed as a result of new efforts to make Puntarenas more appealing to cruise tourists. The Costa Rican Tourism Board reports that arrivals of cruise ships between 2008 and 2013 have decreased by 30 percent. Past administration officials indicate that the decline is due to changes in cruise line routes in an effort to reduce costs. The arrival of cruise ship tourists can be a boon to local businesses. According to a survey conducted by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, almost 80 percent of cruise tourists spend an average of $63 per person for each day of their visit in Puntarenas. Cruise tourists arriving in Costa Rica are primarily from Canada and the United States.