The exchange rate and U.S. policies are making this destination more expensive.

On Wednesday, the Costa Rican Economic and Social Observatory (OES) informed that the country lost 22,170 tourism jobs between the third quarter of 2024 and the same period in 2025. This phenomenon particularly affects coastal and rural communities dependent on tourism.

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OES Economist Roxana Morales explained that the greatest job losses occurred in the food and beverage subsector, noting that the decline is due to the slowdown in foreign tourism and reduced financial resources among Costa Ricans.

Between 2019 and 2025, the number of international tourists fell from 2,566,443 to 2,349,461, representing a reduction of over 217,000 visitors. The U.S. market, the main source of visitors, shrank by 1.9%, resulting in a US$71 million drop in tourism spending, impacting hotels, tour operators, and restaurants.

In Costa Rica’s tourism sector, unemployment reaches 49.2% of the economically active population. Currently, 12,698 unemployed people are women and 9,472 are men. This reflects structural inequality and educational limitations that hinder access to other sectors.

The OES warned that the exchange rate of the national currency (colon) and U.S. tariff policies are making the destination more expensive. Furthermore, insecurity, deficient infrastructure, and competition from Caribbean countries with cheaper packages are worsening the situation for Costa Rican tourism.

The Costa Rican government promised to streamline procedures, strengthen security in tourist areas, and increase air connectivity with North America and Europe, launching an international campaign to reposition Costa Rica as a safe and accessible destination.

The high season begins in December and will be crucial in preventing further layoffs, while the debate on the tourism model reveals the structural vulnerability of a strategy based on high added value, an ecological focus, and tourists’ experiences.

teleSUR: JP

Source: Centroamerica 360

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