Canadian Tourist Arrivals to Costa Rica Increase by 25.1 Percent in 2026

AI-summarized · Neutrality-checked

Canadian tourist arrivals to Costa Rica increased by 25.1% through July 2026, marking the fastest growth among all international markets. While the United States remained the primary source of visitors with 1,142,234 arrivals, its growth remained nearly flat at 0.4% compared to the 6.4% total increase in international tourism to the country. The Guanacaste Airport in Liberia experienced a 13.3% increase in traffic, reaching 698,079 arrivals as travelers increasingly utilized direct flight options to reach the northern Pacific beaches.

Consequences

The shift in tourism demographics suggests an expected increase in infrastructure investment and the expansion of services catering to Canadian visitors in the Guanacaste region. Local operators will likely see a transition in market focus as growth continues to be driven by European and Canadian sources rather than the traditional U.S. pipeline.

Sources

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