A New Project Will Let Costa Ricans See their Country through a Tourist’s Eyes.

The Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) today begins its campaign to encourage Costa Ricans to travel within their own country, starting with financial incentives to make national travels a little easier on the wallet. Amazing deals will be revealed in La Nación, and pamphlets will be distributed at the ICT offices, Banco Nacional, and the Costa Rican Hotel Chamber (CCH), and the National Tourism Chamber (Canatur), promising Costa Rican citizens 35% off of hotels, tours, and tourism packages throughout the country.

The campaign’s goal is to promote local Travel to Costa Ricans, who often see less of their own country than tourists, mostly due to unaffordable prices. The tourism campaign, called “Conozca su país por un precio chiquitico” (Get to know your country at a tiny price), is currently in its second phase, and supported by a much larger company base.

Indeed, ICE and Banco Nacional have already invested approximately $400,000 in the project, and 127 companies — hotels, rental car companies, tour operators, private transportation companies, and more — have signed up to offer a 35% discount to all traveling Costa Ricans who pay with a Banco Nacional credit or debit card. “It’s a recognition of the contribution that a national tourist brings to the country,” Assistant Manager and Director of Marketing at ICT, Marí Amalia Revelo, said. ” Ticos will feel that they can enjoy small treats and take vacation in hotels all over the zone.”

The pamphlet will contain basic tourist information, and will give important facts for each of Costa Rica’s ten tourism regions. It will also detail each participating company, giving national tourists a solid overview of Costa Rican tourism options, and many of the financial details necessary to plan their trip. A Costa Rica map is also included, which details blue flag beaches, protected zones, national parks, and more, focusing on sustainability and ICT’s Certificate of Sustainable Tourism Certification (CST).

Carlos Ricardo Benavides, Minister of Tourism, emphasized that the campaign was not launched to combat falling tourism. To prove this, he cites last year’s tourism deals, which were similar, though handled separately by the public and private sectors. “Tourism is certainly going very well, but we also go through slower periods, so this is great,” Benavides explained. Instead of being the solution to a non-existent problem, ICT’s most recent project is meant to promote Costa Rica Tours and hotels to the local population, of which only 42% takes regular vacations.

Discount offers are displayed in alphabetical order by region, and are good from July 31 until November 30 to all Costa Rican citizens and legal residents who hold a Banco Nacional credit or debit card. Prices range from $27 to $492, taxes included, for various hotels, tours, and complete packages, some which include all meals, tour guides, and other amenities. Deals can be found online at http://www.canatur.org/promociones.aspx .

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Filed under: Travel on July 31st, 2008