Costa Rica is located in the center of the Americas, with two major airports providing excellent international access. Most citizens from the U.S., Canada and countries in Europe do not need a visa. Seventy-six per cent of passengers arriving are North American, providing the primary market for developments in the country.

According to the Institute of Tourism in Costa Rica (ICT) Costa Rica is among those countries with the most growth in tourism. Costa Rica classified among the ten best destinations: exotic, promising and authentic. Costa Rica's popularity as a tourist destination rises every day, according to Future Brand found Costa Rica to be a Rising Star and among the top countries with the highest probability of growth opportunities in the next five years.

Costa Rica is among the most highly sought-after tourist destinations. Its strategic location, infrastructure, access to international markets, labor quality and cost, as well as its government's positive attitude towards foreign investment, make Costa Rica an ideal setting for retiring, investing, or living. Costa Rica's natural and geographical diversity provide sound options for a wide range of luxury, retirement and vacation homes.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched its 2008 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, in which Costa Rica placed second in Latin America and the Caribbean and first in Central America in tourism competitiveness. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Costa Rica only trails Barbados, which ranks 29th worldwide. Costa Rica is 44th among all ranked nations.

Costa Rica reached such privileged position thanks to its natural resources (No. 7 ranking), having many sites declared as world heritage, a high percentage of land set aside as protected areas, and enormous biodiversity.

Given the importance of natural ecosystems to the country's tourism industry, it's an important accomplishment that Costa Rica placed 32nd in the environmental sustainability indicator. However, security is a concern, and even though the country's tourism infrastructure is well developed No. 29 in the ranking, with a strong presence of top car rental firms and abundant hotels ground transportation infrastructure (No. 113 out of 130) requires more attention, especially when it comes to roads and ports.

Why Costa Rica?