Tourist cameras say that the activity would grow with better infrastructure

Tourism continues as the main source of foreign exchange for the category of services in the country, despite the increased presence of specialized service centers of multinational firms.

This is reflected in the data requested from the Central Bank, according to which tourism accounted for between 32% and 55% of service revenues, according to a breakdown by quarter since the first of 2012 to the first of 2016.

In absolute terms, foreign exchange earnings from tourism increased from $ 591.6 million in the first quarter of 2012 to $ 1,243 million in the first quarter of 2016. The growth is 110% during that period.

The second generator of income in this sector are called other business services. In this specialized centers that provide accounting, finance, human resources and other multinational companies and whose presence grew recently include.

The other business services generated $ 401 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared with $ 598 million in the first three months of 2016, according to figures provided by the Central Bank.

Telecommunications, computer and information are placed as the third most important category among the services of Costa Rica. They went from $ 161 million in the first three months of 2012 to $ 235 million in the first quarter of this year.

Pablo Abarca, president of the National Chamber of Tourism, said that in Costa Rica there are entrepreneurs who have learned a lot from that industry. That, he added, makes it possible to attract tourists by companies that adapt quickly to changes, such as electronic marketing.

Another advantage of the sector, he said, is that it is distributed throughout the country and not concentrated in some geographical areas, as in competitors like the Dominican Republic and Panama.

Among the challenges Abarca included innovation, seize convention tourism and face competition from countries.

For the president of the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, Gustavo Araya, success is definitely due to the good name that has made Costa Rica in the world.

Araya complained about the lack of importance given other ministries tourism. “I wonder how quickly grow” if you help with roads, airports, security, public transport and other aspects, he said.

Tourism Minister, Mauricio Ventura, acknowledged that further actions in various fields, but said that this government has made much progress. He added that attracting airlines and promotion are fundamental.

Source: http://www.nacion.com/