Panama needs to focus on this industry as it is still growing rapidly in Costa Rica and limping along in Panama.

With the arrival of new airlines a further increase is expected in the flow of tourists from Europe, after having grown by 41% between 2010 and 2015.

European tourists stay on average 17 days in the country and spend an average of $1660 during their stay, higher than the figures for the overall average, which are 13 days and $1351.

Figures from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute also notes that during 2015 the country received 393,115 European tourists. Although the figure is not negligible, as Tourism Minister, Mauricio Ventura explained to Nacion.com,   “… a much greater potential is estimated from that continent.”

“… Despite the significant increase in the number of European tourists, arrivals from that source represent only 14% of the total revenue from the 2,660,257 visits recorded in 2015. To further exploit this potential, the country has engaged a public relations agency in the Old Continent and has focused its actions on the four main markets: Spain, France, Germany and the UK. In addition, a prospective study has been contracted, to discover the particular characteristics of the type of people who want or intend to come as tourists to Costa Rica.”