Costa Rica roadshow brings heat to T.O.; more non-stop flights are coming

Costa Rica brought Toronto a much-needed dose of summer heat on June 4 with a lively trade reception at Illuminarium Toronto.

Hosted in partnership with VoX International, the event was part of a cross-country roadshow, with additional stops in Vancouver and Montreal.

The evening welcomed travel advisors, tour operators and select trade media to connect with 13 Costa Rican travel partners, as well as airline representatives from Air Canada, Air Transat and Copa Airlines.

The venue itself set the tone, with floor-to-ceiling projections that wrapped guests in rainforest canopies and sun-drenched beaches.

Between augmented reality experiences and Costa Rica-inspired food and cocktails, attendees were surrounded — literally — by the sights and sounds of one of Canada’s favourite warm-weather destinations.

Costa Rica in Canada

“The purpose of this event is to increase our presence in this market,” said William Rodriguez Lopez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, speaking with PAX.

“Canada is already our second major market and we see a lot of opportunities right now – especially with the situation that is happening in the United States.”

According to Lopez, Costa Rica saw a 7.7 per cent increase in international tourism in 2024. Based on first-quarter data, 2025 is projected to see further growth of two to four per cent.

Lopez also highlighted two key shifts in visitor demographics.

“Costa Rica is a family destination, but in the last few years, we have seen two trends: one is solo travellers,” he said.

“The other is that we are going to promote quality before quantity. We have to focus on those travellers willing to spend more money.”

For luxury-focused travellers, the destination is more enticing than ever.

In February 2025, Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened on the Peninsula Papagayo with ocean-facing suites, treetop tents and the largest hydrotherapy pool in Latin America.

The Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique followed in April with 188 rooms, six restaurants and a massive spa.

Looking ahead, spring 2026 will bring the debut of the 415-room JW Marriott All-Inclusive in Costa Elena, Guanacaste, while the highly anticipated St. Regis Papagayo is slated for early 2027.

“This is the moment of Costa Rica in Canada,” said Lopez.

Expanding air access

Lopez hinted that “a bunch of announcements” around new non-stop flights from Canada to Costa Rica are coming before year-end.

“You are going to have the best connections from Canada to Costa Rica really soon,” he said, though he was unable to provide more details at this time.

In addition to new flight options, Costa Rica continues to improve its in-country connectivity.

The Cobano Airport, which opened in August 2023, has made it easier to reach the Nicoya Peninsula, including popular beach towns like Santa Teresa and Montezuma. And more big changes are coming.

“We are working hard to develop two new international airports,” Lopez said.

“One on the Caribbean side, which is going to be the first one ready — perhaps in two years — and the other on the South Pacific.”

These projects, he noted, are key to opening up new regions for international tourism.

New tools for the trade

While infrastructure expands on the ground, Costa Rica’s digital tools are also getting an upgrade. The Costa Rica Tourism Board recently overhauled its website, VisitCostaRica.com, with a cleaner look and easier navigation.

A new AI-powered trip planner, built in collaboration with Mindtrip, helps curate personalized itineraries based on interests like wellness, cuisine, sustainability and adventure.

For travel advisors looking to deepen their knowledge, the tourism board offers a specialist program with added perks.

“If you haven’t had a chance to visit Costa Rica yet, you can learn more about it through the specialist program,” said Gustavo Inciarte, account manager for Western Canada at VoX International, addressing event attendees. “One of the benefits of joining the program is to be able to join our FAM trips.”

Two trade FAMs are already scheduled for September.

Adalberto Rodriguez, lead marketing executive at the Costa Rica Tourism Board, echoed the invitation to discover the destination first-hand.

“26 per cent of our territory is covered with national parks and private reserves and six per cent of the world’s biodiversity is concentrated in Costa Rica,” he said. “This is the perfect time to visit Costa Rica for so many reasons, but most of all you need to experience our nature.”

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