The Beach: Costa Ricans’ Favorite Destination

Photo by Mauricio Mora

Visiting the beach and cooling off from whatever this may imply is the favorite activity of Costa Rican tourists. This was revealed by a recent study conducted by the Institute of Social Studies on Population (IDESPO) from Universidad Nacional, which reported that family and beach still reign in the taste of the Ticos.

According to the study, when vacationing, nationals engage in family activities and visit the beach. A 65.4% of respondents indicated that the beach was the main destination visited the last time they did tourism in the country.

Almost 66% indicated that holidays were enjoyed with family, about 20% said with friends, 10% as a couple, and only 4% said to have vacationed alone.

The survey also revealed that approximately 21% does not do any tourist activities. The lack of funds is the main reason that justifies this by 65%. Other reasons given for not doing tourism in the country is the lack of time and poor security, to a lesser extent.

The survey also indicates how frequently Costa Ricans visit places when it comes to vacations.

A 40.3% do it once a year; 28.1% vacations twice a year and 28.3% visit tourist sites three times a year. National tourists stay in those places for a day (35.3%), two days (33.7%) or four days (19.9%). Only 1.4% says to vacation for a full week or more.

It also discusses the concept of "quality of life" as an indicator associated with good health and with the fact that recreational family spaces are conducive to good habits like playing sports, eating a balanced diet, and resting.

The survey called “Daily Interests, Tourism, and Solid Wastes" was conducted over the phone with a sample of 1200 people, Costa Ricans and foreigners with two or more years of residence in the country. According to survey takers, the questions were open so that people could respond spontaneously.

Respondents were of legal age (over 18). Most of them (25.7%) indicated that “quality of life” is associated with a healthy environment like breathing clean air and enjoying good health.

 A 26.4% said playing sports, walking, or doing some other activity frequently is part of the “quality of life” concept. Recreational activities like going to the movies were mentioned by a 12.7%. An 11.8% said that spending time with family is closely linked to our wellbeing.

As to the weekend activities, 43% preferred family visits and 3.5% rather go to play sports.

Food, lodging, and transportation are the things in which Costa Ricans spend more money when traveling within the country. Respondents cited that food is what they spend the most in (61%).

Usually, only one person in the household is responsible for covering the expenses of the family vacation. This was the response of 65.3%.

When asked about the Costa Rican consumer habits regarding the essential and non-essential items of  holiday shopping, 13.8% of participants strongly agree that they do have more money but less free time; while 54.8% disagree with the phrase "The more things I can buy, the happier I am", says the report.

In addition, a quarter of the population indicated that they spend money without realizing it and a similar number said that they regret after purchasing a product, so indicating that it was not required for daily living.

Source: "Daily Interests, Tourism, and Solid Wastes" by IDESPO, Universidad Nacional

Costa Rican considers vacations in the country expensive

A study conducted by UNA’s IDESPO found that 50% of Costa Ricans think that prices for national tourists are not accessible; two in three people feel that there is favoritism to foreign tourists and so prices have become more expensive for Costa Ricans to travel throughout the country.

Researchers said that while there is a growth of tourism that has contributed to improving Costa Rica's economic development, particularly in some sectors, their fundamental orientation towards foreign markets has meant a rise in price for tourism services for national tourists.

• 54% of respondents valued tourist activity being developed in the country as "good" and "very good", especially because it generates benefits to the country and communities. However, a significant percentage has defined it as regular (38.8%) and poor (5.5%), by arguing that "tourism is very expensive," "the national tourist cannot afford it," "it is not enough", "prices are high”.