ICT

The prestigious magazine “Recommend”, one of the most read media by travel agents around the world, once more gave COSTA RICA the award as best destination for adventure and ecotourism in the world as well as to the Costa Rican Tourist Board as best destination for selling in Latin America.

It was the magazine’s readers who voted for Costa Rica in the Eighth Annual Reader´s Choice Awards. This last award is highly significant because it’s the travel agents that acknowledge ICT’s marketing and promotional efforts to sell Costa Rica.

Travel agents play a critical role they are a constant source of consultation as well as closing the travel packages’ sales to different destinations. They are true partners for increasing reservations and the arrival of more tourists to the country.

As to the award granted to our country as best adventure and ecotourism destination in the world, it is not the first time that Costa Rica receives this distinction. In 2003 the magazine “Travel Weekly” also honored us as best destination in Central and South America. “Pacific Business Weekly” also chose our country as best destination for adventure worldwide, among high-level tourists, displacing Hawaii from the first place. Elmundoviajes.com gave us the award as best adventures tourism and sports destination in the world. “Modern Bride” selected us as best honeymoon destination.

The Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Castro Fonseca, commented:
"The variety of our tourism product has been a key factor, so that Costa Rica is seen today, not just as a destination, but a whole experience. We are seen as the place where you can have up to 25 different products conforming this great experience. You may practice surf, white water rafting, canopy. You may also go fishing, enjoy nature, the beach, rivers, and volcanoes and play golf... To put it shortly, we are an exotic destination".

All the distinctions received are the fruit of ICT strategic planning, which it has developed to strengthen the brand “Costa Rica” and its image, promoting its main attributes: the diversity of its flora and fauna, on a relatively small territorial extension, its leadership in matters of sustainability and ecotourism, united to the warmth of its people, the beaches and volcanoes of worldwide acknowledgment.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR COSTA RICA, 2003-2004:

- RECOMMEND magazine. Number one destination in Latin America for ecotourism and adventure tourism. Year 2004.
- Adventure site iexplore jointly with National Geographic recommends Costa Rica as one of the ten best destinations for adventure tourism worldwide. Year 2003.
- MODERN BRIDE magazine. Best destination for honeymoons. Year 2003.
- RECOMMEND magazine. Number one destination in Latin America for ecotourism and adventure tourism. Year 2003.
- TRAVEL WEEKLY magazine: Best destination in Central and South America. Year 2003.
- Elmundoviajes.com. Best destination for adventure tourism and sports worldwide. Year 2003.
- PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS: Costa Rica best destination for adventure worldwide among high level tourists. Year 2003.

This year’s awards will be announced in December 2004’s edition of Reader´s Choice.

Modern Bride Magazine

Mother Nature runs the show at the rain-forest lodges of this Central American ecoplayground. Your wake-up call will be a flock of green macaws bickering with mischievous howler monkeys, your spa treatment a volcanic steam bath at the base of rumbling Mount Arenal, and your room service a juicy mango plucked from beside curling Pacific breakers.
Once called the Switzerland of Central America for its political stability, Costa Rica is now the hottest ecotourism destination on two continents with more than a quarter of its land protected in national parks and reserves. The dress code is as laid-back as the people, so prepare to trade in your high heels for a pair of hiking boots and your little black dress for a wet suit. You two will find all the amenities of an upscale resort, but with wild, unpredictable jungle just outside your door. Mother Nature leaves the in-room entertainment up to you.

—Jad Davenport