Costa Rica Emerges Alongside United States and Other American Countries Create Demand for Foreign Tourists: An Evening Update

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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September 9, 2026 3:29 AM

Costa Rica emerges alongside the United States and other American countries as demand for foreign tourists shifts, creating fresh opportunities for destinations competing to capture international travellers.

Costa Rica emerges alongside the United States and other American countries as global travel demand continues to shift. Meanwhile, destinations across the Americas are competing more aggressively for foreign tourists. Changing traveller preferences, stronger destination marketing and expanding air connectivity are reshaping where visitors choose to spend their holidays.

Costa Rica stands out because its nature, wildlife, beaches and adventure experiences continue attracting international attention. At the same time, the United States and other American countries are responding to evolving source markets and changing travel patterns. As a result, tourism boards, airlines, hotels and local businesses are adapting their strategies to capture new international demand.

Travel across the Americas is entering a period of significant change, with destinations responding to shifting visitor behaviour, new airline capacity, evolving tourism strategies and post-disaster recovery. From Mexico’s aggressive push for international arrivals to Jamaica’s hotel recovery and Cuba’s opening to private tourism operators, the latest developments show how quickly the regional travel landscape is being reshaped.

Air connectivity is also emerging as a central theme. New and proposed routes across South and Central America are giving travellers more options, while weather disruption remains an important operational challenge. The following country-by-country report examines the most relevant developments and explains what they mean for travellers and the wider tourism industry.

Costa Rica: Canadian Demand Creates an Opportunity

Costa Rica stands among the destinations positioned to benefit from Canadians changing their travel preferences. Recent Canadian travel statistics showed strong interest in Costa Rica, reinforcing the country’s position within the competitive North American and Central American tourism market. The destination’s appeal is built around nature, wildlife, beaches, wellness and adventure, giving it a broad product mix for international visitors. Continued demand from Canada could support hotels, airlines, tour operators and local tourism businesses. However, maintaining growth will require reliable air connectivity and careful destination management. Costa Rica’s established reputation for nature-based tourism also makes sustainability an important component of its long-term international positioning.

United States: Tourism Industry Works to Win Back Canadian Travellers

The United States is facing an unusual tourism challenge: rebuilding demand from one of its most important international visitor markets. Canadian travel to the US has weakened amid continuing political and trade tensions, encouraging American destinations to actively remind Canadians that they remain welcome. Tourism organisations and individual destinations are using promotional campaigns to rebuild confidence and encourage cross-border holidays. The development matters because Canadian visitors traditionally contribute substantially to US hotels, attractions, restaurants and retail businesses. For destinations dependent on international arrivals, the situation demonstrates how quickly consumer sentiment can influence tourism demand, particularly when travel decisions become connected with broader economic and political concerns.

Canada: Travellers Continue Looking Beyond the US

Canada is experiencing a notable change in outbound travel behaviour as fewer Canadians choose the United States for leisure trips. Recent travel statistics indicate a substantial decline in Canadian trips involving the US, while overseas travel has increased. Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica are among the destinations benefiting from Canada’s changing travel preferences. The development creates both a challenge and an opportunity for the Canadian tourism economy. Domestic destinations can capture travellers who decide not to cross the border, while international destinations are competing aggressively for Canadian visitors. Airlines, hotels and tourism boards are therefore watching Canadian travel behaviour closely as the market continues to diversify.

Mexico: Tourism Strategy Moves Towards More International Growth

Mexico is strengthening its tourism proposition through several simultaneous initiatives. Cozumel tourism representatives are calling for stronger international promotion and improved air connectivity, while Quintana Roo is expanding its focus on romance and destination-wedding tourism. Yucatán is also concentrating on connectivity, international marketing and business events. Together, these developments demonstrate that Mexico is no longer relying solely on its established beach-resort model. The country is broadening its tourism portfolio by targeting specialised segments, improving access and promoting destinations beyond traditional resort centres. For international travellers, this could mean more route choices, greater destination diversity and a wider range of experiences across Mexico.

Cuba: Private Tourism Participation Signals Industry Change

Cuba’s tourism sector is showing signs of structural change as regulations reportedly allow greater participation by private travel agencies and foreign operators in selected tourism activities. Areas such as tourist transportation and car rental are included in the reported changes. The development could become important for Cuba’s international tourism competitiveness because private-sector participation can increase product variety, operational flexibility and visitor services. Cuba already possesses major tourism assets, including beaches, historic cities and cultural attractions, but the country’s tourism industry has faced significant economic and operational pressures. Greater participation from private and international businesses could therefore influence how travellers experience the destination in the coming years.

Jamaica: Tourism Recovery Gains Momentum After Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica continues to rebuild its tourism industry following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. Recent figures indicate that the destination welcomed around 2.34 million visitors and generated approximately US$2.5 billion in tourism revenue through the end of August. Around 70% of hotel rooms were also reported to be back in service. The recovery is significant because accommodation availability is central to restoring visitor confidence and airline capacity. Jamaica’s tourism rebound demonstrates the resilience of the Caribbean hospitality sector following extreme weather events. The next phase will depend on reopening more properties, restoring tourism employment and maintaining international confidence in the island as a safe and attractive holiday destination.

Brazil: Severe Weather Creates Fresh Travel Disruption Risk

Brazil’s southern regions are facing potential travel disruption from a powerful extratropical cyclone. Forecast conditions include heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, hail and strong winds, creating risks for both road and aviation networks. Weather-related disruption is particularly important for a country as geographically large as Brazil, where domestic air travel and long-distance road journeys connect major population and tourism centres. Travellers visiting affected areas should monitor official weather information, airline notifications and local transport updates before beginning journeys. For the tourism industry, the situation also reinforces the importance of operational resilience. Extreme weather is becoming an increasingly important consideration for airlines, hotels, tour operators and destination-management organisations.

Paraguay: New Air Connections Strengthen Regional Accessibility

Paraguay is benefiting from growing attention to regional aviation connectivity, with LATAM planning additional services involving Asunción and major South American gateways. Proposed connectivity with Montevideo, São Paulo and Lima could improve access for both leisure and business travellers. Better regional connections are particularly valuable for Paraguay because international visitors often depend on connecting airports to reach the country. Additional frequencies can reduce journey complexity, support tourism growth and strengthen links with important source markets. For Asunción, expanded aviation capacity could also help the city develop its position as a business and events destination. Improved connectivity ultimately benefits hotels, attractions, restaurants and other tourism businesses.

Peru: Machu Picchu Tourism Moves Further Into Luxury Experiences

Peru continues to diversify its tourism offer around one of South America’s best-known attractions, Machu Picchu. New premium glamping experiences along the Inca Trail reflect a wider industry trend towards combining adventure with comfort. Rather than choosing between conventional trekking and high-end accommodation, travellers can increasingly access experiences designed around both. This model appeals particularly to visitors seeking memorable, personalised journeys without abandoning premium service standards. The development also illustrates how Peru can increase the economic value of established attractions by developing higher-spending tourism products. Responsible management remains essential, however, because the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu operate within environmentally and culturally sensitive landscapes.

Colombia: Regional Cooperation Could Influence Future Travel

Colombia is receiving renewed international attention as the United States strengthens diplomatic and economic engagement with South America. Discussions involving Colombia, Peru and Ecuador include trade, security and regional cooperation, all of which can indirectly influence travel. Tourism depends heavily on perceptions of safety, connectivity and international accessibility, making regional cooperation relevant to the industry’s long-term development. Colombia has already established itself as a major Latin American destination, particularly for cultural tourism, cities, nature and increasingly sophisticated hospitality experiences. Greater regional coordination could support stronger connections between South American markets, while improved perceptions of security could further strengthen Colombia’s appeal to international leisure and business travellers.

Ecuador: Quito and Galápagos Remain Major Heritage Assets

Ecuador continues to promote two of its strongest international tourism assets: Quito and the Galápagos Islands. Both destinations carry UNESCO World Heritage recognition and provide Ecuador with a distinctive combination of cultural and natural tourism. Quito offers historic architecture, heritage sites and Andean culture, while the Galápagos attracts travellers interested in wildlife and conservation. The country’s challenge is to balance visitor growth with environmental protection, particularly in fragile ecosystems such as the Galápagos. Sustainable tourism management therefore remains critical. For international travellers, Ecuador’s combination of heritage, biodiversity and relatively compact geography gives the country a powerful tourism proposition capable of attracting both first-time visitors and experienced adventure travellers.

Argentina: New Airline Competition Adds Momentum to Aviation

Argentina’s aviation market is entering another phase of development with the emergence of new airline competition. The new carrier Joy has moved towards ticket sales, creating another option for travellers within Argentina and potentially across the wider region. Greater airline competition can benefit consumers through additional capacity, broader schedules and potentially more competitive fares, although the long-term impact will depend on the carrier’s network and operational performance. Argentina’s enormous geographic scale makes reliable domestic aviation particularly important for tourism. Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Mendoza, Iguazú and other destinations depend on effective air links to distribute international and domestic visitors across the country.

The Bigger Picture: Americas Tourism Enters a More Competitive Phase

The latest developments across the Americas reveal a travel industry becoming more competitive, diversified and responsive to changing circumstances. Mexico is expanding specialised tourism products; Jamaica is rebuilding after a major weather event; Cuba is experimenting with greater private-sector participation; and South American countries are improving regional aviation connections.

At the same time, the US and Canada demonstrate how political and economic relationships can directly influence travel behaviour. Weather events in Brazil highlight another growing challenge for tourism operators.

For travellers, the result is a wider range of destinations, experiences and flight options. For tourism businesses, however, success will increasingly depend on adaptability, connectivity, resilience and the ability to understand rapidly changing visitor preferences. The Americas remain one of the world’s most diverse tourism regions, but the competition for international travellers is becoming sharper—and destinations that respond fastest are likely to gain the greatest advantage.

The cause is a significant change in international travel behaviour across the Americas. Travellers are reconsidering familiar destinations because of pricing, connectivity, geopolitics, weather disruption and changing preferences.

The answer is stronger destination diversification and targeted international promotion. Costa Rica benefits from its established nature-tourism reputation, while the United States and other American countries are competing through campaigns, new routes and specialised experiences. The reason is straightforward: foreign tourists generate substantial economic value through hotels, airlines, restaurants, attractions, shopping and local services. Consequently, destinations that understand emerging source markets and respond quickly can secure greater visitor demand, strengthen tourism revenues and remain competitive.

Costa Rica is increasingly positioned alongside the United States and other American countries in a rapidly changing competition for foreign tourists. While travel demand remains resilient, the destinations capturing that demand are changing. Costa Rica’s combination of biodiversity, beaches, adventure and established tourism infrastructure gives it a strong international proposition. Meanwhile, the United States continues working to maintain its appeal among important overseas markets, while other American countries are improving connectivity and developing specialised tourism products.

Therefore, the evening update points to a broader transformation rather than a temporary trend. Travellers now have more destinations, experiences and flight options to consider. For the travel industry, that means competition will intensify. Ultimately, countries that offer compelling experiences, reliable connectivity, effective marketing and strong visitor services will be better placed to attract foreign tourists. The Americas remain a powerful global tourism region, but the race for international visitors is becoming increasingly competitive.

Image: Visit Costa Rica