Costa Rica Plans Smarter Tourism to Protect Communities

Costa Rica is rewriting the rules on tourism growth, and the world is watching.

The country's tourism sector now accounts for 6.3% of national GDP and employs 183,000 people directly. Travel exports hit $5.5 billion in 2024, making tourism one of Costa Rica's strongest economic engines after rebounding from the pandemic.

But a new OECD report highlights a challenge the country is confronting head-on. Growth has brought rising housing costs, strained public services, and pressure on the protected areas that made Costa Rica famous in the first place.

The response? Costa Rica is measuring the "maximum acceptable capacity" for tourists across the country and in each of its 33 tourism zones. Instead of asking how many more visitors can come, officials are asking how many visitors each destination can handle before roads, water systems, and communities start breaking down.

The shift matters because Costa Rica depends heavily on foreign tourists. Americans made up 56% of international visitors in 2024, followed by Canadians at 9%. That concentration brings reliable income in good years but leaves the economy vulnerable to recessions or travel disruptions abroad.

Local voices are getting more weight in planning decisions. Tourism authorities are bringing together municipalities, chambers, local businesses and community organizations to shape destination-level plans. These groups are addressing real tensions around development limits, housing affordability, and whether residents feel tourism is improving their lives.

Costa Rica launched a Tourism for All program in 2023 that has given 3,750 people with financial limitations or disabilities access to tourism experiences. The program helps answer a question that matters politically: do Costa Ricans themselves benefit from an industry often marketed to foreigners?

The country is also piloting a Tourism Social Progress Index to measure whether destinations are seeing real improvements in social wellbeing, not just economic activity. Results have been shared at Cabinet level to guide policy in areas showing gaps.

The Ripple Effect: Costa Rica's boldest idea is regenerative tourism, moving beyond reducing environmental harm to actively restoring ecosystems and strengthening communities. The approach includes five pillars: environmental restoration, community empowerment, cultural preservation, deeper visitor experiences, and long-term resilience. If it works, Costa Rica could model a new standard for countries facing similar pressures from tourism growth.

The country is investing $48.3 million in tourism marketing this year, financed through entry taxes and tourism revenue. New infrastructure projects include a visitor center at Tenorio National Park and improved tourist facilities at other protected areas.

After decades building a global reputation around nature and sustainability, Costa Rica is testing whether it can protect what made it special in the first place.