Representatives of U.S. carrier JetBlue on Tuesday confirmed to Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís plans to expand operations with a new Boston-Liberia route beginning Nov. 1. The announcement was made during a meeting in New York also attended by Costa Rican Tourism Minister Wilhelm von Breymann.
“Today, JetBlue airlines delivered good news by confirming a new flight to Costa Rica. We applaud the move, which confirms we remain a favorite travel and tourism destination. Undoubtedly we are a competitive country in the tourism business, and JetBlue recognizes Costa Rica as a safe place for investment,” Solís said.
Von Breymann noted that in a short period of time the country has negotiated the opening of key routes from JetBlue, including New York to the northwestern provincial capital of Liberia, in Guanacaste, Orlando to San José, and Fort Lauderdale to San José.
“This is a result of our efforts … to promote the arrival of more flights to Costa Rica,” Von Breymann said.
The United States is the source of most of Costa Rica’s tourists, accounting for 80 percent of international arrivals during the first half of this year.
Costa Rican Tourism Board data indicate that U.S. tourists entering the country via air in 2013 stayed an average of 10 nights and spent $1,231.
This month, carriers Delta, Southwest and United also confirmed new routes to Costa Rica.
The president’s meeting with JetBlue was part of his agenda ahead of the U.N. General Assembly meeting this week in New York.
