Save the Americans

A surprise welcome awaited Joel and Kristine Kratochvil and their three daughters, Anna, 16, Leah, 14, and Jenna, 12, at Costa Rica's Juan Santamaría International Airport on Friday. According to the Costa Rican Tourism Board, one of the members of this Washington state family is the 1 millionth tourist to arrive from the United States in 2015.

Costa Rica's singing animals are competing for the popular vote against tourism promotion ads from over 50 countries.

The new installment of the Costa Rican Tourism Board promotional campaign “Save the Americans” promotes a contest to win trips to Costa Rica.

The World Economic Forum ranked Costa Rica the fourth most tourism-ready economy in Latin America. Still, tourism sector leaders believe the country “can and should rank better.”

The 31st edition of Expotur 2015 will focus on displaying Costa Rica's cultural and rural tourism options.

Tourism Ministry officials on Thursday reported that revenues from Costa Rica's travel sector last year totaled $2.6 billion, an 8.3 percent increase over the $2.4 billion registered in 2013, according to figures from the Central Bank.

The campaign hopes to attract a segment of overworked and overstressed North Americans who “increasingly are refusing to take time off and relax.”