Costa Rica Tourism Receipts
International tourism receipts ST.INT.RCPT.CD
Costa Rica's tourism receipts was $1.5B in 2020, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 65.5% decrease from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1995–2020.
Overview
Costa Rica's tourism receipts stood at $1.5B in 2020, a decline of +$2.8B from 2019. Costa Rica ranked 47th globally.
Costa Rica’s tourism receipts fell to US$1,479,000,000.00 in 2020, ranking it 47th globally, a sharp contraction from the all‑time peak of US$4,282,000,000.00 recorded in 2019 and still well above the all‑time trough of US$763,000,000.00 in 1995. The 2020 figure remains below the receipts of close peers such as Romania (US$1,611,000,000.00) and Serbia (US$1,422,000,000.00), indicating that the pandemic‑induced slowdown left Costa Rica trailing comparable destinations despite its long‑standing reputation for eco‑tourism. Over the 26‑year series, the country more than doubled its earnings from the 1995 low, yet the pandemic erased nearly two‑thirds of the 2019 high, underscoring the sector’s vulnerability to external shocks. Recovery will likely depend on the speed of global travel normalization, investments in sustainable tourism infrastructure, and the ability to diversify source markets, which could re‑establish an upward trajectory in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Tourism Receipts | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1.5B | −$2.8B | #47 |
| 2019 | $4.3B | +$209.0M | #51 |
| 2018 | $4.1B | +$315.0M | #56 |
| 2017 | $3.8B | −$18.0M | #59 |
| 2016 | $3.8B | +$368.0M | #56 |
| 2015 | $3.4B | +$271.0M | #58 |
| 2014 | $3.1B | −$34.0M | #56 |
| 2013 | $3.2B | +$398.0M | #55 |
| 2012 | $2.8B | +$127.0M | #56 |
| 2011 | $2.6B | +$220.0M | #54 |
| 2010 | $2.4B | +$210.0M | #56 |
| 2009 | $2.2B | −$595.0M | #60 |
| 2008 | $2.8B | +$357.0M | #55 |
| 2007 | $2.5B | +$388.0M | #56 |
| 2006 | $2.1B | +$58.0M | #58 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw tourism receipts improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's tourism receipts was $1.5B in 2020. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 65.5% decrease from the previous year.
Costa Rica's tourism receipts peaked at $4.3B in 2019.
The lowest tourism receipts in Costa Rica was $763.0M in 1995.
Costa Rica ranks 47th globally in tourism receipts as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is ST.INT.RCPT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's tourism receipts was approximately 1.48 billion ($1.5B) in 2020.
The tourism receipts of Costa Rica in 2020 was $1.5B. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_tourism-receipts,
title = {Costa Rica Tourism Receipts},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/tourism-receipts/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}