www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Was in Costa Rica last September 2010. I heard from a number of expats that the tourist numbers were down 40% yoy. I also noticed the hotels were wide open for the whole eight days I was there. Was very easy to get a seat in Blue Marlin and key Largo even on a saturday night. Wasn't packed four deep.


Are the tourist numbers improved now or is it the same situation as last year.
might be a proxy that the US economy is better with more tourists from the US flying into Costa Rica.
would be interested to find out if things improved over a year.
Planning on going down in october 2011.

fred757

some of my trips recently looking around at the occupancy of the hotels, and crowds
in the Gluch remind me of the 1999-2002 timeframe.

it might be ten years for tourist numbers to come back?

thks
fred757

The chicas I keep in touch with regularly are all saying that it's dead at the SL and they can't make any dinero. I can say from my two visits there last few days and the numbers appear to be low, Friday night was fairly busy till about 6PM then it died way off and there were only a handful of guys there.

_________________
Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

Actually it was pretty busy in the SL and HDR last night. I know the HDR lowered their room rates to $65. Didnt see any Colombianas the past few days in the HDR at all. Talent at the HDR is way down. I dont like the tons of Tico's hanging out at the HDR. Probably their boyfriends. They should kick them out because they don't even buy any drinks. I think they should institute a 1 drink minimum for all Tico's. Seems like alot of girls wont even go with you unless you pay them upfront. I kicked 2 girls out because I refused to pay upfront.

I also haven't seen the number of Colombianas as is years past- pre 2007.

I guess they are working at Golden times in Panama City.

it will be interesting to see if the the Gluch goes back to the tourist numbers and hotel occupancy I saw back in 2001 over the next five years.

fred757

Knowing the chicas and their convoluted thought process, they will probably attempt to substantially increase their fee to make up for the dinero shortfall.

_________________
The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

The fine points of "supply and demand captilism" is beyond their comprehension, as I have observed among most C.R. businesses.
Flaco

There are the, "barroom truths or legends" and the 40% figure has nothing to back it up. Overall, tourism last year returned to pre-crash levels, and this year is running above the prelevels. The demographics of tourism has changed. Fewer Northamericans and more Central and South Americans.

Turning to the North American market, and specifically, to the niche market of mongers, that would have to come via word of mouth, observation, etc. Many regulars in San Jose are transitioning to Medallen. There isn't the buyers at the DL as there were. Putas are actually learning market economy and finding more productive routes. Hell even Bar Poas is getting girls, first the NYB girls, but then some of the best I've seen there in some time.

Whosear;

I was referring to 2009 going into 2010. Had a brief conversation with a expat involved in the hotel industry. he said the official tourist numbers were down but realworld numbers were down
40% (2009-2010).

He could of been referring to just the gluch area. I agree a number of mongers are transitioning to Medellin.
I'll have to check out Bar Poas sometime, NYB kind of bums me out food wise.

fred757