| Whether affluent or middle-class, those able to | | | | In fact, some marketing done by neighboring |
| afford vacations outside their countries of | | | | countries has used the phrase "the next Costa |
| residence tend to develop habits and return to | | | | Rica" to develop tourism. This makes it important |
| places where they've had a good time and | | | | for Costa-Rica to continue to encourage tourism |
| perceive that value was received. Depending on | | | | and investment. The country hasn't been immune |
| the topography desired, vacationers will return to | | | | to the world real estate and financial crisis in the |
| the same countries many times. Popular vacation | | | | last few years, with some large project closure |
| and resort countries that recognize the value of | | | | announcements due to rising costs and lower |
| tourism and do not place impediments to real | | | | demand. But, foreclosure maladies seen in other |
| estate purchase generally thrive over time. | | | | countries have been largely avoided due to the |
| Costa-Rica is one such destination. | | | | underdeveloped mortgage industry. |
| One recent study placed the contribution of | | | | Some really positive attributes should make |
| tourism to the GDP at 13.5% in 2008, with more | | | | Costa-Rica a premium retirement destination for |
| than 2 million visitors. It is estimated that the | | | | the many millions entering retirement over the |
| growth in tourism to Costa Rica for the period | | | | next ten years. Beaches, mountains and rain |
| 2009 to 2018 will average 4.7% each year. But, | | | | forests offer a climate suited to each and every |
| it's not just about vacationers. As the world's | | | | resident. From sunny and hot to high and cool, |
| population, particularly in the U.S. and Canada ages, | | | | there's a place to live in Costa Rica. The |
| there is a huge group at or near the age of | | | | constitution of Costa Rica provides equal rights to |
| retirement. Those who have been vacationing in a | | | | foreign residents, and democracy is entrenched. |
| country over the years, and perceive stability in | | | | Some of the hot areas for development include |
| the government and economy will be lured to | | | | the Guanacaste Gold Coast, Puntarenas, and the |
| retire there. With more than a half century of | | | | Central Valley. It's a great country to visit, its |
| stable democracy economic history, Costa Rica | | | | small size making it easy to get from coast to |
| stands to benefit from the situation. | | | | coast and visit the mountains in between. |
| With more tourist arrivals in 2008 than Panama, | | | | Checking out the investment potential of Costa |
| Nicaragua and Belize, this retiree boom could be | | | | Rica is business with a very personal enjoyment |
| great news for Costa Rica's real estate markets. | | | | potential as well. |