page_title: Tourism in Costa Rica
section_title: Ecotourism
hierarchical_section_title: Tourism in Costa Rica / Ecotourism
caption_attribution_description: العربية: ضفدع الأشجار أحمر العينين (Agalychnis callidryas)، صُوَِّرت على مقرُبة من مُنتجع جاكو في كوستاريكا. Čeština: Listovnice červenooká (Agalychnis callidryas) nedaleko Playa Jacó v&#160;Kostarice English: Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas), photographed near Playa Jaco in Costa Rica (retouched version). Deutsch: Rotaugenlaubfrosch (Agalychnis callidryas), fotografiert bei Playa Jaco in Costa Rica Türkçe: Ağaç kurbağaları (Hylidae) familyasından Agalychnis callidryas (Kırmızı gözlü ağaç kurbağası) Español: Rana verde de ojos rojos (Agalychnis callidryas), fotografiada cerca de Playa Jaco en Costa Rica Sunda: Cakung Panon-Beureum (Agalychnis callidryas), dipoto deukeut Playa Jaco, Kosta Rika Français&#160;: Une grenouille aux yeux rouges (Agalychnis callidryas), photographiée à Jacó, au Costa Rica Português: Rã das arvores de olhos vermelhos (Agalychnis callidryas), photographiée à Jacó, au Costa Rica Русский: Красноглазая квакша (Agalychnis callidryas), фото сделано вблизи Playa Jaco в Коста-Рике. Italiano: Rana verde dagli occhi rossi (Agalychnis callidryas), fotografata vicino alla spiaggia di Jaco in Costa Rica Tiếng Việt: Nhái cây mắt đỏ (Agalychnis callidryas) là một loài nhái bén sống trên cây bản địa rừng mưa Neotropical ở Trung Mĩ. Nhái cây mắt đỏ có mắt màu đỏ, ngón chân màu da cam.
context_page_description: Tourism in Costa Rica has been one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the country and by 1995 became the largest foreign exchange earner. Since 1999, tourism has earned more foreign exchange than bananas, pineapples and coffee exports combined. The tourism boom began in 1987, with the number of visitors up from 329,000 in 1988, through 1.03 million in 1999, over 2 million in 2008, to a historical record of 2.66 million foreign visitors in 2015. In 2012, tourism contributed with 12.5% of the country's GDP and it was responsible for 11.7% of direct and indirect employment. In 2009, tourism attracted 17% of foreign direct investment inflows, and 13% in average between 2000 and 2009. In 2010, the tourism industry was responsible for 21.2% of foreign exchange generated by all exports. According to a 2007 report by ECLAC, tourism contributed to a reduction in poverty of 3% in the country.
context_section_description: Ecotourism is extremely popular with the many tourists visiting the extensive national parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica was a pioneer in this type of tourism and the country is recognized as one of the few with real ecotourism. In 2006, 54% international tourists visited national parks or protected areas, visiting at least two such natural refuges, and it goes up to three for European visitors.
  In recent years, several of Costa Rica's top travel service providers have been internationally recognized for their commitment to planet-positive tourism.  Examples include Nature Air and Hotel Punta Islita as winners of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, sponsored by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and Lapa Rios Ecolodge as winner of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Standard-Setter.
caption: Costa Rica's biodiversity is an asset for ecotourism. Shown a notable frog species, the Red-eyed Tree Frog.
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