The Swiss airline Edelweiss has opened its direct flight between Zurich and Costa Rica, which will operate twice a week, aiming to attract 27,000 European visitors a year, the company reported today.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and Edelweiss said in a press release that the route, inaugurated Tuesday night, will be operated on Tuesdays and Fridays with Airbus A340-300 aircraft with a capacity of 314 passengers.
“We are happy to connect Costa Rica and Switzerland comfortably. Costa Rica is a very popular destination among Swiss tourists. Swiss travelers like to stay longer and spend more money during their vacation time than visitors from other countries,” he said. The manager of Edelweiss, Bernd Bauer.
Bauer added that they estimate that the routes will allow about 27,000 Swiss visitors a year to Costa Rica, for an economic impact of more than 80 million dollars.
The company will also offer connection possibilities to other European cities beyond Zurich, via the Swiss International Airlines flight network, of which Edelweiss is a part.
“In 2016, more than 430,000 people from Europe entered the country through all ports, the Old Continent is one of our main markets and this direct flight allows us to strengthen relations, we have worked very hard in attracting new airlines” , Said the general manager of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, Alberto Lopez.
Costa Rica has six direct flights from Europe, which for the authorities has allowed consolidating the competitive destination of the country.
Tourism is one of the main drivers of the economy of Costa Rica, a country of 4.8 million that in 2016 received 2.9 million tourists, 10% more than in 2015, according to official data.