Costa Rica Sportfishing Increase

Costa Rica has seen an 8 percent decrease in tourist last year, but sportfishing has increased throughout the country. The popular sport attracted 12.65 percent more tourists last year compared with 2008, according to a new study by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR).

Some 85,636 visitors participated in sportfishing, making up more than 4 percent of the total number of tourists who visited Costa Rica in 2009. These findings come from a CANATUR survey taken among travelers at Juan Santamaría International Airport, northwest of San Jose, and Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, in the northwest province of Guanacaste.

The new tally shows signs of the sector's rebound after declining from a high of 94,312 sportfishing enthusiasts in 2007. According to Donald McGuinness, president of the Costa Rican Sportfishing Federation, the industry helps diversify Costa Rica's tourism, generates employment and attracts tourists with higher-than-average purchasing power.

He added that neighbors in the region, such as Panama, pose stiff competition in reeling in visitors looking to fish.

Overall, a total of 1,922,579 tourists visited Costa Rica last year. The number represents the first decline since 2002, CANATUR said, citing the recession in the United States is a leading factor.

Expecting a turnaround this year, the Costa Rica chamber predicts growth of up to 5 percent in overall numbers of tourists.

Popular fishing areas include the Central Pacific town of Quepos, near Manuel Antonio national park, Costa Rica's surfing town of Jaco with the Herredura marina, Tamarindo and Flamingo in the Nicoya Peninsula.

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