Costa Rica has appointed Gustavo Alvarado as the country’s new minister of tourism and the executive president of Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). Alvarado was sworn in by Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado Quesada following the resignation of the former Tourism Minister Gustavo Segura on December 1.
Hailed for a notable career at the ICT, Alvarado worked as the presidency’s deputy minister during the 2011-2014 administration. He has served as the director of several departments within the ICT since 2007. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Costa Rica and another in Political Studies with an emphasis on Latin America from Javeriana University in Colombia. He is also pursuing his PhD in Public Management and Business Sciences at the Central American Institute of Public Administration.
The new leader will seek to continue the gradual recovery of the tourism industry by building strong airline connections with the country’s main markets. He will also promote Costa Rica as a bio-secure destination in partnership with the private sector and support bills currently in the legislative pipeline to strengthen the tourism sector.
President Quesada thanked Segura for the work that he accomplished for the country and for the benefit of the tourism industry—an important source of employment for thousands of Costa Ricans, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Segura has been praised for his efforts during the pandemic that allowed the country to continue to position itself as both a green and safe tourist destination.
During his administration, Costa Rica’s airline recovery stood out, as he recovered 25 of the 29 airlines that flew to the country before the start of the pandemic. Additionally, Costa Rica says it has regained the attraction of the U.S. market at its highest levels since the onset of the health crisis and has reactivated the 2021-22 cruise tourism season.
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