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5,800 people compete to travel and discover the essentials of life in Costa Rica

 

  • Residents of the United States and Canada participate in the “Who’s essential to you” contest from the ICT. 
  • Fifteen winners will get to go on a seven-day Costa Rican vacation with a travel companion between March 2021 and February 2022.

Wednesday, February 9, 2021 - In a two-month campaign, 5,800 residents of the United States and Canada participated in the “Who’s essential to you?” contest. The initiative, launched by the Costa Rican Tourism Board throughout North America, is in the process of selecting the 15 winners who will come to Costa Rica with a travel companion for a week-long vacation.

Between November 26 and January 31, the prospective tourists completed a form in which they nominated a person who inspired them and who made a difference in their lives during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nominees include 1,200 Canadians and 4,600 Americans.

The contest winners will head to Costa Rica with the person they nominated as being essential in their lives for a seven-day, all-expenses-paid trip. The prize was made possible thanks to support from the private tourism sector.

“The fact that nearly six thousand people participated in this initiative, seeking to express their feelings for a loved one and inspired by the chance to see the beautiful sights that Costa Rica offers, is something that gives us great satisfaction,”said Carolina Trejos, Marketing Director for the ICT. “It also confirms the enthusiasm among North American tourists for our country and the profile of the destination in this important market.”

Prestigious media outlets including Matador Network, MSN Travel & Leisure and Lonely Planet, among others, promoted and reported on the campaign.

Promotional videos with Costa Ricans

Videos inviting travelers to make their nominations were shared on the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter profiles of Visit Costa Rica, as well as its YouTube channel. 

The list of winners will be announced this month, who will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica between March 2021 and February 2022.

The United States and Canada are the main tourist-sending markets for Costa Rica. In 2019, before the pandemic, the two countries represented over 60% of the tourists entering the country by air.