International tourism arrivals decline in the U.S. and Costa Rica

International tourism arrivals to the United States saw a significant decline in August, falling 11.8% compared to the previous year. According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, approximately 3.1 million international visitors entered the country during the month. This follows a 7% drop in July, indicating a worsening trend for the U.S. travel sector. Notable declines were observed across various regions, including Africa (25.5%), Central America (20.6%), and Western Europe (14.8%).

In Costa Rica, the tourism sector reported a 13.7% decrease in visitors from the United States in August, with arrivals dropping from 105,000 in August 2025 to 91,000 in August 2026. Data from the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) suggests this is part of a five-month downward trend at the Juan Santamaría Airport.

Experts attribute these declines to several factors, including rising airfares, high inflation in the United States, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. In Costa Rica, additional pressures include currency appreciation affecting industry competitiveness and concerns regarding local security and mobility.