Instituto Costarricense de Turismo

Name

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo

Legal name

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo

Website

https://ict.go.cr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Tourism Authority Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tourism Trade & Services Exports Development (BPADAMAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD), Customer Feedback, Reviews & Experience Management (VoC, NPS, Surveys) (THALAKAM), Travel Policy Design, Governance & Compliance (THACAMAB)

Keywords

• National tourism board
• Sustainability certification
• Tourism promotion services
• Destination marketing
• Tourism regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Administración Tributaria Turística: ICT administers tourism-related taxes and levies, collecting revenue from tourism enterprises operating in Costa Rica through the tax declaration and exemption system.
2. Certificación y Declaratoria Turística: Revenue generated from issuing tourism declarations and certifications to businesses including the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) and tourism concessions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) is Costa Rica's official national tourism authority that regulates, promotes, and develops the country's tourism sector. It administers sustainability certification programs (Bandera Azul Ecológica, CST, Sello Safe Travels), issues tourism declarations and contracts for tourism enterprises, manages the country's tourism brand (Esencial Costa Rica), conducts international destination marketing, operates regional tourist information offices, and publishes tourism statistics and economic indicators.

Product overview

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) is Costa Rica's official tourism board and regulatory authority. The institution offers a portfolio of sustainability certification programs (Bandera Azul Ecológica, CST, Sello Safe Travels), country branding services (Marca País), regulatory services (tourism declarations, business registration, contracts), market development programs (international trade fairs, regional offices), and data/analytics services (tourism statistics, indicators, publications). ICT does not offer commercial software products but rather institutional services, certifications, and promotional resources for the Costa Rican tourism industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Visit Costa Rica: Costa Rica's official destination marketing website for international tourists
• CST (Certificación para la Sostenibilidad Turística)
• Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag)
• Programa Red Sofía
• Sello Safe Travels
• Esencial Costa Rica (Essential Costa Rica)

Products and services

• Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) Multi-institutional environmental certification program evaluating beaches, communities, climate neutrality, educational centers, health, watersheds, households, events, protected spaces, and climate change mitigation. Awards one to five stars based on water quality, sanitation, environmental education, and safety criteria. Available to beach communities, municipalities, and organizations in Costa Rica.
• Certificación de Sostenibilidad Turística (CST) Tourism sustainability certification program that recognizes companies demonstrating commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Available to hotels, tour operators, and tourism businesses operating in Costa Rica.
• Marca País Esencial Costa Rica (Country Brand Licensing) Official country brand and trademark licensing program that tourism-related businesses can use under license for promotional purposes to leverage the Costa Rica national brand identity.
• Sello Safe Travels Health and safety certification stamp awarded to tourism businesses implementing health and safety protocols for travel during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Programa Red Sofía Network program supporting female entrepreneurs and promoting inclusive access to tourism activities for underserved populations in Costa Rica.
• Declaratoria Turística Administrative service for obtaining official tourism declarations required for certain tourism businesses and projects operating in Costa Rica.
• Contrato Turístico Service providing requirements and procedures for tourism business contracts with the institution. Required for tourism enterprises seeking formal contractual relationships with ICT.
• Ferias Internacionales (International Tourism Trade Show Program) Program supporting Costa Rican tourism businesses in participating in international tourism trade shows and fairs, including ILTM 2025, with specific programs for MICE segment and other specialized tourism segments.
• Estadísticas e Indicadores Turísticos (Tourism Statistics and Indicators) Comprehensive statistical data platform providing tourism indicators, visitor statistics, cruise arrivals, economic impact reports, and interactive data visualizations for Costa Rica's tourism sector.
• Atlas de Playas (Beach Atlas) Digital atlas providing detailed information about Costa Rica's beaches including location, amenities, safety information, and accessibility. Available to tourists and tourism businesses.
• Guías Turístico-Culturales (Tourist Guides) Digital flipbook and PDF guides covering various tourist regions of Costa Rica including Caribe, Guanacaste, Pacific, Monteverde, Osa, and Golfito with maps, tours, and cultural information.
• Oficinas Regionales de Información Turística Regional network of tourist information offices providing visitors and tourism businesses with in-person assistance and guidance throughout Costa Rica.
• Registro de Empresas Turísticas Registration and management service for tourism businesses including hotels, tour operators, transport companies, and guides operating in Costa Rica.
• Polo Turístico Golfo de Papagayo Special tourism development zone in the Papagayo Gulf area of Guanacaste, promoting sustainable tourism infrastructure and investment opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Costa Rica named 'Best Nature Destination' at Forbes Travel Awards 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• AERIS (Gestor del Aeropuerto Juan Santamaría)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Airport management company working with ICT on the airline attraction program to develop new routes and strengthen air connectivity. Partnered on new routes with Spirit Airlines and Breeze Airways.
• MONGE y Proyecto DONATAPAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2021Strategic alliance to support accessible and inclusive tourism, making Playa Espadilla accessible. Alliance began February 2021.
• Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Key partner in the Bandera Azul Ecológica program. MINAE participates in the inter-institutional coordination through Executive Decree 36481-MINAET-S (2011) for environmental certification and sustainability initiatives.
• Ministerio de SaludcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Participates in the Bandera Azul Ecológica program focusing on public health parameters including water quality and sanitary conditions at beaches.
• Cámara Nacional de TurismocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Private sector tourism chamber partner in the Bandera Azul Ecológica program, representing business interests in sustainability certification.
• Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AYA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Water and sewage infrastructure institution participating in beach water quality monitoring and human consumption water standards evaluation for the Blue Flag program.
• Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Educational ministry partner for the Centro Educativo (Educational Centers) category of Bandera Azul Ecológica, promoting environmental education in schools.
• Red Costarricense de Reservas PrivadassecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Private nature reserves network partner for environmental protection and sustainable tourism development in protected natural areas.
• Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012State electricity institute participating in the inter-institutional Bandera Azul Ecológica program for environmental sustainability.
• Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Social security institution participating in the health community category of the Bandera Azul Ecológica program.
• Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Agricultural ministry partner in the inter-institutional environmental sustainability coordination for tourism.
• Instituto de Fomento y Asesoría MunicipalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Municipal development and advisory institute participating in the National Commission of Blue Flag Ecological for local government coordination.
• Unión Nacional de Gobiernos LocalessecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012National union of local governments coordinating municipal participation in the Blue Flag Ecological beach certification program.
• Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y ArquitectosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Professional engineering and architecture college participating as technical evaluator in the Bandera Azul Ecológica National Commission.
• Conferencia Episcopal de Costa RicaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Catholic bishops conference participating as institutional member in the inter-institutional environmental coordination.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VisitBritain: UK's national tourism agency performing destination marketing, market intelligence, and partnership development. Directly comparable to ICT as a government-mandated NTO executing international promotion campaigns and B2B trade show programs.
• Tourism New Zealand: New Zealand's NTO with a strong nature-based and sustainability-led brand ('100% Pure New Zealand'). Highly comparable positioning to Costa Rica's biodiversity and sustainability marketing, with similar campaign sophistication and global award recognition.
• Brand USA: USA's destination marketing organization responsible for international inbound tourism promotion. Direct peer in mandate, scale, and reliance on public-private partnership funding models.
• Turespaña: Spain's national tourism authority under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Directly comparable in operating marketing campaigns abroad, market intelligence, and tourism statistics functions.
• Tourism Australia: Australia's national tourism agency with a similar destination-marketing mandate, iconic brand positioning, and international market development function. Comparable in scale of operations and the use of award-winning creative campaigns (e.g., 'There's Nothing Like Australia').

Regional players

• Jamaica Tourist Board: Jamaica's national tourism board serving a competing Caribbean/Central American market. Direct comparator for ICT's beach- and nature-led destination marketing, with overlapping source markets (US, Canada) and similar air connectivity development programs.
• Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP): Panama's national tourism authority, the most direct regional competitor. Comparable scope of international promotion, sustainability initiatives, and air connectivity development targeting the same North American source markets.
• Ministry of Tourism Dominican Republic: Dominican Republic's national tourism authority, another major regional competitor for Caribbean-bound US and Canadian leisure travelers. Comparable in scale of promotional investment and air route development.

Others

• UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization): United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. Relevant as the policy/standards counterpart to ICT's sustainability programs (CST, Bandera Azul) and a key reference point for Costa Rica's global tourism positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Visit California: State-level destination marketing organization for California with a comparable nature/beach-led brand positioning. Comparable in the use of iconic creative campaigns (e.g., 'Dream Big'), media partnerships, and international trade fair participation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCf4vVKxVaYpRtmFaStDfQTw
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstitutoCostarricensedeTurismoOficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/oficial_ict
• TikToktiktok.com/@oficial_ict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Instituto Costarricense de Turismo