Casey Halloran, co-founder of Costa Rica’s Namu Travel Group talks about transparency, empathy, and solidarity as key values to get through the economic and tourism crisis caused by coronavirus.
Namu Travel Group co-founder Casey Halloran, made an impassioned plea today to both the traveling public and the Costa Rican tourism industry to hang on during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The global tourism industry is in crisis right now, as lockdowns and travel bans prohibit travel for most people. Tourism and vacation planning are on the back burner while the world tackles coronavirus.
The crisis affects Costa Rica more than most, as tourism comprises almost ten percent of all jobs and over eight percent of GDP.
In his message, Halloran apologized to Namu Travel customers who had to cancel their trips and reassured them he was listening. He talked about his company’s values and asked for the travel community to unite in the certainty of better days ahead.
He also talked about the goodwill his agency has built up over years of bringing international travelers to enjoy Costa Rica.
Halloran has lived in Costa Rica since 1998 and co-founded Costa Rican Vacations in 1999.
Since then, Costa Rican Vacations has expanded into a regional business, Namu Travel, operating all over the region.
“Right now, it’s critical for all of us involved in tourism here to believe in Costa Rica once this crisis is over,” he said.
“I truly believe Costa Rica, with its pura vida vibe and reputation as an eco-paradise, will play a huge part in the healing and rejuvenation we’ll need to go through once they lift the restrictions and it’s safe to travel again, even if we don’t know when that’ll be.
“It’s critical that we, as an industry, have faith in that. This message is for our customers, but it’s also a call for Costa Rican tourism at large to keep the faith, stick together, and come through the other side.”
*Disclaimer: This website is owned and operated by Namu Travel as its “content wing”, to offer opinion and info on all aspects of life and travel in Central America.
James Dyde is the editor of www.centralamerica.com. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.
