Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
June 05, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:Costa Rica mapCosta Rica map Costa Rica is a middle-income, developing country with a strong democratic tradition. Tourist facilities are extensive and generally adequate. The capital is San Jose. English is a second language for many Costa Ricans. Read the Department of State Background Notes <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm> on Costa Rica for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For entry into Costa Rica, U.S. citizens must present valid passports that will not expire for at least thirty days after arrival, and a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Some U.S. airlines may not permit passengers to board flights to Costa Rica without such a ticket. Passports should be in good condition; Costa Rican immigration will deny entry if the passport is damaged in any way. Costa Rican authorities generally permit U.S. citizens to stay up to ninety days; to stay beyond the period granted, travelers must submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Tourist visas are usually not extended except under special circumstances, and extension requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is a departure tax for short-term visitors. Tourists who stay over ninety days may experience a delay at the airport when departing. Persons who overstayed previously may be denied entry to Costa Rica.
Persons traveling to Costa Rica from some countries in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa must provide evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination prior to entry. The South American countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
See “SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES” for information on requirements to carry documentation within Costa Rica and on travel by dual national minors.
The most authoritative and up-to-date information on Costa Rican entry and exit requirements may be obtained from the Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica at 2114 “S” Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 234-2945/46 , fax (202) 265-4795 , e-mail consulate@costarica-embassy.org, web site http://www.costarica-embassy.org <http://www.costarica-embassy.org/> , or from the Costa Rican consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Francisco, and Tampa. The Costa Rican immigration agency web site is http://www.migracion.go.cr <http://www.migracion.go.cr/> . It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington or one of Costa Rica's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements before shipping any items.
Visit the Embassy of Costa Rica web site at http://www.costarica-embassy.org <http://www.costarica-embassy.org/> for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: There have been no recent acts of terrorism in Costa Rica. Visitors to Costa Rica may experience the effects of civil disturbances such as work stoppages and strikes. Although infrequent, these acts can create inconveniences for visitors. On both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, currents are swift and dangerous, and there are few lifeguards or signs warning of dangerous beaches. Every year eight to twelve American citizens drown in Costa Rica due to riptides or sudden drop-offs while in shallow water. Extreme caution is advised.
Adventure tourism is popular in Costa Rica, and many companies offer white-water rafting, bungee jumping, jungle canopy tours, deep sea diving, and other outdoor attractions. Americans are urged to use caution in selecting adventure tourism companies. The government of Costa Rica regulates and monitors the safety of adventure tourism companies; enforcement of safety laws is overseen by the Ministry of Health. Registered tourism companies with operating permits must meet safety standards and have insurance coverage. The safety regulations enforced in Costa Rica are not the same as safety regulations enforced in the United States.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov <http://travel.state.gov/> , where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Over one and a half million foreign tourists, the majority American, visit Costa Rica annually. All are potential targets for criminals, primarily thieves looking for cash, jewelry, credit cards, electronic items and passports. U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise the same level of caution they would in major cities or tourist areas throughout the world. Local law enforcement agencies have limited capabilities and do not act according to U.S. standards. Travelers should minimize driving at night, especially outside urban areas.
Americans should avoid areas with high concentrations of bars and nightclubs, especially at night, and steer clear of deserted properties or undeveloped land. For safety reasons, the Embassy does not place its official visitors in hotels in the San Jose city center, but instead puts them at the larger hotels in the outlying suburbs. Americans should walk or exercise with a companion, bearing in mind that crowded tourist attractions and resort areas popular with foreign tourists are common venues for criminal activities. Travelers should ignore any verbal harassment, and avoid carrying passports, large amounts of cash, jewelry or expensive photographic equipment. Tourists are encouraged to carry photocopies of the passport data page and Costa Rican entry stamp on their persons, and leave the original passport in a hotel safe or other secure place. Costa Rican immigration authorities conduct routine immigration checks at locations, such as bars in downtown San Jose and beach communities, frequented by illegal immigrants. American citizens detained during one of these checks who have only a copy of the passport will be required to provide the original passport with appropriate stamps.
Travelers should purchase an adequate level of locally valid theft insurance when renting vehicles, park in secured lots whenever possible, and never leave valuables in the vehicle. The U.S. Embassy receives several reports daily of valuables, identity documents, and other items stolen from locked vehicles, primarily rental cars. Thefts from parked cars occur in downtown San Jose, at beaches, in the airport and bus station parking lots, and at national parks and other tourist attractions.
Travelers should use licensed taxis, which are red with medallions (yellow triangles containing numbers) painted on the side. Licensed taxis at the airport are painted orange. All licensed taxis should have working door handles, locks, seatbelts and meters (called "marias"); passengers are required to use seatbelts. When traveling by bus, avoid putting bags or other personal belongings in the storage bins. At all times have your belongings in your line of sight or in your possession.
Thieves usually work in groups of two to four. A common scam has one person drop change in a crowded area, such as on a bus, and when the victim tries to assist, a wallet or other item is taken. The most prevalent scam involves the surreptitious puncturing of tires of rental cars, often near restaurants, tourist attractions, airports, or close to the car rental agencies themselves. When the travelers pull over, "good Samaritans" quickly appear to change the tire - and just as quickly remove valuables from the car, sometimes brandishing weapons. Drivers with flat tires are advised to drive, if at all possible, to the nearest service station or other public area, and change the tire themselves, watching valuables at all times.
In late 2006, the government of Costa Rica established a Tourist Police force, and units were established in popular tourist areas throughout the country. The Tourist Police can assist with the reporting of a crime, which can be difficult for victims due to language barriers and the requirement that only investigative police can accept crime reports.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care in San Jose is adequate, but is limited in areas outside of San Jose. Most prescription and over-the-counter medications are available throughout Costa Rica. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. A list of local doctors and medical facilities can be found at the website of the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, at http://sanjose.usembassy.gov <http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/> . An ambulance may be summoned by calling 911. Most ambulances provide transportation but little or no medical assistance. The best-equipped ambulances are called “unidad avanzada.”
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Costa Rica is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. The fatality rate for pedestrians and those riding bicycles and motorcycles is disproportionately high. Traffic laws and speed limits are often ignored, turns across one or two lanes of traffic are common, turn signals are rarely used, passing on dangerous stretches of highway is common, and pedestrians are not given the right of way. Roads are often in poor condition, and large potholes with the potential to cause significant damage to vehicles are common. Pedestrians, cyclists, and farm animals may use the main roads. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are inadequate and few roads are lined. Shoulders are narrow or consist of drainage ditches. All of the above, in addition to poor visibility due to heavy fog or rain, makes driving at night especially treacherous. Landslides are common in the rainy season. All types of motor vehicles are appropriate for the main highways and principal roads in the major cities. However, some roads to beaches and other rural locations are not paved, and many destinations are accessible only with high clearance, rugged suspension four-wheel drive vehicles. Travelers are advised to call ahead to their hotels to ask about the current status of access roads.
Costa Rica has a 911 system for reporting emergencies. In the event of a traffic accident, vehicles must/must be left where they are. Both the Transito (Traffic Police) and the Insurance Investigator must make accident reports before the vehicles are moved.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Costa Rica’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.mopt.go.cr <http://www.mopt.go.cr/> and www.visitecostarica.com <http://www.visitecostarica.com/> .
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Costa Rica’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Land Ownership and Shoreline Property: U.S. citizens are urged to use caution when making real estate purchases, and consult reputable legal counsel and investigate thoroughly all aspects before entering into a contract. Coastal land within fifty meters of the high tide line is open to the public and therefore closed to development, and construction on the next one hundred fifty meters inland is possible only with the approval of the local municipality.
Squatters: Organized squatter groups have invaded properties in various parts of the country. These squatter groups, often supported by politically active persons and non-governmental organizations, take advantage of legal provisions that allow people without land to gain title to unused agricultural property. Local courts may show considerable sympathy for the squatters. Victims of squatters have reported threats, harassment, and violence.
Documentation Requirements: Visitors are required to carry appropriate documentation at all times. However, due to the high incidence of passport theft, tourists are permitted and encouraged to carry photocopies of the datapage and entry stamp from the passport, leaving the passport in a hotel safe or other secure place. However, as noted under CRIME, Costa Rican immigration authorities conduct routine checks for illegal immigrants, especially in bars located in downtown San Jose and in beach communities. An American citizen detained during one of these checks and carrying only the copy of the passport will be required to produce the original passport. Tourists should consider carrying their passports when traveling overnight or a considerable distance from their hotel. Tourists who carry passports are urged to place them securely in an inside pocket.
Exit Procedures for Costa Rican Citizens: Costa Rican children may only depart the country upon presentation of an exit permit issued by immigration authorities. This policy, designed to prevent international child abduction, applies to dual national U.S./Costa Rican citizens. Parents of minors who obtained Costa Rican citizenship through a parent or through birth in Costa Rica are advised to consult with appropriate Costa Rican authorities prior to travel to Costa Rica, especially if one (or both) parent(s) is not accompanying the child.
Disaster Preparedness: Costa Rica is located in an earthquake and volcanic zone. Serious flooding occurs annually on the Caribbean side near the port city of Limon, but flooding occurs in other parts of Costa Rica as well, depending on the time of year and rainfall. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Costa Rica’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Costa Rica are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Costa Rica are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site <https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/> so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Costa Rica. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Pavas, San Jose, and may be reached at (506) 2519-2000; the extension for the Consular Section is 2453. The Embassy is open Monday through Friday, and is closed on Costa Rican and U.S. holidays. Those seeking information are strongly encouraged to utilize the embassy web site http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/, and can email consularsanjose@state.gov with any questions/concerns. For emergencies arising outside normal business hours, U.S. citizens may call (506) 2220-3127 and ask for the duty officer.
This replaces the Country Specific Information for Costa Rica dated August 15, 2007, to update sections on Registration/Embassy Location and Special Circumstances.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Golf becoming key aspect of Costa Rican tourism
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — In Costa Rica, golf has quickly become a key source of foreign currency, employment and hotel occupancy, to the point that every year some 34,000 come here to play the sport.
Travelers’ interest in golfing in Costa Rica is helping generate some $87.6 million annually in food, lodging, recreation and purchase of sport implements, especially considering that a large majority of golfers are people with high purchasing power and take advantage of practicing this sport to do business with colleagues and new clients.
Joseph Kuo, corporate vice president of New York Life Insurance Company, is one of the many golfers who have fallen in love with Costa Rica as a destination for seeking leisure on the links.
“I have played in many sites around the world, but nothing compares to the experience I had in Costa Rica, with very attentive personnel, exquisite scenery and incomparable price,” Kuo said.
Golf’s potential and Costa Rica’s reputation as an exotic destination have contributed to the construction here, in recent years, of new golf courses designed by recognized international golf legends such as Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Mike Young.
And in the short term, the number of courses are about to increase, because at least six new courses are being planned.
The National Golf Association (Anagolf) has 12 affiliates, including Los Delfines, Valle Del Sol, Cariari Country Club, Conchal GC, Hacienda Pinilla, Los Sueños Marriott, Four Seasons, Monteran, Centro Campero Los Reyes, Costa Rica Country Club, Hotel Punta Islita and Papagayo Golf. Most of them are located in Guanacaste.
Nearby beach hotels in Guanacaste make the courses located in this province very attractive, as visitors can choose between playing golf at the hotel’s course or go to another nearby course. Additionally, the country has begun to position itself in the world as a golf destination, several international tournaments of importance have been organized here (one for charity purposes), and golf magazines and TV channels have broadcast tournaments taking place locally.
The number of top-notch courses, their design and the attention provided by their hosts have been key to attracting more and more golfers to Costa Rica, which is now competing in the region against traditional destinations such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — In Costa Rica, golf has quickly become a key source of foreign currency, employment and hotel occupancy, to the point that every year some 34,000 come here to play the sport.
Travelers’ interest in golfing in Costa Rica is helping generate some $87.6 million annually in food, lodging, recreation and purchase of sport implements, especially considering that a large majority of golfers are people with high purchasing power and take advantage of practicing this sport to do business with colleagues and new clients.
Joseph Kuo, corporate vice president of New York Life Insurance Company, is one of the many golfers who have fallen in love with Costa Rica as a destination for seeking leisure on the links.
“I have played in many sites around the world, but nothing compares to the experience I had in Costa Rica, with very attentive personnel, exquisite scenery and incomparable price,” Kuo said.
Golf’s potential and Costa Rica’s reputation as an exotic destination have contributed to the construction here, in recent years, of new golf courses designed by recognized international golf legends such as Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Mike Young.
And in the short term, the number of courses are about to increase, because at least six new courses are being planned.
The National Golf Association (Anagolf) has 12 affiliates, including Los Delfines, Valle Del Sol, Cariari Country Club, Conchal GC, Hacienda Pinilla, Los Sueños Marriott, Four Seasons, Monteran, Centro Campero Los Reyes, Costa Rica Country Club, Hotel Punta Islita and Papagayo Golf. Most of them are located in Guanacaste.
Nearby beach hotels in Guanacaste make the courses located in this province very attractive, as visitors can choose between playing golf at the hotel’s course or go to another nearby course. Additionally, the country has begun to position itself in the world as a golf destination, several international tournaments of importance have been organized here (one for charity purposes), and golf magazines and TV channels have broadcast tournaments taking place locally.
The number of top-notch courses, their design and the attention provided by their hosts have been key to attracting more and more golfers to Costa Rica, which is now competing in the region against traditional destinations such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Oceans had their weekend at Ocotal and Playas del Coco
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Oceans had a special day picked in their honor last June 8, but in Playas del Coco and Ocotal Beach it was celebrated starting on Saturday and throughout the weekend through cleanup campaigns and presentations about sharks.
The activities were in charge of the Proyecto de Luz organization, which was the sponsor. Also collaborating were companies such as Ocotal Beach Resort, Safari Diving, Restaurante Donde Claudio y Gloria, Rich Coast Diving, Arte y Movimiento. The Sea Turtle Restoration Program (PRETOMA). The Keto Foundation also supported these activities in honor of World Ocean Day, along with Florida Bebidas. On Saturday, PRETOMA put together a movie forum around the film Sharkwater, by Rob Stewart, which aims to debunk stereotypes about sharks.
In addition to the cleanup efforts that took place at Playa Ocotal on Saturday, on Sunday the community of Playas del Coco also did its best to improve conditions at the beach by collecting garbage. Many school kids from the area helped in the cleanup.
Following a hard day of work picking up trash, the children had the change to enjoy ocean art and sand sculptures, as well as helping painter Carlos Hiller paint a mural on the Reach Coast Diving building. Hiller and some 70 children painted a colorful reef on the building’s outside wall, as 2008 is International Coral Reef Year. The artist also painted a shark to create awareness among the children about the issue of shark finning that is threatening populations of this amazing sea creature.
Ocotal Beach Resort Dive Shop is also planning to send a boat with divers this week to clean waste disposed of by fishermen.
Additionally, the Proyecto de Luz Foundation took advantage of the celebration to set up a VIP tent where wine, cheese and music were offered to collect funds for its initiatives to benefit children in the communities it serves. Also part of the activity was an auction of several items donated by collaborators, including a painting by Hiller.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Oceans had a special day picked in their honor last June 8, but in Playas del Coco and Ocotal Beach it was celebrated starting on Saturday and throughout the weekend through cleanup campaigns and presentations about sharks.
The activities were in charge of the Proyecto de Luz organization, which was the sponsor. Also collaborating were companies such as Ocotal Beach Resort, Safari Diving, Restaurante Donde Claudio y Gloria, Rich Coast Diving, Arte y Movimiento. The Sea Turtle Restoration Program (PRETOMA). The Keto Foundation also supported these activities in honor of World Ocean Day, along with Florida Bebidas. On Saturday, PRETOMA put together a movie forum around the film Sharkwater, by Rob Stewart, which aims to debunk stereotypes about sharks.
In addition to the cleanup efforts that took place at Playa Ocotal on Saturday, on Sunday the community of Playas del Coco also did its best to improve conditions at the beach by collecting garbage. Many school kids from the area helped in the cleanup.
Following a hard day of work picking up trash, the children had the change to enjoy ocean art and sand sculptures, as well as helping painter Carlos Hiller paint a mural on the Reach Coast Diving building. Hiller and some 70 children painted a colorful reef on the building’s outside wall, as 2008 is International Coral Reef Year. The artist also painted a shark to create awareness among the children about the issue of shark finning that is threatening populations of this amazing sea creature.
Ocotal Beach Resort Dive Shop is also planning to send a boat with divers this week to clean waste disposed of by fishermen.
Additionally, the Proyecto de Luz Foundation took advantage of the celebration to set up a VIP tent where wine, cheese and music were offered to collect funds for its initiatives to benefit children in the communities it serves. Also part of the activity was an auction of several items donated by collaborators, including a painting by Hiller.
Costa Rica commits to planting 7 million trees
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Beginning last May 22, and for the second year in a row, Costa Rica kicked off the national campaign “A Que Sembras un Arbol” (Bet You Will Plant a Tree) — part of the Let’s Plant for the Planet initiative of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Following the success of last year’s planting campaign — 5.9 million trees were planted then — this year’s effort seeks to promote reforestation and agroforestry ecosystems with the ultimate goal of curtailing climate change, preserve the country’s biodiversity, recuperate lost forest coverage, and improve the competitiveness of different sectors of the population to lead to better living conditions.
At the program’s kick-off ceremony, which was held at the Methodist School in Sabanilla de Montes de Oca, east of San Jose, organizers announced that this year’s goal is planting 7 million trees.
Environment Minister Roberto Dobles spoke about the importance of teamwork and collaboration between different institutions, as well as the need to get children and adolescents involved in playing a more active role in Costa Rica’s future.
That’s why the 2008 reforestation campaign includes a novel component: the student competition “Bet You Will Plant a Tree,” promoted by the Ministry of Education (MEP) with support from the teacher co-op COOPEANDE. As part of the contest, schools are encouraged to organize reforestation and education campaigns at their schools and communities. The best proposals will be awarded with the necessary funds to carry them out.
The overall tree-planting program is being organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE) through an inter-institutional commission, which involves public and private entities that implement as part of their work forest-related activities, environmental protection initiatives and water and energy management.
Members of the commission include MINAE, the National Forestry Office (ONF, program coordinator), the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC), the Central Volcanic Cordillera Development Foundation (FUNDECOR), the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), MEP, the Costa Rican Chamber of Forestry (CCF), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the National Power and Light Company (CNFL), and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA).
Two-thousand and seven was a year of environmental urgency, when most of the world admitted global warming is a decisive issue in our time. The Let’s Plant for the Planet campaign symbolized the commitment of thousands of people around the world to preserve adequate climatic conditions and protect natural ecosystems.
Inspired by Prof. Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2004, the launching of Bet You Will Plant a Tree was well received here last year, with thousands of people propagating the initiative. And thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the forest products industry, government institutions, community organizations, businesses and many volunteers, 2007’s goal of planting 5 million trees was more than accomplished.
This year’s campaign to plant and take care of 7 million trees, again, will involve central and local governments, public institutions, the privates sector, NGOs and citizens.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Beginning last May 22, and for the second year in a row, Costa Rica kicked off the national campaign “A Que Sembras un Arbol” (Bet You Will Plant a Tree) — part of the Let’s Plant for the Planet initiative of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Following the success of last year’s planting campaign — 5.9 million trees were planted then — this year’s effort seeks to promote reforestation and agroforestry ecosystems with the ultimate goal of curtailing climate change, preserve the country’s biodiversity, recuperate lost forest coverage, and improve the competitiveness of different sectors of the population to lead to better living conditions.
At the program’s kick-off ceremony, which was held at the Methodist School in Sabanilla de Montes de Oca, east of San Jose, organizers announced that this year’s goal is planting 7 million trees.
Environment Minister Roberto Dobles spoke about the importance of teamwork and collaboration between different institutions, as well as the need to get children and adolescents involved in playing a more active role in Costa Rica’s future.
That’s why the 2008 reforestation campaign includes a novel component: the student competition “Bet You Will Plant a Tree,” promoted by the Ministry of Education (MEP) with support from the teacher co-op COOPEANDE. As part of the contest, schools are encouraged to organize reforestation and education campaigns at their schools and communities. The best proposals will be awarded with the necessary funds to carry them out.
The overall tree-planting program is being organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE) through an inter-institutional commission, which involves public and private entities that implement as part of their work forest-related activities, environmental protection initiatives and water and energy management.
Members of the commission include MINAE, the National Forestry Office (ONF, program coordinator), the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC), the Central Volcanic Cordillera Development Foundation (FUNDECOR), the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), MEP, the Costa Rican Chamber of Forestry (CCF), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the National Power and Light Company (CNFL), and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA).
Two-thousand and seven was a year of environmental urgency, when most of the world admitted global warming is a decisive issue in our time. The Let’s Plant for the Planet campaign symbolized the commitment of thousands of people around the world to preserve adequate climatic conditions and protect natural ecosystems.
Inspired by Prof. Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2004, the launching of Bet You Will Plant a Tree was well received here last year, with thousands of people propagating the initiative. And thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the forest products industry, government institutions, community organizations, businesses and many volunteers, 2007’s goal of planting 5 million trees was more than accomplished.
This year’s campaign to plant and take care of 7 million trees, again, will involve central and local governments, public institutions, the privates sector, NGOs and citizens.
Record birthrate of leatherback turtles in Costa Rica
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom and AFP) — During the leatherback turtle nesting season that began last October, almost 900 of the endangered ocean reptiles have hatched at Junquillal Beach in Santa Cruz de Guanacaste.
Even though one of the 25 nests that have been protected since the beginning of the season is yet to hatch, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) officials indicated 886 baby turtles have been born, most of them in a nursery that this environmental organization set up in this Costa Rican North Pacific beach, which in the past few years has become one of the main spots worldwide where the largest of the sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
Community support to protect the nests and keep them from being vandalized has been vital to this year’s record-high hatching rate of 62 percent.
The leatherbacks are giant migratory turtles that swim great distances to nesting spots in the tropics. Their main nesting area in Central America is Playa Grande, which like Junquillal also belongs to the canton of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.
Junquillal, which only recently was found to be an important nesting site for leatherbacks, is not officially part of Costa Rica’s Conservation Areas System, making it difficult to conduct preservation campaigns from a legal standpoint.
According to the WWF website, the absence of patrolling efforts by authorities in the area leads to up to 75 percent of the eggs being stolen.
But this year’s community support and hatching success in Junquillal has led to optimism tha the turtles will increase their dwindling population.
“Junquillal has probably become the second most important beach for leatherback turtles to nest in Central America, due to not only the number of nests but also the success in the number of birth of young turtles,” said Gabriel Francia, who coordinates the WWF’s Pacific leatherback turtle conservation project.
Taking much of the credit are six young area residents who patrol the nearly six-kilometer (four mile) long stretch of beach each night looking for leatherbacks that have come ashore to lay eggs.
Team members will take note of the time the turtles crawl out of the ocean as well as the weather conditions and the tide. The team members then take the eggs from the beach nest after the mother turtle has returned to the ocean and move them to a secured hatchery.
The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) measures nearly two meters (6.5 feet) long and can weigh up to 650 kilos (1,430 pounds), making it the largest turtle species in the world. The number of leatherbacks worldwide has declined by nearly 90 percent in the past three decades.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom and AFP) — During the leatherback turtle nesting season that began last October, almost 900 of the endangered ocean reptiles have hatched at Junquillal Beach in Santa Cruz de Guanacaste.
Even though one of the 25 nests that have been protected since the beginning of the season is yet to hatch, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) officials indicated 886 baby turtles have been born, most of them in a nursery that this environmental organization set up in this Costa Rican North Pacific beach, which in the past few years has become one of the main spots worldwide where the largest of the sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
Community support to protect the nests and keep them from being vandalized has been vital to this year’s record-high hatching rate of 62 percent.
The leatherbacks are giant migratory turtles that swim great distances to nesting spots in the tropics. Their main nesting area in Central America is Playa Grande, which like Junquillal also belongs to the canton of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.
Junquillal, which only recently was found to be an important nesting site for leatherbacks, is not officially part of Costa Rica’s Conservation Areas System, making it difficult to conduct preservation campaigns from a legal standpoint.
According to the WWF website, the absence of patrolling efforts by authorities in the area leads to up to 75 percent of the eggs being stolen.
But this year’s community support and hatching success in Junquillal has led to optimism tha the turtles will increase their dwindling population.
“Junquillal has probably become the second most important beach for leatherback turtles to nest in Central America, due to not only the number of nests but also the success in the number of birth of young turtles,” said Gabriel Francia, who coordinates the WWF’s Pacific leatherback turtle conservation project.
Taking much of the credit are six young area residents who patrol the nearly six-kilometer (four mile) long stretch of beach each night looking for leatherbacks that have come ashore to lay eggs.
Team members will take note of the time the turtles crawl out of the ocean as well as the weather conditions and the tide. The team members then take the eggs from the beach nest after the mother turtle has returned to the ocean and move them to a secured hatchery.
The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) measures nearly two meters (6.5 feet) long and can weigh up to 650 kilos (1,430 pounds), making it the largest turtle species in the world. The number of leatherbacks worldwide has declined by nearly 90 percent in the past three decades.
Playas del Coco marina project okayed by ICT
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The marina project planned for Playas del Coco in Guanacaste has received the go-ahead by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) Inter-institutional Commission on Tourist Docks and Marinas.
The project, on the drawing board since 200, seeks to become a magnet for tourists in the area, thus injecting dynamism to the economy in this popular Pacific coast beach by generating direct and indirect employment.
The marina would be constructed at Punta Centinela and would have capacity for 300 boats.
Now that the project has been okayed by the government commission, the Municipality of Carrillo will study it the proposal to initiate a concession process.
The El Coco Marina Development Association (Asodemac) is the entity in charge of the project. Representatives said the plan is moving at a good pace and the recent approval is testimony that the marina will be built according to environmental policy as regulated by the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The marina project planned for Playas del Coco in Guanacaste has received the go-ahead by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) Inter-institutional Commission on Tourist Docks and Marinas.
The project, on the drawing board since 200, seeks to become a magnet for tourists in the area, thus injecting dynamism to the economy in this popular Pacific coast beach by generating direct and indirect employment.
The marina would be constructed at Punta Centinela and would have capacity for 300 boats.
Now that the project has been okayed by the government commission, the Municipality of Carrillo will study it the proposal to initiate a concession process.
The El Coco Marina Development Association (Asodemac) is the entity in charge of the project. Representatives said the plan is moving at a good pace and the recent approval is testimony that the marina will be built according to environmental policy as regulated by the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA).
Tourists notice investment in Guanacaste roads
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
Touris(Infocom) — The investment made by the Ministry of Transportation and Public Infrastructure (MOPT) in the past two years on Guanacaste roadways has not gone unnoticed by tourists.
A survey conducted between January and March by the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA) at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport found that the level of satisfaction with the province’s national routes went from 1.75 (bad) in 2006 to 2.97 (good) this year.
MOPT data indicates that between 2006 and 2008, the government has invested 13.8 billion colones (almost $28 million) on national highways that run through Guanacaste, including works such as curb and bridge maintenance, concrete slab repair, pothole filling and paving, among others.
Additionally, MOPT spent 1.2 billion ($2.4 million) colones paving the Belen-Huacas-Matapalo route in the cantons of Carrillo and Santa Cruz, for a total of 36.4 kilometers.
Progress is also being made on the 13.2-kilometer highway that connects the communities of 27 de Abril, Rio Seco, Paraiso and Villa Real. This project has an estimated cost of 3.9 billion colones (almost $8 million). Other works include the highway that connects Hojancha to Puerto Carrillo, which is 90 percent paved now and represented an investment of 4.2 billion colones.
CATURGUA Executive Director Mauricio Cespedes said that in addition to offering national and international visitors roads in better shape, a plan has been developed to increase the number of road signs through an agreement betweee MOPT and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
“We have seen that in the past two years, many national routes have been improved in Guanacase, which clearly reflects in the increase of favorable opinions among those who visit our province. We must highlight the intense work put forth by MOPT in this area,” Cespedes said.
Currently, another project is being developed to improve rural roads in Guanacaste through an investment of 4.6 billion colones (over $9 million). This project involves MOPT, communities that stand to benefit from the works, consulting from the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), and financing from the German Bank for Reconstruction and Promotion (KFW).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
Touris(Infocom) — The investment made by the Ministry of Transportation and Public Infrastructure (MOPT) in the past two years on Guanacaste roadways has not gone unnoticed by tourists.
A survey conducted between January and March by the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA) at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport found that the level of satisfaction with the province’s national routes went from 1.75 (bad) in 2006 to 2.97 (good) this year.
MOPT data indicates that between 2006 and 2008, the government has invested 13.8 billion colones (almost $28 million) on national highways that run through Guanacaste, including works such as curb and bridge maintenance, concrete slab repair, pothole filling and paving, among others.
Additionally, MOPT spent 1.2 billion ($2.4 million) colones paving the Belen-Huacas-Matapalo route in the cantons of Carrillo and Santa Cruz, for a total of 36.4 kilometers.
Progress is also being made on the 13.2-kilometer highway that connects the communities of 27 de Abril, Rio Seco, Paraiso and Villa Real. This project has an estimated cost of 3.9 billion colones (almost $8 million). Other works include the highway that connects Hojancha to Puerto Carrillo, which is 90 percent paved now and represented an investment of 4.2 billion colones.
CATURGUA Executive Director Mauricio Cespedes said that in addition to offering national and international visitors roads in better shape, a plan has been developed to increase the number of road signs through an agreement betweee MOPT and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
“We have seen that in the past two years, many national routes have been improved in Guanacase, which clearly reflects in the increase of favorable opinions among those who visit our province. We must highlight the intense work put forth by MOPT in this area,” Cespedes said.
Currently, another project is being developed to improve rural roads in Guanacaste through an investment of 4.6 billion colones (over $9 million). This project involves MOPT, communities that stand to benefit from the works, consulting from the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), and financing from the German Bank for Reconstruction and Promotion (KFW).
Forbes Magazine names Tamarindo ‘Costa Rica’s most popular beach’
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — An article appearing in the prestigious Forbes Magazine has designated Tamarindo “Costa Rica’s most popular beach,” according to an article written by travel chronicler Pierre Lehu.
The story, published last Feb. 22, lists several Costa Rican attractions for mountain and beach tourism, particularly in the Guanacaste region.
Lehu wrote that Guanacaste’s beach stand out, among other reasons, because they offer great conditions for practicing sports such as surfing and have better facilities, including transportation.
Among Costa Rica’s advantages, the Forbes article highlights its high degree of literacy, the diversity of places to visit and the warmth of the local population. In general, the story raves about the beauty of Guanacaste’s beaches and the friendliness of the residents.
Forbes Magazine is one of the most prestigious publications in the international financial world, with 900,000 copies in print every two weeks. It was founded in 1917 under the direction of editor-in-chief B. C. Forbes.
Lehu, the writer of “Off to Costa Rica,” constantly travels around the world to bring readers information about various destinations. He, the magazine says, is the author of more than a dozen books, including Sake: Water from Heaven.
In the past few months, several projects and infrastructure improvements have provided Tamarindo with more facilities, including the reestablishment of the beach’s lifeguard program and the paving of the town’s main access road — a project that is currently in its final phase.
Tamarindo has attracted a large number of investors and businesses in the past few years. The availability of goods and services has increased dramatically, including banks, restaurants, new hotels, law offices and many other businesses that have transformed this coastal town in an attractive destination for visitors, having there many amenities in a rural area with great scenic attributes.
Just as the The Guanacaste Journal has been reporting, in Tamarindo there have also been recent efforts to fight dengue fever, beach clean-ups and recycling projects, all part of public and private initiatives to offer and cleaner and safer place to visitors.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — An article appearing in the prestigious Forbes Magazine has designated Tamarindo “Costa Rica’s most popular beach,” according to an article written by travel chronicler Pierre Lehu.
The story, published last Feb. 22, lists several Costa Rican attractions for mountain and beach tourism, particularly in the Guanacaste region.
Lehu wrote that Guanacaste’s beach stand out, among other reasons, because they offer great conditions for practicing sports such as surfing and have better facilities, including transportation.
Among Costa Rica’s advantages, the Forbes article highlights its high degree of literacy, the diversity of places to visit and the warmth of the local population. In general, the story raves about the beauty of Guanacaste’s beaches and the friendliness of the residents.
Forbes Magazine is one of the most prestigious publications in the international financial world, with 900,000 copies in print every two weeks. It was founded in 1917 under the direction of editor-in-chief B. C. Forbes.
Lehu, the writer of “Off to Costa Rica,” constantly travels around the world to bring readers information about various destinations. He, the magazine says, is the author of more than a dozen books, including Sake: Water from Heaven.
In the past few months, several projects and infrastructure improvements have provided Tamarindo with more facilities, including the reestablishment of the beach’s lifeguard program and the paving of the town’s main access road — a project that is currently in its final phase.
Tamarindo has attracted a large number of investors and businesses in the past few years. The availability of goods and services has increased dramatically, including banks, restaurants, new hotels, law offices and many other businesses that have transformed this coastal town in an attractive destination for visitors, having there many amenities in a rural area with great scenic attributes.
Just as the The Guanacaste Journal has been reporting, in Tamarindo there have also been recent efforts to fight dengue fever, beach clean-ups and recycling projects, all part of public and private initiatives to offer and cleaner and safer place to visitors.
Guanacaste is 4th in construction in first quarter
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — According to the professional responsibility construction registry of the Federated Engineers and Architects Association (CFIA), last March was the month was the largest request for construction permits measured in square meters of the past five years, with 758,509 m2. In fact, the first quarter of 2008 was the most active CFIA has seen in the past five years, with the professional organization okaying over 2.3 million m2 of construction throughout the country.
During the first three months of the year, San Jose province stayed in first place in construction area reported to CFIA, with a total of 686,313 m2, or 30 percent of the country’s total. That represented a 61 percent increase for Costa Rica’s most populous province compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Guanacaste was fourth out of the country’s seven provinces, with reports of 347,590 square meters, or 15 percent of the total. After San Jose, Puntarenas, Heredia, Guanacaste and Alajuela all had very similar shares of the total pie, with around 15 percent. But Alajuela, which came of fifth, had the biggest decrease (25 percent) in construction area compared to the same period last year.
No. 2 Puntarenas had 376,081 m2 of new construction registered last quarter, for 16 percent of the total. Posting a big gain was Heredia, which for the first time climbed to third place, boosting construction area by 80 percent in comparison with the first quarter of last year with a total of 361,495 m2. This was the largest positive variation of all provinces, with Heredia (the smallest province) becoming one of the main drivers of growth in the construction industry this year.
At the bottom of the list were Cartago (142,371 m2, or 6 percent) and Limon (69,861 m2, barely 3 percent of the country’s total).
When breaking down the country by cantons, it’s possible to see that some of them had more construction are registered than even Cartago and Limon provinces. For example, the upscale canton of Escazu, west of San Jose, concentrated 10 percent of registered construction area in the country (231,792 m2), while the central canton of Heredia scored 9.4 percent of the national total (217,793 m2). In the case of Guanacaste, the cantons with the most construction activity were Santa Cruz, Liberia, Carrillo and Nicoya, all along the Pacific coast (see graphic).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — According to the professional responsibility construction registry of the Federated Engineers and Architects Association (CFIA), last March was the month was the largest request for construction permits measured in square meters of the past five years, with 758,509 m2. In fact, the first quarter of 2008 was the most active CFIA has seen in the past five years, with the professional organization okaying over 2.3 million m2 of construction throughout the country.
During the first three months of the year, San Jose province stayed in first place in construction area reported to CFIA, with a total of 686,313 m2, or 30 percent of the country’s total. That represented a 61 percent increase for Costa Rica’s most populous province compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Guanacaste was fourth out of the country’s seven provinces, with reports of 347,590 square meters, or 15 percent of the total. After San Jose, Puntarenas, Heredia, Guanacaste and Alajuela all had very similar shares of the total pie, with around 15 percent. But Alajuela, which came of fifth, had the biggest decrease (25 percent) in construction area compared to the same period last year.
No. 2 Puntarenas had 376,081 m2 of new construction registered last quarter, for 16 percent of the total. Posting a big gain was Heredia, which for the first time climbed to third place, boosting construction area by 80 percent in comparison with the first quarter of last year with a total of 361,495 m2. This was the largest positive variation of all provinces, with Heredia (the smallest province) becoming one of the main drivers of growth in the construction industry this year.
At the bottom of the list were Cartago (142,371 m2, or 6 percent) and Limon (69,861 m2, barely 3 percent of the country’s total).
When breaking down the country by cantons, it’s possible to see that some of them had more construction are registered than even Cartago and Limon provinces. For example, the upscale canton of Escazu, west of San Jose, concentrated 10 percent of registered construction area in the country (231,792 m2), while the central canton of Heredia scored 9.4 percent of the national total (217,793 m2). In the case of Guanacaste, the cantons with the most construction activity were Santa Cruz, Liberia, Carrillo and Nicoya, all along the Pacific coast (see graphic).
Study on Guanacaste hotel development unveiled
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) recently unveiled the study “Impact of Hotel and Real Estate Growth on Some Coastal Areas of Guanacaste,” which outlines a series of recommendations for regulating the hotel industry in the region. The study was conducted by architect Alberto Salas Roiz, a tourism consultant.
Guanacaste was chosen for the study for being the province with the biggest tourism potential, in addition to the fact that Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport is experience explosive tourist demand and Guanacaste is today the province with the largest number of high-standard hotel rooms. Other factors include the challenges the province’s development may cause in the future in relation with natural resources and the availability of drinking water, a major concern here. Moreover, Guanacaste is where the tourism business sector has the most activity among all provinces, has the most tourism mega-projects, and previous tourism-related studies have been conducted here by entities such as the INCAE Business School (Guanacaste Cluster), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Among other goals, the study seeks to learn how hotel and real estate growth is taking place in some coastal areas characterized by constant change; determine the impact of the competition between the hotel and real estate sectors; and analyze the consequences of mixed tourism-residential projects and the proliferation of second homes in tourist destinations. Additionally, the study attempts to diagnose the province’s overall growth and assess its environmental, social and economic impact, placing emphasis on the interaction between these variables; outline actions to be taken and offer recommendations that would help with coastal planning in Costa Rica; and propose actions that could be implemented to minimize negative impacts on the tourism and hotel industries, making a mark on the government entities charged with drafting tourism-related policies.
The study found that there has been a sharp increase in the permits issued in the past year and a half, compared to the 2002-06 period, when the first study in the region was conducted. The increases were 171 percent in homes; 10.5 percent to 38 percent a year for condominium complexes; 10.7 percent to 60 percent for apartments; and 6.6 percent to 27.3 percent a year for hotels. The districts with the highest growth are Liberia and Nacascolo (Liberia); Sardinal (Carrillo); and Tempate, Cabo Velas and Tamarindo (Santa Cruz). There’s important activity in other districts such as Nosara and Samara (Nicoya); Bagaces and Fortuna (Bagaces); Tronadora, Tierras Morenas and Arenal (Tilaran).
“The strongest cantons are Liberia, Carrillo and Santa Cruz, as the three of them encompass 90 percent of the total rooms to be built. However, other cantons such as Hojancha, Bagaces and Tilaran are showing important activity, and others waiting to wake up are La Cruz, Abangares and Nandayure, depending on whether certain future projects materialize,” Salas pointed out.
According to the CCH study, an adequate follow-up on the ground is not given to hotel activity due to the province’s deficient municipal operation, as neither municipalities nor government institutions represented in the region provide enough resources to technical teams. Other limitations found by the study include lack of information by local governments and state entities; strong lack of statistics in research topics and detailed information about the real estate industry.
GROWTH FORECAST
Regarding the prospect for hotel and real estate growth in Guanacaste, the study indicates that there are still many holes in available information that would boost forecasts. Likewise, the report points out that in the big projects being built or proposed, both hotels and residences will complement each other — such as in the case of Peninsula Papagayo and Reserva Conchal, just to cite two well-planned developments.
“Most of the rooms will have good tourist quality, regardless of whether or not they have an ICT tourism certification, which is key to turning Guanacaste into a luxury destination at the international level,” the report stated. “Upcoming construction projects go from the short and medium terms (the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction estimates that this boom will cover the next two years, despite the real estate crisis in the United States) to the long term in the case of the large tourism projects, which will be developed gradually.”
Added Salas: “It has been observed, and this trend continues, that small and mid-sized developers don’t appear to be very interested in the hotel business, but in real estate, because it produces profit in the short term. This is illustrated by comparing the previous study (which encompassed six Guanacaste districts, all of them in Carrillo and Santa Cruz), which registered 36,665 rooms, while in the past year a half there have been 77,726 rooms reported. This is an increase of 211 percent in projected rooms.”
The study concludes that the various sets of data available regarding the hotel and real estate industries point to the fact that there are no adequate inter-institutional mechanisms to measure this sector of the economy, and that projects in rural subdivisions tend to evade infrastructure-related requirements and responsibilities of a formal residential development.
Regarding the fiscal arena, the report indicates that collection of construction taxes are affected by under-reporting, whether in the number of square meters of projects or the total costs that are disclosed, as many projects are conducted without official permits or are built and then pay fines. “In the municipal records you find construction permits that were given for social-interest (low income) housing when the houses are really for tourist lodging,” Salas said.
Additionally, the report came to the conclusion that ICT still hasn’t taken strong actions to lower negative impacts on the hotel sector. The tourism board needs to revise both the concept and the scenario for growth outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan (PNDT), and the report add that its strategy for creating so-called Sustainable Development Centers appears to be in contradiction with the accelerated growth of real estate currently taking place.
The study also offers a forecast of what the region might look like in the future. It predicts that in the coastal area between Cabuyal, north of Papagayo, and Junquillal, a dense tourism corridor will consolidate that will compete with other international destinations such as Cancun-Mayan Riviera in Mexico and the Florida coast between Ft. Lauderdale and the Keys. As this occurs, the predominance of natural tourism will give way slowly to a more “artificial” tourism, and the acceleration of urbanization will be inevitable. This, in turn, will gradually result in the loss of tourism market, although the interest of people to come and live in the country will increase.
“In other coastal areas, for example from Soley to Playa Rajada in the canton of La Cruz, from Junquillal to Bejuco in Nandayure, and in the periphery of Lake Arenal there will be other less dense corridors, where the presence of nature and natural landscapes will be more significant. There will also be a consolidation of a tourist corridor along the highways between Liberia and the intersection to El Coco and, with less density, between Liberia and Bagaces,” Salas said.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The consultant recommended to carry out a larger analysis of the complex topic of hotel and real estate development in Guanacaste, with the consensual participation of various sectors (private, public and social). He also recommended asking ICT to revise and update official development plans that take into consideration the growth of both hotel and non-hotel projects.
“(It’s important) to ask INVU (the National Housing and Urban Development Institute) to move from a merely urban concept in its regulatory plans to one that considers an integral organization of municipal territories, the tourism space considered among them,” the report indicates. “All of this needs to be done through the above-mentioned multi-sector participation, which implies a paradigm shift involving an emphasis on land-use sustainability.”
Another recommendation is to request INVU, ICT and the Municipal Promotion and Consultation Institute (IFAM) to conduct a study of how projects proposed and approved by local governments and state institutions as part of coastal regulatory plans will impact the country’s coasts. It’s important, the report adds, that all players involved coordinate planning actions in consultation with the Land Registry Regularization Program, as well as with other government entities, including the ministries of transportation, environment and planning.
The study also suggests supporting the companies involved in the Land Registry Regularization Program and asking them to take in consideration these recommendations when drafting regulatory plans for Guanacaste; and supporting approval of the Water Resources Law in Congress and a possible moratorium in future land-use permits in the most affected areas, at least while the regulatory plans previously mentioned are complete; and supporting the recently passed executive decree that establishes regulations for constructions in coastal regions beyond what’s stipulated by the Land-Maritime Zone laws.
The study also calls on a variety of public and private entities to promote participatory planning. These entities include ICT, INVU, IFAM, the ministries of transportation and the environment, and municipalities; the National Chamber of Tourism, the Federation of Regional Chambers of Tourism, the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction, and the Costa Rican Development and Investment Board (CINDE); plus universities, NGOs, and community development associations.
Other recommendations deal with supporting the reorganization of efforts to attract investment for the hotel and real estate sectors within a framework of sustainability that would help keep Costa Rica competitive as a privileged tourism destination worldwide; and supporting improvements in the existing mechanisms for monitoring sustainability, whether by the state or by the Administrative Environmental Court, the Environmental Technical Secretariat, ICT, the private sector, and other sectors such as universities and civil society organizations.
Finally, the study proposes reviewing current legislation in the leasing of real estate properties in order to incorporate variables of rentals to foreign visitors, this with the goal of achieving more tax fairness; seeking to create a broader alliance between organizations representing the hotel and real estate sectors to seek integral solutions to issues affecting both of them, with a focus on sustainability.
According to Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides, “it’s very important that these recommendations are presented early. I continue to believe that Costa Rica must bet on sustainability in its development, and I’m not only referring to tourism development. For that, we need clear rules.”
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) recently unveiled the study “Impact of Hotel and Real Estate Growth on Some Coastal Areas of Guanacaste,” which outlines a series of recommendations for regulating the hotel industry in the region. The study was conducted by architect Alberto Salas Roiz, a tourism consultant.
Guanacaste was chosen for the study for being the province with the biggest tourism potential, in addition to the fact that Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport is experience explosive tourist demand and Guanacaste is today the province with the largest number of high-standard hotel rooms. Other factors include the challenges the province’s development may cause in the future in relation with natural resources and the availability of drinking water, a major concern here. Moreover, Guanacaste is where the tourism business sector has the most activity among all provinces, has the most tourism mega-projects, and previous tourism-related studies have been conducted here by entities such as the INCAE Business School (Guanacaste Cluster), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the National University (UNA), and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Among other goals, the study seeks to learn how hotel and real estate growth is taking place in some coastal areas characterized by constant change; determine the impact of the competition between the hotel and real estate sectors; and analyze the consequences of mixed tourism-residential projects and the proliferation of second homes in tourist destinations. Additionally, the study attempts to diagnose the province’s overall growth and assess its environmental, social and economic impact, placing emphasis on the interaction between these variables; outline actions to be taken and offer recommendations that would help with coastal planning in Costa Rica; and propose actions that could be implemented to minimize negative impacts on the tourism and hotel industries, making a mark on the government entities charged with drafting tourism-related policies.
The study found that there has been a sharp increase in the permits issued in the past year and a half, compared to the 2002-06 period, when the first study in the region was conducted. The increases were 171 percent in homes; 10.5 percent to 38 percent a year for condominium complexes; 10.7 percent to 60 percent for apartments; and 6.6 percent to 27.3 percent a year for hotels. The districts with the highest growth are Liberia and Nacascolo (Liberia); Sardinal (Carrillo); and Tempate, Cabo Velas and Tamarindo (Santa Cruz). There’s important activity in other districts such as Nosara and Samara (Nicoya); Bagaces and Fortuna (Bagaces); Tronadora, Tierras Morenas and Arenal (Tilaran).
“The strongest cantons are Liberia, Carrillo and Santa Cruz, as the three of them encompass 90 percent of the total rooms to be built. However, other cantons such as Hojancha, Bagaces and Tilaran are showing important activity, and others waiting to wake up are La Cruz, Abangares and Nandayure, depending on whether certain future projects materialize,” Salas pointed out.
According to the CCH study, an adequate follow-up on the ground is not given to hotel activity due to the province’s deficient municipal operation, as neither municipalities nor government institutions represented in the region provide enough resources to technical teams. Other limitations found by the study include lack of information by local governments and state entities; strong lack of statistics in research topics and detailed information about the real estate industry.
GROWTH FORECAST
Regarding the prospect for hotel and real estate growth in Guanacaste, the study indicates that there are still many holes in available information that would boost forecasts. Likewise, the report points out that in the big projects being built or proposed, both hotels and residences will complement each other — such as in the case of Peninsula Papagayo and Reserva Conchal, just to cite two well-planned developments.
“Most of the rooms will have good tourist quality, regardless of whether or not they have an ICT tourism certification, which is key to turning Guanacaste into a luxury destination at the international level,” the report stated. “Upcoming construction projects go from the short and medium terms (the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction estimates that this boom will cover the next two years, despite the real estate crisis in the United States) to the long term in the case of the large tourism projects, which will be developed gradually.”
Added Salas: “It has been observed, and this trend continues, that small and mid-sized developers don’t appear to be very interested in the hotel business, but in real estate, because it produces profit in the short term. This is illustrated by comparing the previous study (which encompassed six Guanacaste districts, all of them in Carrillo and Santa Cruz), which registered 36,665 rooms, while in the past year a half there have been 77,726 rooms reported. This is an increase of 211 percent in projected rooms.”
The study concludes that the various sets of data available regarding the hotel and real estate industries point to the fact that there are no adequate inter-institutional mechanisms to measure this sector of the economy, and that projects in rural subdivisions tend to evade infrastructure-related requirements and responsibilities of a formal residential development.
Regarding the fiscal arena, the report indicates that collection of construction taxes are affected by under-reporting, whether in the number of square meters of projects or the total costs that are disclosed, as many projects are conducted without official permits or are built and then pay fines. “In the municipal records you find construction permits that were given for social-interest (low income) housing when the houses are really for tourist lodging,” Salas said.
Additionally, the report came to the conclusion that ICT still hasn’t taken strong actions to lower negative impacts on the hotel sector. The tourism board needs to revise both the concept and the scenario for growth outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan (PNDT), and the report add that its strategy for creating so-called Sustainable Development Centers appears to be in contradiction with the accelerated growth of real estate currently taking place.
The study also offers a forecast of what the region might look like in the future. It predicts that in the coastal area between Cabuyal, north of Papagayo, and Junquillal, a dense tourism corridor will consolidate that will compete with other international destinations such as Cancun-Mayan Riviera in Mexico and the Florida coast between Ft. Lauderdale and the Keys. As this occurs, the predominance of natural tourism will give way slowly to a more “artificial” tourism, and the acceleration of urbanization will be inevitable. This, in turn, will gradually result in the loss of tourism market, although the interest of people to come and live in the country will increase.
“In other coastal areas, for example from Soley to Playa Rajada in the canton of La Cruz, from Junquillal to Bejuco in Nandayure, and in the periphery of Lake Arenal there will be other less dense corridors, where the presence of nature and natural landscapes will be more significant. There will also be a consolidation of a tourist corridor along the highways between Liberia and the intersection to El Coco and, with less density, between Liberia and Bagaces,” Salas said.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The consultant recommended to carry out a larger analysis of the complex topic of hotel and real estate development in Guanacaste, with the consensual participation of various sectors (private, public and social). He also recommended asking ICT to revise and update official development plans that take into consideration the growth of both hotel and non-hotel projects.
“(It’s important) to ask INVU (the National Housing and Urban Development Institute) to move from a merely urban concept in its regulatory plans to one that considers an integral organization of municipal territories, the tourism space considered among them,” the report indicates. “All of this needs to be done through the above-mentioned multi-sector participation, which implies a paradigm shift involving an emphasis on land-use sustainability.”
Another recommendation is to request INVU, ICT and the Municipal Promotion and Consultation Institute (IFAM) to conduct a study of how projects proposed and approved by local governments and state institutions as part of coastal regulatory plans will impact the country’s coasts. It’s important, the report adds, that all players involved coordinate planning actions in consultation with the Land Registry Regularization Program, as well as with other government entities, including the ministries of transportation, environment and planning.
The study also suggests supporting the companies involved in the Land Registry Regularization Program and asking them to take in consideration these recommendations when drafting regulatory plans for Guanacaste; and supporting approval of the Water Resources Law in Congress and a possible moratorium in future land-use permits in the most affected areas, at least while the regulatory plans previously mentioned are complete; and supporting the recently passed executive decree that establishes regulations for constructions in coastal regions beyond what’s stipulated by the Land-Maritime Zone laws.
The study also calls on a variety of public and private entities to promote participatory planning. These entities include ICT, INVU, IFAM, the ministries of transportation and the environment, and municipalities; the National Chamber of Tourism, the Federation of Regional Chambers of Tourism, the Costa Rican Chamber of Construction, and the Costa Rican Development and Investment Board (CINDE); plus universities, NGOs, and community development associations.
Other recommendations deal with supporting the reorganization of efforts to attract investment for the hotel and real estate sectors within a framework of sustainability that would help keep Costa Rica competitive as a privileged tourism destination worldwide; and supporting improvements in the existing mechanisms for monitoring sustainability, whether by the state or by the Administrative Environmental Court, the Environmental Technical Secretariat, ICT, the private sector, and other sectors such as universities and civil society organizations.
Finally, the study proposes reviewing current legislation in the leasing of real estate properties in order to incorporate variables of rentals to foreign visitors, this with the goal of achieving more tax fairness; seeking to create a broader alliance between organizations representing the hotel and real estate sectors to seek integral solutions to issues affecting both of them, with a focus on sustainability.
According to Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides, “it’s very important that these recommendations are presented early. I continue to believe that Costa Rica must bet on sustainability in its development, and I’m not only referring to tourism development. For that, we need clear rules.”
Number of tourists using Liberia airport continues to grow
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The influx of passengers at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport reached 156,028 during the first three months of 2008, according to data provided by the Civil Aviation General Administration.This number represents a 13 percent increase compared to the first quarter in 2007, based on estimates by the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA).According to CATURGUA’s statistical analysis of passenger traffic at Daniel Oduber during the recently finished high tourist season, 58 percent of travelers were men to 42 percent women. A little over half of them (51 percent) were individuals aged 30-49 years, with a college education (47 percent), and with annual incomes between $71,000 and $300,000.The analysis also indicated that most of these travelers were retirees, followed by educators and business managers or administrators. Most of the tourists entering Costa Rica through the Liberia terminal came from the United States (74 percent), followed by Canadian residents (26 percent).
The report adds that average spending by these travelers reached $2,251, and the most commonly visited places were Papagayo, Tamarindo, Conchal and Flamingo.
New delay in airport expansion
The announcement about the increase in passengers at Daniel Oduber was made the same day when the Civil Aviation Technical Council (CTAC) informed that expansion works at this airport will be delayed once more — this time because CTAC modified the bidding packet for the project, which led to giving more time to receive proposals from interested firms. This time, the change indicated the terminal concessionaire won’t be required to build the boarding bridges at the new terminal.
The decision to eliminate the construction of the boarding bridges from the terminal’s project means the Costa Rican government will have to conduct such works on its own. Additionally, the CTAC’s decision seeks to offer more competitive rates by reducing the cost of installing such bridges.
This new change to the bidding packet also means that the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) will need to establish a new rate model for the airport’s operation.
The completion of the new terminal and other airport expansions in Liberia was scheduled for November 2009, but it’s possible this new change will delay commencement of the project’s construction, which has a budget of $19 million.
The report adds that average spending by these travelers reached $2,251, and the most commonly visited places were Papagayo, Tamarindo, Conchal and Flamingo.
New delay in airport expansion
The announcement about the increase in passengers at Daniel Oduber was made the same day when the Civil Aviation Technical Council (CTAC) informed that expansion works at this airport will be delayed once more — this time because CTAC modified the bidding packet for the project, which led to giving more time to receive proposals from interested firms. This time, the change indicated the terminal concessionaire won’t be required to build the boarding bridges at the new terminal.
The decision to eliminate the construction of the boarding bridges from the terminal’s project means the Costa Rican government will have to conduct such works on its own. Additionally, the CTAC’s decision seeks to offer more competitive rates by reducing the cost of installing such bridges.
This new change to the bidding packet also means that the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) will need to establish a new rate model for the airport’s operation.
The completion of the new terminal and other airport expansions in Liberia was scheduled for November 2009, but it’s possible this new change will delay commencement of the project’s construction, which has a budget of $19 million.
Bill Gates spends family vacation in Guanacaste
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) —U.S. billionaire, founder of and main architect behind software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, was recently in Costa Rica with his family on vacation. Gates — who arrived in a private jet in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport — stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Gulf of Papagayo, where he owns stock. Information about Gates’ trip was reported by local Spanish-language daily La Nacion in its April 11 issue.
Gates, 53, has a personal fortune estimated at $56 billion. And even though he no longer plays as big of a role in Microsoft as in the past, Gates continues to be a very influential figure not only in the field of technology but also in the world of philanthropy. Together with his wife Melinda, Gates created a foundation that donates funds to several charity and development projects.
Gates had announced his interest in visiting Costa Rica since last year. During a meeting with President Oscar Arias at the International Forum of Leaders of the Americas March 19, 2007, in Cartagena, Colombia, Gates said that “it’s amazing to me that a small nation such as Costa Rica is increasing its investment in education. Certainly, I’m a believer that part of that investment can be used in the application of technologies in educational processes.” Gates added, “I must go to Costa Rica” to check out first hand its advances in education and information technology that make the country an international example.
Back then, Gates applauded efforts by Costa Rica and claimed that integrating technology is a positive thing because “it would transform teaching and learning processes for children.” When asked about the Costa Rican economy, he said that “definitely, when there’s a critical mass, good universities and great employers such as HP and Intel that build capacity [as is the case in Costa Rica], demand will grow and opportunities will also increase.”
Even though this visit by Gates was strictly for vacation purposes, it’s expected that he will return in the future to learn more about educational information projects carried out by institutions such as the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD). Arias had presented a letter to Gates asking Microsoft for support in financing and strengthening the National Educational Information Program (PRONIE), launched in 1988, during his first term as President (1986-90).
Arias reiterated his invitation to Gates to come to Costa Rica during the recent launching of his “Peace with Nature” initiative, which promotes the gathering of international leaders to support measures leading to sustainable development and the protection of the country’s natural treasures.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) —U.S. billionaire, founder of and main architect behind software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, was recently in Costa Rica with his family on vacation. Gates — who arrived in a private jet in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport — stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Gulf of Papagayo, where he owns stock. Information about Gates’ trip was reported by local Spanish-language daily La Nacion in its April 11 issue.
Gates, 53, has a personal fortune estimated at $56 billion. And even though he no longer plays as big of a role in Microsoft as in the past, Gates continues to be a very influential figure not only in the field of technology but also in the world of philanthropy. Together with his wife Melinda, Gates created a foundation that donates funds to several charity and development projects.
Gates had announced his interest in visiting Costa Rica since last year. During a meeting with President Oscar Arias at the International Forum of Leaders of the Americas March 19, 2007, in Cartagena, Colombia, Gates said that “it’s amazing to me that a small nation such as Costa Rica is increasing its investment in education. Certainly, I’m a believer that part of that investment can be used in the application of technologies in educational processes.” Gates added, “I must go to Costa Rica” to check out first hand its advances in education and information technology that make the country an international example.
Back then, Gates applauded efforts by Costa Rica and claimed that integrating technology is a positive thing because “it would transform teaching and learning processes for children.” When asked about the Costa Rican economy, he said that “definitely, when there’s a critical mass, good universities and great employers such as HP and Intel that build capacity [as is the case in Costa Rica], demand will grow and opportunities will also increase.”
Even though this visit by Gates was strictly for vacation purposes, it’s expected that he will return in the future to learn more about educational information projects carried out by institutions such as the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD). Arias had presented a letter to Gates asking Microsoft for support in financing and strengthening the National Educational Information Program (PRONIE), launched in 1988, during his first term as President (1986-90).
Arias reiterated his invitation to Gates to come to Costa Rica during the recent launching of his “Peace with Nature” initiative, which promotes the gathering of international leaders to support measures leading to sustainable development and the protection of the country’s natural treasures.
Duty-free stores to open soon in Liberia airport
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — As part of ongoing expansion works at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport, the Mixed Social Welfare Institute (IMAS) has informed that construction of the airport’s duty-free store will begin no later than April, as the blueprints have already been approved by the Municipality of Liberia and the only thing needed is a slight design variation.
Currently, only the Juan Santamaria International Airport, in the outskirts of San Jose, has a duty-free shopping area, managed by IMAS.
The space where the shop will be located is 127 square meters in area, and investment in the establishment is nearly $275,000. According to preliminary renditions provided by IMAS, the store will feature ecologically inspired designs from the Guanacaste region, including volcanoes, forests and reptiles.
Products to be sold include spirits, perfumes, watches and beauty items. The store is expected to open next July.
Duty-free sales up
Sales at the IMAS-run duty-free stores at Juan Santamaria in the past five years reveal a sustained increase. However, almost seven years after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the negative impact of these events on tourist traffic are still noticeable. In 2002 and 2003, a decrease in consumption was observed, due to the slowdown in the flight industry and airline crises. According to IMAS’ data, 2004 showed a significant recovery, with sales going from 2.9 billion colones (almost $6 million) to 5 billion colones ($10 million).
Regarding the duty-free store in Liberia, IMAS estimates it might reach 2 billion colones ($4 million) in sales, serving some 400,000 travelers.
Such recovery in consumption has been confirmed by the positive variation seen between 2004 and 2005, with sales going up by 1.6 billion colones (over $3 million). Despite the fact that sales also increased in 2006 (by 5 percent), a slowdown was observed in the rate of consumption seen in previous years.
More restrictive policies regarding the transport by passengers of liquids in planes have affected consumption habits both in Costa Rica and throughout the world. In the face of this situation, some measures have been taken to reset the degree of growth and avoid sharp falls of duty-free sales.
Such actions include the possibility of allowing passengers to buy items containing liquids (alcohol and perfumes, among others) with the condition that such products are given to the passenger as he enters the airplane under strict security measures.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — As part of ongoing expansion works at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport, the Mixed Social Welfare Institute (IMAS) has informed that construction of the airport’s duty-free store will begin no later than April, as the blueprints have already been approved by the Municipality of Liberia and the only thing needed is a slight design variation.
Currently, only the Juan Santamaria International Airport, in the outskirts of San Jose, has a duty-free shopping area, managed by IMAS.
The space where the shop will be located is 127 square meters in area, and investment in the establishment is nearly $275,000. According to preliminary renditions provided by IMAS, the store will feature ecologically inspired designs from the Guanacaste region, including volcanoes, forests and reptiles.
Products to be sold include spirits, perfumes, watches and beauty items. The store is expected to open next July.
Duty-free sales up
Sales at the IMAS-run duty-free stores at Juan Santamaria in the past five years reveal a sustained increase. However, almost seven years after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the negative impact of these events on tourist traffic are still noticeable. In 2002 and 2003, a decrease in consumption was observed, due to the slowdown in the flight industry and airline crises. According to IMAS’ data, 2004 showed a significant recovery, with sales going from 2.9 billion colones (almost $6 million) to 5 billion colones ($10 million).
Regarding the duty-free store in Liberia, IMAS estimates it might reach 2 billion colones ($4 million) in sales, serving some 400,000 travelers.
Such recovery in consumption has been confirmed by the positive variation seen between 2004 and 2005, with sales going up by 1.6 billion colones (over $3 million). Despite the fact that sales also increased in 2006 (by 5 percent), a slowdown was observed in the rate of consumption seen in previous years.
More restrictive policies regarding the transport by passengers of liquids in planes have affected consumption habits both in Costa Rica and throughout the world. In the face of this situation, some measures have been taken to reset the degree of growth and avoid sharp falls of duty-free sales.
Such actions include the possibility of allowing passengers to buy items containing liquids (alcohol and perfumes, among others) with the condition that such products are given to the passenger as he enters the airplane under strict security measures.
Decree signed to organize land use in Guanacaste
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Executive Branch signed a decree seeking to regulate construction in Guanacaste’s costal areas. The measure was taken not only to establish guidelines for projects in the region, but also to mitigate environmental impacts such as the ones highlighted by recent cases of wastewater contamination from hotels and businesses.
Just last April 7, the Ministry of Health ordered Ecodesarrollo Papagayo (the company in charge of the Peninsula Papagayo project) to halt effluence of residual waters onto the beach from the Four Seasons Hotel, although such wastewater didn’t present any pollution levels.
The new environmental and construction regulations were okayed by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, together with the ministers of the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias; Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides; Housing, Fernando Zumbado; Competitiveness, Jorge Woodbridge; and the Environment, Roberto Dobles. The decree they signed was drafted in consultation with the Chamber of Construction, the Federated Engineers and Architects Association (CFIA), and the Real Estate Development Council (CODI).
“It’s everybody’s responsibility — the government’s, the municipalities’, the private sector’s — to respect the landscape and the natural resources that surround us. Social corporate responsibility is more a vision and a sincere commitment than an obligation per se. It has to do with the capacity of companies to look beyond their own walls and profits, because today, more than ever, a company’s success depends on the success of the society in which it works; and this is particularly true of the tourism industry,” President Arias said.
The decree seeks to establish guidelines that would allow for priority solutions to the region’s problems, as well as increase production, tourism, educational and environmental capabilities through sustainable development — reinforcing regional institutional infrastructure and ensuring compliance with existing environmental laws.
This piece of legislation also takes into consideration population policies and soil needs in each canton, incorporating the tourism variable as an activity integrated into the rest of the local economy, which would require the development of management tools for implementation, financing and oversight of urban planning.
“Through this first step in the road of urban organization, what we are attempting to do is to create a series of measures for protecting human development, the landscape, soil and flora, as well as cultural heritage, all of which would allow Costa Rica to have a sustainable development in the social, economic and environmental. Such development requires a joint effort between the government and the public sector,” Woodbridge said.
According to Benavides, the executive decree will be applied in the absence of a regulatory plan or specific development plans in Guanacaste cantons. Regulated areas include private properties legally registered that are within the Land Maritime Zone (ZMT, a regulated portion of land adjacent to the beach).
“This legislation is very important because it allows us to make sure that constructions located within the Land Maritime Zone, and which are properly registered in the National Registry, will not affect the natural landscape of the region and the rich resources surrounding said properties, as they will be complying with requirements set forth by our sustainable development policies. Buildings in special protection areas will continue to be regulated by current legislation,” Benavides said.
The decree establishes specific parameters for coverage, height and density of real estate developments by coming up with four zoning areas: the public zone (first 50 meters of beach); the restricted zone (up to 150 meters from the ocean); the intermediate zone (800 meters beyond the restricted zone); and the internal zone (up to 3 kilometers past the intermediate zone).
This means that, for example, in private properties located within the restricted zone, buildings won’t be allowed to exceed 16 meters in height (approximately three stories); while in the intermediate zone the maximum height will be 24 meters, or roughly five stories; and in the internal zone, buildings can be up to 36 meters high, or approximately eight stories.
Meanwhile, Zumbado spoke about the importance of signing this decree by pointing out that “it is essential to set clear rules for the development of regions with high tourism potential in the country, trying not to create conditions that would exclude families native to the area, for whom it’s necessary to generate sustainable ways of earning a living, including housing that meets their needs.”
The government is intending this decree to last for the next four years and even until Guanacaste municipalities approve their own regulatory plan, or the Chorotega Region Urban Plan that will be drafted by the National Housing and Urban Development Institute (INVU).
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Executive Branch signed a decree seeking to regulate construction in Guanacaste’s costal areas. The measure was taken not only to establish guidelines for projects in the region, but also to mitigate environmental impacts such as the ones highlighted by recent cases of wastewater contamination from hotels and businesses.
Just last April 7, the Ministry of Health ordered Ecodesarrollo Papagayo (the company in charge of the Peninsula Papagayo project) to halt effluence of residual waters onto the beach from the Four Seasons Hotel, although such wastewater didn’t present any pollution levels.
The new environmental and construction regulations were okayed by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, together with the ministers of the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias; Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides; Housing, Fernando Zumbado; Competitiveness, Jorge Woodbridge; and the Environment, Roberto Dobles. The decree they signed was drafted in consultation with the Chamber of Construction, the Federated Engineers and Architects Association (CFIA), and the Real Estate Development Council (CODI).
“It’s everybody’s responsibility — the government’s, the municipalities’, the private sector’s — to respect the landscape and the natural resources that surround us. Social corporate responsibility is more a vision and a sincere commitment than an obligation per se. It has to do with the capacity of companies to look beyond their own walls and profits, because today, more than ever, a company’s success depends on the success of the society in which it works; and this is particularly true of the tourism industry,” President Arias said.
The decree seeks to establish guidelines that would allow for priority solutions to the region’s problems, as well as increase production, tourism, educational and environmental capabilities through sustainable development — reinforcing regional institutional infrastructure and ensuring compliance with existing environmental laws.
This piece of legislation also takes into consideration population policies and soil needs in each canton, incorporating the tourism variable as an activity integrated into the rest of the local economy, which would require the development of management tools for implementation, financing and oversight of urban planning.
“Through this first step in the road of urban organization, what we are attempting to do is to create a series of measures for protecting human development, the landscape, soil and flora, as well as cultural heritage, all of which would allow Costa Rica to have a sustainable development in the social, economic and environmental. Such development requires a joint effort between the government and the public sector,” Woodbridge said.
According to Benavides, the executive decree will be applied in the absence of a regulatory plan or specific development plans in Guanacaste cantons. Regulated areas include private properties legally registered that are within the Land Maritime Zone (ZMT, a regulated portion of land adjacent to the beach).
“This legislation is very important because it allows us to make sure that constructions located within the Land Maritime Zone, and which are properly registered in the National Registry, will not affect the natural landscape of the region and the rich resources surrounding said properties, as they will be complying with requirements set forth by our sustainable development policies. Buildings in special protection areas will continue to be regulated by current legislation,” Benavides said.
The decree establishes specific parameters for coverage, height and density of real estate developments by coming up with four zoning areas: the public zone (first 50 meters of beach); the restricted zone (up to 150 meters from the ocean); the intermediate zone (800 meters beyond the restricted zone); and the internal zone (up to 3 kilometers past the intermediate zone).
This means that, for example, in private properties located within the restricted zone, buildings won’t be allowed to exceed 16 meters in height (approximately three stories); while in the intermediate zone the maximum height will be 24 meters, or roughly five stories; and in the internal zone, buildings can be up to 36 meters high, or approximately eight stories.
Meanwhile, Zumbado spoke about the importance of signing this decree by pointing out that “it is essential to set clear rules for the development of regions with high tourism potential in the country, trying not to create conditions that would exclude families native to the area, for whom it’s necessary to generate sustainable ways of earning a living, including housing that meets their needs.”
The government is intending this decree to last for the next four years and even until Guanacaste municipalities approve their own regulatory plan, or the Chorotega Region Urban Plan that will be drafted by the National Housing and Urban Development Institute (INVU).
Tourism up 14 percent in first quarter
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Data regarding the influx of tourists in Costa Rica during the first quarter of 2008 was recently released by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), which indicated there was an increase of 14 percent in passenger arrivals compared with the same period last year.
Between January and March of this year, some 532,000 people arrived in the country, 65,000 more than during the first three months of 2007.
These numbers are based on records kept by immigration officials at Costa Rica’s two international airports, Juan Santamaria in San Jose and Daniel Oduber in Liberia. The average increase at these airports was 13 percent.
One factor to consider when analyzing this increase is that this year, Easter Week fell in March instead of April (thus joining the first quarter of the year), and this is one of the busiest tourist seasons in Costa Rica, especially on coastal areas such as Guanacaste, which attracted the most vacationers during that week.
CANATUR President Gonzalo Vargas said it’s evident that Costa Rica continues to be a top tourist destination for foreigners, attracted both by traditional products such as natural beauty and new attractions such as marinas and golf courses
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — Data regarding the influx of tourists in Costa Rica during the first quarter of 2008 was recently released by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), which indicated there was an increase of 14 percent in passenger arrivals compared with the same period last year.
Between January and March of this year, some 532,000 people arrived in the country, 65,000 more than during the first three months of 2007.
These numbers are based on records kept by immigration officials at Costa Rica’s two international airports, Juan Santamaria in San Jose and Daniel Oduber in Liberia. The average increase at these airports was 13 percent.
One factor to consider when analyzing this increase is that this year, Easter Week fell in March instead of April (thus joining the first quarter of the year), and this is one of the busiest tourist seasons in Costa Rica, especially on coastal areas such as Guanacaste, which attracted the most vacationers during that week.
CANATUR President Gonzalo Vargas said it’s evident that Costa Rica continues to be a top tourist destination for foreigners, attracted both by traditional products such as natural beauty and new attractions such as marinas and golf courses
24 Guanacaste beaches earn Ecological Blue Flag
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Ecological Blue Flag Program, which rewards environmental improvement efforts, presented its 2007 recognitions last March 25 in Puntarenas.
This time, a total of 24 Guanacaste beaches received the coveted award, including Panama, Hermosa, Buena, Coco Norte, Zapotal, Guacamaya, Langosta, Avellanas, Ostional, Junquillal, Guiones, Carrillo and Camaronal. Meanwhile, at the national level, 33 communities (for a total of 59 beaches) earned this recognition, along with 206 schools and 10 protected areas.
According to Education Vice Minister Silvia Viquez, the Blue Flag is a program of formation and learning, and that the mere fact that communities, schools or beaches join the program and follow its guidelines is a great gain for the country — as this initiative creates awareness among students, educators and community members about the importance of implementing sustainable practices that are friendly to the environment.
“We congratulate not only the educational centers, beaches and communities that earned this recognition, but also those who participated in the program, as they have joined in the struggle to improve the country’s sanitary conditions, becoming promoters of the protection of water resources and the environment in general,” Viquez said.
The Ecological Blue Flag Program’s goal is to establish an incentive to promote the establishment of local committees in coastal regions, communities, educational centers, protected areas and other tourism and environmental niches throughout the country — which would work toward the development of their local spaces in accordance with environmental protection practices and improvements in sanitary conditions and public health.
This inter-institutional program is managed by a national commission, originally made up of representatives from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE), the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AYA). Later on, in 2004, the Ministry of Education joined the program as a category for schools was created. Furthermore, in 2006, the Costa Rican Private Natural Reserves Network joined the coordinating commission.
Also, the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) has since joined the program as observer and collaborator. The Ecological Blue Flag national commission’s functions include coordinating the work of the program’s technical team, establishing annual work plans, and evaluating and selecting annual awardees in each category.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) — The Ecological Blue Flag Program, which rewards environmental improvement efforts, presented its 2007 recognitions last March 25 in Puntarenas.
This time, a total of 24 Guanacaste beaches received the coveted award, including Panama, Hermosa, Buena, Coco Norte, Zapotal, Guacamaya, Langosta, Avellanas, Ostional, Junquillal, Guiones, Carrillo and Camaronal. Meanwhile, at the national level, 33 communities (for a total of 59 beaches) earned this recognition, along with 206 schools and 10 protected areas.
According to Education Vice Minister Silvia Viquez, the Blue Flag is a program of formation and learning, and that the mere fact that communities, schools or beaches join the program and follow its guidelines is a great gain for the country — as this initiative creates awareness among students, educators and community members about the importance of implementing sustainable practices that are friendly to the environment.
“We congratulate not only the educational centers, beaches and communities that earned this recognition, but also those who participated in the program, as they have joined in the struggle to improve the country’s sanitary conditions, becoming promoters of the protection of water resources and the environment in general,” Viquez said.
The Ecological Blue Flag Program’s goal is to establish an incentive to promote the establishment of local committees in coastal regions, communities, educational centers, protected areas and other tourism and environmental niches throughout the country — which would work toward the development of their local spaces in accordance with environmental protection practices and improvements in sanitary conditions and public health.
This inter-institutional program is managed by a national commission, originally made up of representatives from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE), the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AYA). Later on, in 2004, the Ministry of Education joined the program as a category for schools was created. Furthermore, in 2006, the Costa Rican Private Natural Reserves Network joined the coordinating commission.
Also, the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) has since joined the program as observer and collaborator. The Ecological Blue Flag national commission’s functions include coordinating the work of the program’s technical team, establishing annual work plans, and evaluating and selecting annual awardees in each category.
Country to have better data about foreign visitors
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) – With the goal of obtaining more useful information about the tourists who visit Costa Rica, the Immigration Service has updated its system to record the number of visitors who come here by air.
Some 400,000 tourists arrived last year through Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport alone, and the number is expected to significantly increase this year. That’s why it’s important to have updated statistics so that all parties involved in the tourism industry can anticipate what the demand for services will be in the entire Guanacaste province. The new data system is expected to be working by the end of the first quarter of this year.
Even though there’s already a system in place to record the number of tourists who choose Costa Rica for their vacations, such data is collected manually through a form that airlines have their passengers fill out.
The new system, on the contrary, will provide information in real time, that is, airlines will send data directly to the Immigration Service at the time passengers board the plane at their city of departure.
Currently, information about the number of visitors coming here and their city of origin takes between three and five months to arrive, depending on the season. From now on, such data will be known right away.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) – With the goal of obtaining more useful information about the tourists who visit Costa Rica, the Immigration Service has updated its system to record the number of visitors who come here by air.
Some 400,000 tourists arrived last year through Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport alone, and the number is expected to significantly increase this year. That’s why it’s important to have updated statistics so that all parties involved in the tourism industry can anticipate what the demand for services will be in the entire Guanacaste province. The new data system is expected to be working by the end of the first quarter of this year.
Even though there’s already a system in place to record the number of tourists who choose Costa Rica for their vacations, such data is collected manually through a form that airlines have their passengers fill out.
The new system, on the contrary, will provide information in real time, that is, airlines will send data directly to the Immigration Service at the time passengers board the plane at their city of departure.
Currently, information about the number of visitors coming here and their city of origin takes between three and five months to arrive, depending on the season. From now on, such data will be known right away.
Guanacaste was favorite Easter destination
Source: http://www.journalcr.com
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) – Costa Ricans experienced this Holy Week in many different ways. The main cities remained empty for the most part; many opted for staying at home with their families; while others decided to leave the urban centers to visit relatives and friends in the provinces as well as to enjoy beaches, mountains and other tourist destinations. It is estimated that more than 1 million people traveled to spend Easter away from home.
In a country such as Costa Rica, where the majority of the population professes the Catholic faith, Holy Week still represents an opportunity to make a pause in the busy road of life and spend time with loved ones, have a spiritual renewal or participate in the traditions of this season — including religious activities such as processions and other church events and, of course, the enjoyment of favorite Easter eats such as seafood, tuna sardines, heart of palm, encurtidos (pickled vegetables), and homemade desserts including rice pudding, ring-shaped cheese bread, and preserves of coconut or chiverre (a type of pumpkin).
Still others took advantage of the Holy Week break to go on vacation, as a last chance to enjoy the country’s beaches before the rainy season settles in, especially this year, when forecasts have predicted an early arrival of the wet stuff as a result of the La Niña weather phenomenon.
Just like in years past, Guanacaste’s beaches were a top destination. Area hotels and cabins had a high occupancy during this time, and restaurants equally took advantage of the large influx of visitors.
Officials with the Traffic Police General Office estimated that at least one million Costa Ricans traveled during the Holy Week, or Easter season.
The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) polled its members to find out which destinations are most popular among Easter vacationers.
By early March, according to data collected from 44 CANATUR members in different parts of the country, Guanacaste and Puntarenas were atop the list of favorite destinations.
According to Gonzalo Vargas, CANATUR President, the survey is important to learn about the behavior of national tourists as far as their preferred travel regions and destinations.
Posted by Roger Vlasos
Broker/Owner
Century21 At the Beach
Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: http://www.century21incostarica.com
Email: roger@century21incostarica.com
(Infocom) – Costa Ricans experienced this Holy Week in many different ways. The main cities remained empty for the most part; many opted for staying at home with their families; while others decided to leave the urban centers to visit relatives and friends in the provinces as well as to enjoy beaches, mountains and other tourist destinations. It is estimated that more than 1 million people traveled to spend Easter away from home.
In a country such as Costa Rica, where the majority of the population professes the Catholic faith, Holy Week still represents an opportunity to make a pause in the busy road of life and spend time with loved ones, have a spiritual renewal or participate in the traditions of this season — including religious activities such as processions and other church events and, of course, the enjoyment of favorite Easter eats such as seafood, tuna sardines, heart of palm, encurtidos (pickled vegetables), and homemade desserts including rice pudding, ring-shaped cheese bread, and preserves of coconut or chiverre (a type of pumpkin).
Still others took advantage of the Holy Week break to go on vacation, as a last chance to enjoy the country’s beaches before the rainy season settles in, especially this year, when forecasts have predicted an early arrival of the wet stuff as a result of the La Niña weather phenomenon.
Just like in years past, Guanacaste’s beaches were a top destination. Area hotels and cabins had a high occupancy during this time, and restaurants equally took advantage of the large influx of visitors.
Officials with the Traffic Police General Office estimated that at least one million Costa Ricans traveled during the Holy Week, or Easter season.
The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) polled its members to find out which destinations are most popular among Easter vacationers.
By early March, according to data collected from 44 CANATUR members in different parts of the country, Guanacaste and Puntarenas were atop the list of favorite destinations.
According to Gonzalo Vargas, CANATUR President, the survey is important to learn about the behavior of national tourists as far as their preferred travel regions and destinations.
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