• Hiring of lifeguards, beach signage, training of 3,500 people and solid inter-institutional agreements stand out in the integrated prevention formula promoted by ICT.

Noting that a sustainable destination must also be safe, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) has implemented a series of twenty actions to strengthen tourist safety in the country.

The measures adopted included inter-institutional partnerships with the Public Safety Ministry, the Costa Rican Red Cross and the University of Costa Rica (UCR), since ICT understands that risk management is a task that it is facing alongside other social, academic and political actors.  

The advances include an investment of ₡550 million for the construction of two new police stations: one in Tamarindo, Guanacaste and another in Santa Teresa de Cóbano, Puntarenas. ₡150 million was invested to hire 20 certified lifeguards (beginning on August 5) to monitor three popular beaches with high rates of drowning, while the lifeguard program will be expanded over the next three years with a budget of ₡870 million. Signage was posted on 100 high-risk beaches and preventive videos are being shown at international airports alongside advertising campaigns, digital tools and training imparted to 3,500 people.

“Building up tourist safety in Costa Rica, a world-class destination, requires us to bring together many actors, all of whom have answered the call to action form ICT to work towards the right solutions in a holistic manner”, noted the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, on Wednesday.

The Minister has promoted participation by high level representatives in the National Tourist Safety Commission (CONSETUR). This commission has acted to triple the number of bilingual public prosecutors serving tourist areas to facilitate the processing of complaints by tourists who are victims of a crime.

Strategic partners

On November 21 of last year, ICT signed a five-year (2018-2023) framework agreement with the Public Safety Ministry which, in addition to providing for the development of Police Force infrastructure in tourist areas, will also help in the acquisition of equipment and training for the 308 officers of the Tourist Police.

Five months later, ICT signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Red Cross – which has been its partner since 2015 – to improve the ability to respond and attend to incidents involving swimmers at sea. The agreement includes funding of ₡150 million, which allowed for the hiring of 20 certified lifeguards over six months for Manuel Antonio, Ballena and Cocles-Manzanillo, popular beaches with high numbers of cases of drowning.

In a complementary action, ICT partnered with UCR to launch version 3.0 of the MIOCIMAR app, a tool that provides forecasts of rip currents as well as wave and ocean conditions.

Constant information for tourists and the tourism sector

The process of building awareness of tourist safety has led to the training of over 3,500 people in the tourism sector between November 2018 and the present. This training relates to preventing emergency situations and to deal with them properly when they do occur.

While visitors to our country wait at the immigration area of Juan Santamaría airport, the main port of entry to Costa Rica, ICT has prepared 11 videos that will play on a loop, which deal with various issues of tourist safety including the use of public transportation, information for women traveling alone and adventure tourism. Advertising campaigns entitled Regresemos a salvo a la orilla (Get back to shore safely) and Cuidémonos Juntos (Let’s take care of one another) were also published.

To better serve tourists, ICT created the first version of the Travel Safe CR app, with advice and information on beaches, cities, hotels, highway transportation, emergency contacts and a directory of the main embassies. All of this information is fully accessible and usable even if tourists do not have internet access. The app has already been sent to the Play Store and App Store for approval in the next six weeks.

In addition, ICT has created a Chatbot, a tool that uses artificial intelligence to assist domestic and international tourists 24 hours per day in English and Spanish at www.visitcostarica.com.

“Our commitment is to continue to combine our efforts and work with strategic partners to be a safe destination”, emphasized Revelo.

 

 

 

• The provinces occupy positions 11 and 24, respectively, for the segment of Meeting, Incentive Travel, Congresses and Conventions, according to the Cvent suppliers’ network, one of the main tools for measuring prospective cities

Guanacaste and San José were included in the list of the best Latin American cities to hold events in the meeting and congress tourism market, according to the global network of suppliers in this sector, called Cvent. The ranking measures locations with the best standing and characteristics for the MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives, Congresses and Events).  

In the Cvent rankings, published this month, Guanacaste took the 11th spot and San José came in 24th in the list of Best 25 Meeting Destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019. This was San José’s first time appearing on the list. The ranking considers the number of hotels suitable for meetings and events, as well as the number of rooms available, among other characteristics. The list of the first 25 cities with which Costa Rica has been competing include long-time favorites in this segment, such as Nassau, Bahamas, Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas, the Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, as well as Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, Palm Beach, Aruba, Buenos Aires, Argentina, São Paulo, Brazil, Bogotá, Colombia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, among others.

For Rafael Quesada Alvarado, ICT’s Head of Advertising and the coordinator for its MICE promotion strategy, the inclusion of Guanacaste and San José in this prestigious ranking is the result of the efforts of a destination promotion and marketing strategy that ICT has implemented among the main markets of the MICE sector. “ICT has implemented significant efforts to position Costa Rica as a solid destination in the segment of meetings, congresses, events and incentive travel over the last few years, working alongside the private sector. The recent opening of the Costa Rica Convention Center complements these efforts with a high-level venue in San José. In Guanacaste, a major tourism investment has also been made in hotels that have the ideal characteristics to host large-scale events”, Alvarado concluded.

 

Advances in the meeting tourism strategy

The ICT promotion strategy, along with complementary actions for the development of meeting tourism remain in force as part of the 2017-2021 National Tourism Development Plan. The meeting industry represents 22% of tourism at the global level and participants have a high spending power, up to 3-4 times as high as a traditional tourist. They are repeat tourists and clients. In addition, the importance of this niche has increased because it has a balancing effect on seasonality, since the high season for meetings coincides with the low season in other tourism markets for our country. This means that it has a dynamizing effect on the local economy, especially because many of the service providers are small and medium companies.

The Costa Rica Convention Bureau, a strategic partner, is helping in the implementation of the meeting tourism strategy. In addition, ICT implements an action plan that includes advertising in specialized media, participation in industry fairs alongside the private sector, engagement with industry organizations such as ICCA, trips with the industry press and purchasers, and training programs. Furthermore, one of the cornerstones of the strategy is assistance in the process of submitting applications, during which research is carried out on the relevant market to learn more about the congresses being planned and how Costa Rica can apply to be the next host. In this area, an ambassador’s program is used in which we work with internationally renowned professionals in their respective fields.

Cvent is a network of providers with the world’s largest database of hotels, special event destinations, conference centers, congress centers, restaurants, audiovisual companies and catering suppliers, among others, with records of over 200,000 places and 20,000 suppliers around the world.

For more information, see https://www.cvent.com/microsites/cvents-2019-top-meeting-destinations/cvents-top-25-meeting-destinations-in-cala?fbclid=IwAR29uHzJ3QtlHj_-QwDbhLvKz32CoyN_obQ4MwNaVuJVofF2HFB9tI7mzwA

 

 

 

• The award was given by the World Travel Awards, which are considered the “Oscars of Tourism” at the global level.

Thanks to the joint management over the past few months, the Costa Rica Convention Center (CCCR), just shy of its first birthday, continues to receive awards and certifications.

In addition to receiving the international EDGE certification in May of this year, it has now been chosen by tourism professionals and consumers around the world as the Leading conference and meeting venue in Mexico and Central America for 2019 during the World Travel Awards.

This is the first time the award has been given outside of Mexico since the creation of the category, helping to position the Costa Rican venue as one of the region’s most important.

The ceremony was held last week in La Paz, Bolivia, and the awards have served to recognize, reward and celebrate excellence in every sector of the tourism industry.  The event was attended by the main players, decision makers and travel and tourism industry influencers from throughout Latin America.

The CCCR is currently operated by Grupo Heroica, who have been carrying out strategic, commercial and operational work since 2018.

“Receiving this award strengthens us to continue building on the vision we set out from the beginning, to ensure that Costa Rica has a venue for world-class events, which is a reference point in Latin America in three strategic areas: service excellence, operational efficiency and sustainability. For all of us at Grupo Heroica, it is an honor to contribute our experience to the country’s progression towards this objective”, said Álvaro Rojas, General Manager of the Costa Rica Convention Center.

The winners of this regional ceremony will advance to the grand finale, which will be held on November 28 in Oman.    These prestigious awards have been held annually for over 25 years, aiming to recognize the best regions and companies dedicated to travel and tourism around the world. The competition is divided up by region and, thanks to its major reach, the Central America and Mexico category has become an industry favorite.

Costa Rica has been placing itself on the meeting tourism map, setting up communication channels and opportunities for corporate development for countries around the world. The country has major advantages in attracting international congresses and conventions.

“At ICT, we feel honored to have been awarded by the World Travel Awards as the best convention center in the Mexico and Central America 2019 category. The Costa Rica Convention Center is a building that meets all the conditions needed to provide excellent services in a variety of areas, from meetings, special events, a congress and even a plenary session for over 4,000 people at the same time.                                                                        

This recognition reaffirms our commitment to sustainability as a cross-cutting aspect of our tourism model, which has been integral to the Costa Rica Convention Center since its inception, as well as the events held on this site as part of the strategy to market and position the country in the tourism niche related to the organization of events, congresses and incentive travel”, said Gustavo Alvarado, Tourism Management Director at ICT.

The goal of the Costa Rican Convention Center is to satisfy the demand for meeting services, both at a domestic and international level, with the aim of becoming a leading global destination, which supports the ICT’s country strategy for this sector.

 

 

Costa Rica is home to seven of the best resorts in the world, located on the Pacific coast and in La Fortuna de San Carlos, according to Forbes magazine. This renowned publication specializes in business information and content.

These are the seven resorts listed by Forbes as being among the world’s best:

• Four Seasons Costa Rica at Península Papagayo: The spa is a destination in itself, with a volcanic purification ritual featuring volcanic mud.
• Hacienda AltaGracia: A luxury property where visitors can experience hrseback riding, hiking through the tropical rainforest to see majestic waterfalls, learning first-hand how to process sugarcane or even milking a cow.
• Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort: This complex is located in the tropical rainforest right on the beach. It has full beachfront services, surf classes and such a level of comfort that you won’t want to leave during your entire stay.
• Nayara Resort Spa & Gardens: It boasts a variety of bridges with vistas of the volcano and a sloth reserve.
• Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Península Papagayo: The Riverstone showers open onto balconies with sweeping views of the ocean. The resort comprises three different beaches and four pools, including one for children.
• Tabacon Grand Thermal Spa & Resort: The complex is made up of different hot springs and excellent service in luxurious, peaceful surroundings. Costa Rica has the largest network of mineral hot springs that naturally flow from the Arenal Volcano, heated by the volcano to temperatures of 72-105°F.
• JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa: This hacienda-style hotel boasts gorgeous views of Guanacaste, a province known for its biodiversity and impressive beaches. The property is expansive, with plenty of space and a central pool that covers the full diameter of the resort

 

 

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) and the Iberia airline signed a destination promotion agreement a few months ago. Iberia is the airline that connected Costa Rica with Europe with a direct flight some four decades ago, connecting travelers on the San José-Madrid route from Barajas International Airport.

This July, the destination promotion campaign features various publications on Iberia’s official communication channels. The Ronda Iberia magazine is the most prominent of these, along with the airline’s social media profiles and website, www.iberia.com

According to ICT studies, Spanish tourists who visit Costa Rica stay for an average of 13 nights and spend some $198 per person per day. Observation of flora and fauna is a top choice that Spaniards enjoy (89%) as they travel through the regions of the country, as well as sun and beach activities (87%), seeing volcanoes (73%) and hiking (63%), among others.

 

 

The Smart Tourism Destinations program proposes a tourism management model based on five focal areas: governance, innovation, technology, sustainability and accessibility. The goal of the initiative is to help meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN).

The program’s actions include an internal review process for destinations. Based on the level of compliance calculated for each site, priority actions are carried out in order to increase the destination’s competitiveness, ensure more effective management and promote its sustainable development.

Every citizen has the right to access sustainable tourism resources, as well as the responsibility to protect them. This diagnostic and planning methodology helps create more sustainable and intelligent tourism spaces over the long run.

The Smart Tourism Management System is comprised of five focal areas under the UNE 178501:2018 Standard, namely Governance, Innovation, Technology, Sustainability and Accessibility, which are present in ICT’s National Tourism Development Plan.

 

The Hotel Aguas Claras, located in Puerto Viejo, Limón, received a Tourism Declaration for its accommodation activities and related services. This is the first boutique hotel in the region to receive this certification.

The Tourism Declaration is an award granted by the Costa Rican Tourism Board to all businesses in the sector that voluntarily request it. There is no cost to receive it; rather, businesses must comply with technical, economic and legal requirements indicated in the Regulation on Tourism Businesses and Activities.

In December 2018, a new Regulation on Tourism Businesses was approved, which set out the requirements to register with the ICT. This regulation widens the categories to register as tourism businesses and simplifies the process. (The regulation only applies to declarations).

https://www.ict.go.cr/es/documentos-institucionales/leyes-reglamentos-y-procedimientos/64-leyes-y-reglamentos

 

 

• Initiative reaffirms the commitment of the Government of the Republic to tourism development and economic revitalization in Limón.

The domestic tourism advertising campaign “Come to Limón. ¿Qué te nace hacer en el Caribe?” (What will you think of in the Caribbean?) launched on Friday with a call to travel and explore the cultural and gastronomical diversity of one of the country’s most exuberant regions, with a variety of destinations and tourist niches, charisma and the flavors of Limón and its people.

The campaign, an initiative of the Mesa Caribe, is a joint effort with the Federation of Chambers of the Caribbean, which approved the commercial’s design.

The Caribbean has all the abilities needed to develop tourism and generate the economic reactivation that is so important for its citizens. The wealth of flora and fauna, its multiculturalism and the combination of mountains, rivers and ocean is an incomparable strength for the region’s development”, said Marvin Rodríguez, Second Vice President of the Republic and coordinator of the Mesa Caribe.

This investment of ₡105 million is an extension of the “Vamos a turistear” internal tourism advertising campaign, which urges the country’s population to have unique experiences in their own country, highlighting the Caribbean in this case.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, reiterated that “this campaign is part of the Government’s commitment to tourism development in the province of Limón, an effort that is coordinated with the private sector through the Federation of Chambers of the Caribbean, which is how the ICT works”.

“Limón has an enormous potential for tourism development. We celebrate these important steps to raise awareness of its beauty. Efforts like this to raise the profile of the region go along with projects that are already underway, like the new cruise ship terminal and the marina that seek to dynamize the opportunities available in the province”, asserted Andrea Centeno, Executive President of the Port Administration and Economic Development Board of the Atlantic Coast (JAPDEVA).

The campaign will last for four months, from July to October, with an initial launch on television and social media through the Vamos a Turistear (www.vamosaturistear.com) for a month. Following this, the initiative will spread to digital media, buses, radio and theaters for three months.

Other projects underway: The board of directors of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) approved a Cooperation Agreement with JAPDEVA on June 24 for $200,000 to finance port infrastructure improvements in the Hernán Garrón Salazar cruise ship terminal in Limón. The improvements include internal and external boarding rooms, areas for artisans, a viewpoint, patios and service areas for passengers and crew.

In addition, ICT, in collaboration with the Municipality of Talamanca, will invest ₡760 million (about $1.3 million at the current exchange rate) in a dock in Cahuita and a quay in Puerto Viejo designed to safely transport people visiting the region’s main attractions. The quay is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the dock for the fourth quarter of 2020.

In Pavona de Pococí, the organizations will invest ₡300 million (about $500,000 at current exchange rates) in dock improvements at the tourist entry point in Tortuguero, a project coordinated with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, which will be included in the institution’s 2020 budget.

These works and the advertising campaign add up to an investment of around $2.2 million in the province of Limón.

 

 

• The flights will operate on a permanent basis to Juan Santamaría and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airports.
• The flights will leave John F. Kennedy International Airport, known for being the largest source of international passengers in the USA.

American Airlines will add two new flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José and to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia. Sales for both flights will be available on July 1, 2019.

The JFK-SJO flight will begin permanent daily operations on November 21. It will leave JFK at 3:59 p.m. and arrive at SJO at 9:42 p.m. It will then leave SJO at 11:03 p.m. and reach JFK at 5:19 a.m.

Meanwhile, the JFK-LIR flight will begin operations on December 21 and will operate on a weekly schedule on Saturdays. It will leave JFK at 7:00 a.m. and arrive at LIR at 10:55 a.m. It will then leave LIR at 11:04 a.m. and reach JFK at 4:59 p.m.

“The contribution of American Airlines, by supplying nearly 67,000 new seats, is an extraordinary development for the tourism sector and is a significant benefit for the country’s economic activity, for which tourism is a main driver”, said Minister of Tourism Maria Amalia Revelo.

The minister highlighted the continuous work and strategic planning by the Costa Rican Tourism Board in partnership with the private sector to strengthen Costa Rica’s air connectivity. “American Airlines is the world’s largest airline and is committing to extend its operations not to one, but to both of our country’s international airports”, added the minister.

“These new routes to San José and Liberia will connect these major Costa Rican cities with New York, the financial and tourism center of the United States”, said Rafael Sánchez, American Airlines’ regional manager for Central America. “This year, we will see major growth in our operations in Costa Rica. We also recently announced new frequencies from our largest connection hub in Dallas/Fort Worth. We are very proud of continuing to strengthen our footprint in Costa Rica, especially now that we are celebrating 30 years of service in the country this year”.

Both flights will be carried out using a B737-800 aircraft with 16 seats in First Class, 30 in Main Cabin Extra with additional space, and 114 seats in the Main Cabin. The aircraft offers free entertainment throughout the cabin, with a wide selection of movies and TV programs that may be viewed on personal streaming devices, as well as USB ports on each seat to charge personal devices.

The flight to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José will add 58,400 seats each year, while the route to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport will add some 8,320.

Currently, American operates three daily flights to SJO from Miami (MIA), one daily flight to Dallas (DFW), one daily flight to Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), and one weekly flight to Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), which becomes daily during peak season. From Liberia, Guanacaste, American operates two daily flights to MIA, five weekly flights to DFW and two weekly peak season flights to CLT. With these two new routes to JFK and the two new flights from DFW to LIR and SJO, set to begin in December, the operations of American Airlines in Costa Rica will consist of 85 weekly flights.

Between January and May 2019, the country saw 604,850 arrivals of Americans by air, which represents 6% growth over the same period last year.

In 2018, Costa Rica received 1,265,067 international arrivals from the United States by all routes, which represented 42% of all visits. Some 96% of these arrivals were by air.

In 2017, average spending by Americans was estimated at US$171.60 per day on average stays of 10.1 days. These tourists preferred the following places and activities in Costa Rica: Sun and beaches, trekking (hiking with special shoes), and hikes on more difficult terrain, among others.

 

 

 

• Route will be offered twice a week from December 18, 2019 to April 25, 2020.
•  “This is an opportunity to increase visits, generate employment and to continue strengthening Costa Rica as a tourist destination,” said the Minister of Tourism.

From December 18, 2019 to April 25, 2020, an Airbus A321LR from Air Transat will connect Vancouver, located on the Pacific coast of Canada, with two Costa Rican cities, San José and Liberia, on a route known as a triangle route.

The route will begin sales on Thursday, June 6 and will be offered twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays for a total of 38 flights during the period. The route will not allow for domestic travel between the Costa Rican cities.

The Airbus assigned to this triangle route is a completely new airplane with a 199-passenger capacity. It will depart from Vancouver at 6:30 a.m. local time and will arrive in Liberia, Guanacaste at 5:25 p.m. local time, with a stop in San José, Costa Rica.

After an 80-minute stopover, the Airbus will continue directly to Vancouver, leaving Liberia, Guanacaste at 6:40 p.m. local time, and arriving in Canada at 12:20 a.m., local time.

“The coordinated operation of both international airports, Juan Santamaría and Daniel Oduber, is the beginning of a new phase,” said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism. “The fact that Air Transat is becoming the second airline to offer a triangle route with these two airports is an opportunity to increase the number of trips, generate employment, and continue to strengthen Costa Rica as a tourist destination,” she added.

President Carlos Alvarado reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continue promoting tourism in our country. “Just as we were able to manage 3 million arrivals in 2018 for the first time, we will continue to make progress in strengthening our offer of sustainable tourism, with a view to benefiting our entire population, without exception,” he said.

Starting in Vancouver, Canada, the trip can be completed in either San José or in Guanacaste with the same ticket. Similarly, you can return to Vancouver directly from Liberia or board in San José with the same ticket.

Air Transat operates weekly flights to Juan Santamaría from the cities of Montreal (Monday and Friday) and Toronto (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday). From Daniel Oduber in Liberia, flights operate three times a week to Toronto (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and twice a week to Montreal (Wednesday and Friday).

According to the Costa Rican Central Bank’s Tourism Satellite Account and Product Input Matrix in 2016 - the most recent - there are at least 211,213 tourism-related jobs. By dividing international arrivals on all 2018 routes (3,016,667) by the number of tourism-related jobs, we get a ratio of 1 job generated in tourism for every 14 international arrivals.

Canadian visits

There were 217,006 tourist arrivals from Canada in 2018; 92% came into the country by air, the main mode of transport into the country.

Canada represents 7% of total international arrivals to the country and 14% of arrivals from North America.

The largest number of Canadian arrivals to Costa Rica occur from December to March, during the winter in this North American country.

The average stay for 2017 is estimated at 14 nights, while the average expenditure per person was estimated at US $109.84 per day.

Canadians enjoy sun and beach activities, flora and fauna observation, hiking trails and visits to volcanoes, among others, according to exit surveys conducted by the ICT.

 

 

• With support from ICT, local stakeholders will prioritize waste management, revitalizing public spaces and green areas, and promoting local culture.

Tamarindo is setting out to be a regulated, authentic tourist destination, with sustainable practices, community participation, and a diversity of products primarily geared towards family entertainment. Local Tamarindo stakeholders have established three priority projects to be completed within a period of five years.

The projects are focused on the integrated management of solid waste and sewage, the creation of the Tamarindo police station, sidewalks, cycle paths and access to the beach, among other areas of interest. They also envision a new promotional approach to generate a reason to visit Tamarindo, driven by the local culture.

“As of today, what I can say is that there is a clear before and after for Tamarindo, thanks to the support of the Costa Rican Tourism Board,” said Hernan Imhoff, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Tamarindo. Imhoff acknowledged that through an agreement with ICT and the Ministry of Public Security, construction on the police station will begin this year in this Tourism Development Center.

The Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo, estimates that the police station will be ready by mid-2020 thanks to a public-private partnership. “We have the land and the resources,” said the Minister. Revelo highlighted the process that ICT has facilitated, alongside the Ministry of Culture, towards the integrated management of this popular tourist destination. “We are interested in integrating the region’s respective cultural experiences with enjoying the sun, the beach and surfing,” she said.

Sylvie Durán Salvatierra, Minister of Culture and Youth, and ICT partner in this program, said that they are carrying out an inventory of Santa Cruz’s cultural offerings (where Tamarindo is located) to determine what will be promoted. “Reviving the cultural tourism link between Tamarindo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya is very important in order to develop numerous resources that will strengthen the identity and development of the cultural enterprises in these districts within the next five years.”

Santa Cruz is the birthplace of cultural practices unique to Guanacaste, such as the traditions around Black Christ of Esquipulas, coyol wine, traditional national celebrations, and being identified as “the folkloric city of Costa Rica”. In Nicoya, the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated in December with the well-known “Baile de la Yegüita”, a mixture of indigenous and Catholic tradition, as well as the Tortilla Festival in July. In both districts, there are eight buildings that have been declared architectural heritage buildings, including the church of San Blas de Nicoya, the largest archetypal colonial church in the country, which is undergoing restoration until next July.

Tamarindo, located in the Santa Cruz district of Guanacaste, is one of the main coastal hubs of our country. It spans 1.3 kilometers with a major concentration of tourism supply and demand, and it serves as a final destination for both domestic and international tourists.

There are 108 accommodation companies and 1,990 rooms in Tamarindo, constituting 6.3% of the total number of accommodation companies throughout the country’s tourist regions. Between 2015-2017, 95,226 tourists spent at least one night in this destination.

The 2017-2021 National Tourism Plan - a document produced by ICT in partnership with the private sector - has identified 32 Tourism Development Centers throughout the country. These centers are known as “local destinations” and are defined as the tourism areas where the concentration of attractions, plants, tourist infrastructure and general services leads to a more or less constant flow of overnight tourists.

ICT presented the management plans for Sarapiquí and Turrialba on March 13 and 15 to local actors in these regions; in Tamarindo the plans were set out on May 24.

In 2019, ICT is working with local actors in the Caribbean, Monteverde, Puerto Jiménez and the Los Santos areas. The goal is to incorporate an average of three Tourism Development Centers per year for a total of 15 in the 2019-2022 period.

 

 

 

• The designation is the highest possible under the Country Carbon Neutrality 2.0 Program.
• The award is the result of joint work by all of the ICT’s departments and commitment by staff.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) is celebrating its recent achievement of the highest level under the Country Carbon Neutrality 2.0 Program: Carbon Neutral Plus. The distinction is the result of the sustainable action that ICT promotes as part of its institutional strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Setting an example begins at home”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo. “We are promoting the country on the international level as a sustainable destination and it is our responsibility as the country’s leading public tourism body to reach the country’s objectives in terms of reducing carbon emissions”.

The ICT is the only state institution to have achieved the highest level of the Country Carbon Neutrality 2.0 Program for the organization category.

To attain the Carbon Neutral Plus designation, ICT analyzed data on the sources of emission in the institution’s central headquarters and regional offices, which it used as the basis to develop projects to reduce the use of fossil fuels and the consumption of electrical enegy.

In addition, the ICT had to reach two requirements: a grade of above 85 per cent from the Environmental Quality Directorate (DIGECA) and the offsetting of over 20% of its carbon footprint. This was achieved by purchasing Costa Rican offset units from FONAFIFO, which offset greenhouse gas emissions, measured in tons of carbon dioxide.

For nearly 10 years, the ICT has been combining environmental management alongside environmental programs such as the Ecological Blue Flag Program, the Climate Change category and the Institutional Environmental Management Plan (PGAI) from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE). Beginning in 2015, it implemented an Environmental Management System, which includes the National Carbon Neutrality Program. It was first awarded for its efforts in 2017.

According to information from ICT’s Department of Certification and Social Responsibility, the Environmental Management System has monitored environmental actions that respond to the requirements of each program, with staff at every level and from every department from directors to cleaners and maintenance workers behind each of these actions. The key to success has been the full support of the General Management for the development of environmental activities and actions, which has resulted in all employees becoming involved, as well as the volunteer teamwork in various activities, and participation in environmental fairs, workshops, and more.

The various environmental efforts on the part of ICT and the country respond to international commitments, which Costa Rica upholds as a benchmark for sustainable development around the world

 

 

• The 5th edition of the Central American Cruise Conference will be held from May 22-24, 2019 in the Costa Rica Convention Centre.
•  The conference is designed to promote a better understanding of the work of cruise ships and develop beneficial relationships between the industry and stakeholders in Central America.

From May 22 to 24, Costa Rica will host the Central American Cruise Conference for the first time. The biannual event organized by the Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) will see participation from 250 cruise industry professionals and 16 executives from the world’s leading cruise lines.

This special forum, in its 5th edition, is designed to promote a better understanding of the work of the cruise industry and to promote relationships among Central American professionals working in the sector. The conference will also provide extensive information on the importance of our region and the abundance of its offerings and benefits to cruise executives.

“It is our objective to position Costa Rica globally as a profitable destination for the cruise industry and we are very grateful to FCCA for entrusting us with the 5th edition of the Central American Cruise Conference,” said María Amalia Revelo, Costa Rican Minister of Tourism.

The agenda is geared towards anyone who does or seeks to do business in the Central American cruise industry, including port authorities, tour operators, government officials, cruise and tourism agencies, tourism operators, tourist attractions, suppliers and ship brokers.

During the event, workshops will be offered to support attendees in conducting business in the cruise industry. Led by an impressive list of executives, these sessions will provide clear and concise information on how to succeed and excel in today's cruise industry, with topics that include: the creation and evolution of a successful tourism product, and maintaining that success; developing a cruise port, including why and how cruise lines choose to invest or partner with a destination/port, as well as ways to involve the public and private sectors; and the lessons learned by other destinations that tackle cruise tourism problems and have experienced improvements from their efforts.

“This event was devised to help attendees build relationships and a better understanding to improve their cruise tourism businesses in this rapidly developing and vital market. So, if you are based in Central America and you want to grow your business with the cruise industry, I urge you to attend this event so we can grow together”, concluded Michele M. Paige, President of FCCA and organizer of this conference.

Cruise ship passengers in Costa Rica

The expenditure of cruise ship passengers in 2018 was US$8.4 million. In total, these ships boarded over 255 000 passengers who spend money on some activity in the country, resulting in an important impact on the revitalization of the local economy in coastal communities.

The five Costa Rican cruise ports are located on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The ports of Puntarenas, Caldera, Limón, Golfito and Quepos periodically receive cruise ships and have shown steady growth in recent years, with a positive impact on the economic development of tourist destinations. Currently, several public institutions, including the Ministry of Tourism and port authorities continue working hand in hand with private tourism companies to promote and develop the cruise industry as a national priority sector.

According to the Costa Rican Tourism Board’s maritime cruise survey for the 2017-2018 season, 51.1% of cruise-goers arriving in Puntarenas and Limón were over 65 years old. 46.1% were men and 53.9% were women. They came mainly from the United States (62.4%), Europe (17.3%), and Canada (13.0%). Of arrivals to Limón and Puntarenas, 70.6% travelled as a couple and 12.8% as a family.

 

 

• The country’s main sustainable tourism marketing fair received a certificate of carbon neutrality for the fourth consecutive year, as well as its sixth Ecological Blue Flag for special events.

Over the last two days, tourism sector wholesalers from 35 different countries from around the world met with 324 business leaders to sell Costa Rica around the world as a multifaceted sustainable tourist destination. A total of 5,605 appointments were held.

According to ACOPROT, 51% of the international wholesalers visited the fair for the first time. In addition to long-standing markets such as the United States and Canada, the organizers aimed to strengthen Costa Rica’s position in emerging markets such as Poland, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. Among European nations, the largest contingents belonged to Germany, France and Spain.

This trade fair represented 13,000 direct employees and 40,000 indirect employees. In addition, the event has generated tax revenues of $150,000 on average in each of the three previous fiscal periods. At the conclusion of this year’s event, it can be considered to have been one of the most successful.

“We are very pleased to celebrate 35 continuous years of annual events with such excellent results. Once again, we have confirmed that this is the main tourism marketing fair in the country and the region, as well as a space for commercial exchange that is very important for tourism in Latin America. The experience of our 35th fair has reaffirmed the fundamental importance of this event, and we are already hard at work to reinvent the fair at next year’s event”, said Erasmo Rojas, President of ACOPROT.

Sustainability

Following the sustainability plan established for Expotur 2019, the trade fair complied with its environmental commitment and received the Ecological Blue Flag for the sixth consecutive year. It was the first event held at the Costa Rica Convention Center to receive a Blue Flag score of 100, as well as receiving an international declaration of Carbon Neutrality from 100% Carbon Neutral.

This process is internationally reviewed by Co2Balance in London and by CarbonFund.org in New York. The event’s footprint will be neutralized through the Carbonfund Foundation’s REDD+ Envira Amazon Project, currently the largest active restoration project in the Amazon Basin.

Additionally, the organization participated in various initiatives in the social and economic spheres to reaffirm its commitment to being a model event in terms of sustainability, including the donation of plastic caps to the Dona Tapa Initiative of the Costa Rican Sustainable Tourism Network.

“As an organization, we are committed to strengthening our actions with respect to environmental sustainability during Expotur, since these are consistent with the destination we represent and the values of sustainability that we want to continue projecting as a country. Our goal is to keep being a model to follow, not just in environmental sustainability, but rather in other areas such as social and economic issues”, Rojas added.

The carbon footprint was mainly measured based on the impact of transportation, including pre- and post-event inspections, transportation for purchasers and official transportation, as well as electricity, LPG and refrigerants, among others.

Companies participating as exhibitors at Expotur 2019 had the opportunity to compete for the most sustainable stand award. The winner of a free space in Expotur 2020 was Asociación Proparques.

The fair organizers seek to use this prize to motivate participants to use their creativity in presenting their products and services, taking environmental and socio-economic issues into account. The aspects evaluated to determine the winner were originality, use of decorative materials, responsible environmental practices, promotion of a responsible economy and representation of cultural and natural heritage.

 

• Increase in operations translates to 14 additional weekly flights from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)

As of December 18th, American Airlines will add a second daily flight from their main connection hub in Dallas, Texas to two destinations: the international airport Juan Santamaria (SJO) in San José, and Daniel Oduber Quirós in Liberia, Guanacaste.

The special feature of these additional flights is that they are night flights, so they leave Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) during late hours of the night and return from San José and Liberia in the early morning. Known as red-eye flights, they will be serviced by B737-800 aircrafts, with 16 first-class seats, 30 business class seats with additional space, and 126 seats in economy class.

“These new services connecting Dallas/Fort Worth with San José and Liberia, Guanacaste are a sign of our strong commitment to Costa Rica,” said Rafael Sánchez, American Airlines regional manager for Central America. “Costa Rica was the first country in Central America where American began operating almost 30 years ago, and today our presence is stronger than ever and we continue to grow.”

The Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo, expressed her satisfaction with one of the largest airlines in the world having increased its investment in Costa Rica, in this case to both international airports.

“A significant number of trips to Costa Rica from the United States of America originate from the state of Texas, and a night flight like this is especially appreciated by business travelers because it allows them to work all day in their destination, and not lose a work day in Dallas or on a connecting flight when flying back early in the morning,” added the Minister.

Currently, American Airlines operates three daily flights from SJO to Miami (MIA), a daily flight to DFW, a daily flight to Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), and a weekly flight to Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), with flights to PHX increasing to daily during the peak season. From Liberia, American Airlines operates two daily flights to MIA, five weekly flights to DFW and two weekly flights to CLT during high season. With the two new flights to DFW beginning in December, there will be up to 77 flights operating in Costa Rica per week.

The American Airlines connection hub in DFW offers over 900 daily flights to more than 200 destinations, providing multiple connection options to destinations in Asia, Europe and the United States.

The second flight to DFW that will begin operating in December will be available for sale beginning May 13th, through the American Airlines reservations department or your preferred travel agent.

In 2018, Costa Rica recorded 1,265,067 international arrivals from the United States by all modes of transportation, which account for 42% of all visits. Among them, 96 out of every 100 of these arrivals are by air.

In 2017, the average stay and expenditure of American visitors was estimated at 10.1 nights and US$ 171.60 per day. The places and activities in Costa Rica that these tourists prefer are the following: sunbathing and beaches, trekking (with specialized shoes, hiking on trails), and hiking (on more difficult terrain), among others.

 

 

 

• Airline to fly to Guanacaste in September and October for the first time
• Season length and number of flights to be expanded

The airline Air Canada announced that it was increasing its operations to Costa Rica by extending the 2019 season into September and October. The season, which is beginning this month, was initially to be put on hold for these two months and resumed in November and December. However, the company decided to fly from April to December without interruptions. During these two additional months, Air Canada will fly to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste for the first time.

This extension represents an increase of 36% in the number of seats over 2018, as follows:

• An increase from 2,856 seats in 2018 to 4,008 in 2019 on the Toronto-Liberia route, including September and October, an increase of 1,152 seats.
•  
• The Toronto-SJO route will increase from 7,319 to 12,690 seats, an increase of 5,371.
•  

Flights to Liberia will be done in an Airbus A321 with 137 seats every Tuesday (once per week) from April 30 to October 22, and four times per week (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) from October 27 to December 17.

On the San José route, the frequency will be one Saturday flight from November 2 to December 14 with 282 seats and three times per week (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) from December 16 to December 28.

This increase is the result of the investment attraction strategy being implemented by ICT in coordination with the administering body in charge of Juan Santamaría, Aeris Holding Costa Rica, and with the administrator of Daniel Oduber, CORIPORT, to increase the number of flights to Costa Rica.

“We are very pleased to be able to announce this important move by Air Canada to strengthen its Costa Rica routes, especially in maintaining its operations during the months of September and October to both international airports, which will be a major stimulus to the tourism sector, especially that of the province of Guanacaste, with a significant increase in arrivals during September and October from Canada and connections”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

Over the course of 2018, Costa Rica recorded the arrival of 217,006 Canadians, 92% of whom came into the country by air, making it the main entry point into the country.

Canada represents 7% of the total arrivals to the country and 14% of arrivals from North America.  

The largest number of arrivals by Canadians occurs during the months of December to March during the North American country’s winter months.

In 2017, the Toronto-San José and Toronto-Liberia were the most frequently used routes to Costa Rica by Canadians.

During that year, 26.4% of Canadian tourists arriving to the country through Juan Santamaría International Airport said that they had visited Costa Rica previously.

The average stay in 2017 is estimated at 14 nights, with an estimated daily spending per person of US$109.84.

In terms of the favorite activities of Canadians, the most commonly mentioned were sun and beach activities, observation of flora and fauna, and hiking and visiting volcanoes, among others.

 

• Trends in air connections and tourist arrivals are determining factors in the selection of purchasers
• Expotur is coming off a series of record-breaking years in terms of overall attendance, presenve of vendors, length of stay by target groups, expense and income generated for the country

 With over 230 international purchasers, Expotur 2019 will kick off on May 9 in the Costa Rica Convention Center. These delegates represent companies from 35 different countries, where they will be promoting Costa Rica as a destination.

The increasing flow of tourists to Costa Rica as well as the convenient visa process and existing air connections are determining factors for the committee that selects the countries that will be participating. The Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (ACOPROT), as an organizer, will lead a group representing important tourism sector actors (ICT, Proimagen, Futuropa, CCH, CANATUR, Imagazinetour, the Convention Bureau and ACOPRON), which are the organizations that will perform the analysis to determine which prospects will potentially generate greater and better business for vendors at Expotur.

The United States, Canada and certain European countries are considered to be priority markets, since they provide the largest number of visitors to the country. Poland stands out among the emerging markets present in this year’s event, in addition to the South American countries of Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia.

“The Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals has been able to bring together the public and private sectors to organize this marketing fair, which is a fundamental element in promoting Costa Rica as a diverse and sustainable tourist destination”, explained Erasmo Rojas, ACOPROT President.

“Over the course of two days, major negotiations are held that allow the destination to revitalize itself each year, generating millions of dollars in tourism revenue that reach numerous services from accommodation to tours, food service, transportation and national park admissions, just to name some examples. Every trip and the consumption that goes along with it generates important tax revenue for the country, which increases the services we provide internationally”, Rojas added.

“Very few tourist destinations have been able to develop a fair that has been held without interruption for 35 years”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism. “This demonstrates that public-private partnerships and our shared vision for sustainable tourism development have created the conditions required for Expotur to consolidate over time”, Rojas noted.

Improved indicators

 

Over the last five years, Expotur has increased its attendance from 145 purchasing companies in 2014 to 200 in 2018 and an expected record-breaking figure of 230 in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of tourism service vendors has increased from 260 to 348 over the same period.

With respect to the performance indicators used to evaluate the results of each Expotur, the mobilization of the event’s target audience has increased, with over 600 delegates attending since 2016, representing over 150 international wholesalers.

In terms of the target audience’s stay in the country, purchasers whose participation is funded have an average stay of three nights in Costa Rica, while regular participants stay for five nights, on average. In the case of vendors coming from various parts of the country and booking accommodations in San José, their average stay is 3.5 nights.

Another important aspect is the daily spending by attendees during the trade fair, which amounts to $108.95 for foreign purchasers and $29.77 for local vendors. This information comes from the 2018 Expotur Economic Impact Study.

No less important is the revenue generated for the country or individual regions or companies. The 2017 Economic Impact Study, which presents the metrics examined by ACOPROT to assess the trade fair’s impact, included certain key figures:

• The investment by vendors amounted to $812,128.00. This amount comprises local and international exhibitors at the event, and represents companies’ investment in transportation, decoration and promotional materials, as well as accommodation, salaries and other associated costs.

• The expense generated by international purchasers was valued at $117,276.61 and comprises accommodation, transportation, meals and other expenses associated with their stay before, during and after the event.

• The estimated amount of tax revenue generated is $141,572.00, which includes sales tax, departure taxes and deductions, as well as airline tickets purchased for the event.

• In addition, the study concluded that the organization, implementation and execution of Expotur represents direct spending of around $2.7 million, plus the knock-on effects for companies that produce tourism revenue over the course of each year, as well as other benefits linked to the events, such as earned media coverage in-country and internationally.

If your company would like to be part of Expotur, you can find all the information you need at www.expotur.com.

 

 

 

 

• The first stage includes a mobile app, an agreement with the Red Cross, and an advertising campaign

A mobile app to monitor waves and tides, an agreement to hire lifeguards, and a digital advertising campaign are part of the first stage of the strategy announced on Wednesday by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) to prevent drowning on beaches.
The strategy consists of coordination of inter-institutional efforts, since ICT understands that risk management is a task that must involve a variety of social, academic and political actors.
The app "MIOCIMAR" (available in Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS) in English and Spanish contains seven-day forecasts of surf currents, wave forecasts and sea conditions. These forecasts are divided into categories with colors (green, yellow and red) that indicate the levels of caution that swimmers should exercise. The forecasts are updated every six hours.
ICT partnered with the University of Costa Rica (UCR) for the launch in order to boost the reach of  MIOCIMAR version 3.0, developed by IMACTUS, a Costa Rican company. This app will be linked with the ICT’s tourism security app, to be announced in June.
“This is a tool that makes the practice of reviewing sea conditions from cell phones easier, taking preventive information into the 21st century”, declared the Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo.
“This alliance between two institutions unites their efforts around a common theme: the prevention of coastal marine threats. The beauty our beaches and seas offer does not negate the fact that domestic and foreign tourists are exposed to risks when visiting beaches or enjoying walks along the sea. Information on marine conditions is within reach for everyone, for free and through an easily accessible mobile app (MIOCIMAR)," said Rodney Mora, coordinator of the Oceanographic Information Unit (MIO) of the Center for Research in Marine Sciences and Limnology (CIMAR) at UCR.

Agreement with theRed Cross
This Wednesday, ICT and the Costa Rican Red Cross signed an agreement for ₡150 million that will allow at least 20 lifeguards to be hired in the second half of 2019 for three beaches with high incidences of drowning: Manuel Antonio, Ballena and Cocles-Manzanillo.
The objective of the agreement is to improve the capacity to respond to incidents at sea involving swimmers.
“Years of experience in previous agreements with the Red Cross have confirmed their experience and commitment to addressing this issue”, stressed the Tourism Minister.
“We are joining forces in a comprehensive way to prevent emergencies and to respond to them when they occur. The cooperative relationship between the Red Cross and the ICT has existed for many years; we have been working together since 2015 to strengthen the emergency response capacity on beaches, and this has increased awareness of the importance of hard work and teamwork to manage risk and reduce mortality rates," said Glauco Quesada, President of the Red Cross.
In addition, the ICT will include US$500,000 (half a million dollars) per year in its budget for 2020, 2021, and 2022 in order to establish a lifeguard program on the most dangerous beaches in the country, which will be defined by statistics from the Judicial Investigation Organization, academic studies, the experience of the Red Cross, and piecemeal efforts of local governments to find a solution to this issue. In the next three years, the ICT will invest a total of US$1.5 million to hire lifeguards.
Let’s get back to shore safely
The third effort announced by ICT this morning is a digital advertising campaign that aims to protect lives by calling attention to safety and prevention, particularly before Holy Week when there is an increased influx  of visitors on the beaches.
An audiovisual piece that captured the testimony of Pablo Madrigal, who was seconds away from drowning in Playa Grande, Guanacaste last January, is part of the campaign that will last from today until the end of July, with distribution on digital platforms. The campaign will include invitations to download the MIOCIMAR app on fences near beaches, in buses, and in print media.

 

• Air arrivals figure confirms robust peak season, with the highest number of arrivals for these months in the last six years.

The 499,693 international air arrivals in January and February confirmed a strong peak season, with a 7.8% increase in arrivals over the same months in 2018. The January and February 2019 figures are the largest over this period in the last six years.

January 2019 saw 248,754 international arrivals to Costa Rica at both international airports, Juan Santamaría and Daniel Oduber. This amount represents a 9.2% increase over January 2018, when 227,694 arrivals were recorded.

The following month saw a 6.4% increase in arrivals by air, with 250,939 arrivals, which is 15,109 more than in February 2018.

“The international air arrival statistics are vitally important for the country, since we base our promotion of the destination abroad on these figures”, declared Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism.

The Tourism Minister noted that one month ago, at the world’s largest tourism trade fair, ITB Berlin, the airlines that connect Europe with Costa Rica—seven of which operate direct flights—informed the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) that they have been delighted by the results obtained over the last few months from their operations in our country. They also indicated their surprise at the reception that the destination has received in the markets that serve it.

“This growing connectivity with Europe increases our ability to attract better prospects from the continent”, Revelo noted.

Although Costa Rica only had a single indirect flight to Europe in 2006, eight airlines offer flights between Europe and Costa Rica, seven of which are direct and one with a stopover, which “goes to show the major leap our country has made as a result of our airline attraction strategy”, said the Minister of Tourism.

The ICT’s international arrival statistics are based on data provided by the Office of the Director-General of Immigration and Foreign Nationals (DGME).

New indicator

As announced by ICT last February, the Board will design a new indicator to measure the arrival of tourists to the country as part of their efforts to continuously improve and use innovative statistics. To this end, ICT signed a cooperation agreement with the DGME which will allow it to receive monthly data with a high level of disaggregation on international movements by visitors to Costa Rica.

The new indicator is consistent with statistical innovation efforts promoted by the ICT, which have included its presentation of the Tourism Satellite Account and the Product Input Matrix, indicators prepared with support from the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) that it unveiled in October 2018. These indicators show that the contribution of the tourism industry to the country’s GDP increased from 4.4% in 2012 to 6.3% in 2016. This figure increases to 8.2% of GDP if indirect contributions are added to direct ones.

The Minister of Tourism has sought technical assistance from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to advise the ICT’s Information Administration Unit, made up of tourism and statistics professionals. This assistance is aimed at jointly forming concrete proposals to identify the kinds of new indicators that can be used to measure the country’s tourism activity on the demand side.

 

 

 

• ICT and tourism companies from the country’s private sector will participate in the WTM Latin America fair on April 2-4 in São Paulo, Brazil.
• In 2018, over 190,000 international arrivals were recorded from South America.

Beginning on Tuesday, Costa Rica has been showing the most outstanding aspects of its tourism offer at the WTM Latin America international fair, which is considered to be one of the most important negotiation spaces on the continent because of its strategic impact and consistent participation by wholesalers.

The trade fair began on April 2 in São Paulo, Brazil and will go until Thursday, April 4. The Costa Rican delegation includes tourism companies, accommodation providers and tour operators. They are taking the lead in showing prospective buyers the different alternatives they offer for visitors interested in activities that range from adventure to wellness—through the “Wellness Pura Vida” focal area—to sun, beaches, surfing, rural tourism and nature tours, among other experiences.

The stand is decorated with natural plants, wide-format images and colorful references to the traditional Sarchí oxcarts, as well as elements that represent all of the country’s regions. It shows a slice of the essence of Costa Rica over 60 square meters, a space completely reserved for face-to-face negotiations.

According to organizers, the 2018 event saw 11,963 visitors—all of whom were tourism-sector professionals—with about 12,000 meetings that led to negotiations with a resulting US$7 million in travel to participating destinations. WTM Latin America is organized using a system of high-precision online appointments under a Business-to-Business (B2B) model.

Ireth Rodríguez, Promotions Director at the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) explained that while the trade fair does recieve a large number of Brazilian purchasers, it is also well attended by wholesalers from across Latin America, which allows appointments to be made with professionals from other South American markets of interest, including Argentina, Chile and Peru.

South America interested in the Pura Vida experience

“WTM Latin America is one of the main events directed to the Brazilian marketing channel and constitutes one of the main promotional actions in this enormous country. Moreover, São Paulo is one of the main cities in Latin America, with a population of over 21 million people, and is home to one of the hubs of the LATAM airline, which means that it has a major potential for Costa Rica”, elaborated Rodríguez.

According to ICT data, 190,413 visitors entered Costa Rica from South America, of whom over 22,329 were Brazilian.

The most recent study of the Brazilian market, in 2019, showed that 40% travel with their partner, 21% on their own and 19% with their families. The average length of stays is estimated at 14 nights, with an average spend of $125 per day. Among the many activities they participate in during their visit, sun and beach activities stand out (84%) along with enjoying the local cuisine (60%), as well as spending time observing flora and fauna (44%), visiting volcanoes (51%), and many more.

WTM Latin America is organized by Reed Exhibitions, a company with ample experience which is responsible for the organization of WTM London, in which Costa Rica will be participating in November.

The country’s participation in this trade fair marks a progression in the ICT’s trade fair program, in which it seeks to attend at least 20 of the most prominent international tourism and travel trade fairs for professionals and the general public, along with other fairs specialized in birdwatching, meeting tourism, attracting cruise ships and other niches. This program will strengthen the positioning and promotion of Costa Rica in its main tourist-sending markets of South America, Europe and North America.

 

• Board of Directors agrees to include $500,000 in the institutional budget over the next three years to finance measures to keep swimmers safe.
• It also approves an agreement with the Red Cross for ₡150 million to hire lifeguards this year in Manuel Antonio, Ballena and Cocles-Manzanillo.
•  129 people drowned in 2018 in Costa Rica’s rivers and coasts.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) will include $500,000 (five hundred thousand dollars) per year in its budget for 2020-2022 in an effort to set up a lifeguard program in the country’s most dangerous beaches in partnership with the Red Cross and the Costa Rican Firefighting Service.

In addition, the ICT’s Board of Directors approved a ₡150 million agreement on April 1 with the Costa Rican Red Cross to hire at least 20 lifeguards in the second half of the year in Manuel Antonio, Ballena and Cocles-Manzanillo. This program will be active from July to December of this year.

The announcement was made this Tuesday by the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, at a press conference held at the Casa Presidencial following a meeting of the Council of Government.

“Devoting more resources to a lifeguard program will improve the capacity to respond to various incidents involving swimmers, actions that will have a direct impact on the international image that Costa Rica has as a safe tourist destination”, said Revelo, who is putting various measures into practice in order to reduce the number of deaths by drowning in the country’s rivers and coasts.

The amount approved, $1.5 million over the next three years, will allow for coverage of the highest-risk beaches along the country’s coasts, whose geomorphology represents a risk for those visiting them. Over the medium term, this investment will also allow ICT to work with local governments and the private sector to definitively establish this program in the country.

According to information from the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), 129 people drowned in 2018, 54 of whom drowned in a river and 51 in the ocean, 10 of whom drowned in Jacó, which does have a budget for lifeguard services. Of these 129 deaths, 59 (46%) occurred in the province of Puntarenas, 19 (15%) in Guanacaste and 19 (15%) in Limón.

A study from the Universidad Hispanoamericana published in early 2019 confirmed that 2,981 people lost their lives in the ocean, a river, a pond or a pool between 1990 and 2014, or 124 per year, on average. Of these victims, 2,538 (85%) were male and 443 (15%) were female.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 372,000 people drown each year, making drowning one of the ten most prevalent causes of death among children and youth in every region. Because of this, WHO is calling for a considerable push in efforts and resources to prevent drownings and save lives.

In 2018, ICT placed signage on 100 beaches with information on rip tides. These beaches were selected on the basis of high attendance by Costa Ricans and foreigners, as well as their risk index.

Between 70-80% of tourists who visit Costa Rica participate in sun and beach activities. 

 

• The Comprehensive Management of Tourist Destinations Program is part of the Action Plan for Economic Revitalization promoted by the government.
• Local actors lead the processes with ICT support.

Attracting Costa Ricans and visitors to stay in Sarapiquí and Turrialba to enjoy their numerous tourist attractions and stay overnight in these destinations rather than simply traveling through them—this is the objective of the six projects negotiated between the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) and local actors of Sarapiquí, Turrialba and Jiménez as part of the Comprehensive Management of Tourist Destinations Program, which was launched in August 2018.

In Sarapiquí, the priority is to open a new entrance to the Braulio Carrillo National Park by the Ceibo post to enjoy the rainforest, a project supported by the Municipality, the region’s Chamber of Tourism, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) and the business owners of the area and surrounding community.

Tourist signage will also be improved, while the creation of spaces highlighting the identity and richness of the destination will improve cultural aspects and conditions for tourism in the city of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. These strategies include, for example, reviving the role that the Sarapiquí river played in the National Campaign of 1856-1857, and promoting birdwatching.

In Turrialba—and for the benefit of its neighbor, Jiménez—the three priority projects are: reopening the Turrialba volcano, improving the Guayabo National Monument’s visitor experience, and developing a thematic trail that uses the Turrialba cheese denomination of origin as a tourist attraction.

To reopen the Turrialba Volcano, the municipality and the region’s chambers of commerce, set up a commission along with SINAC, the National Emergency Commission and the ICT, which will develop a plan and carry out the necessary steps to achieve this objective.

“These are very specific projects focused on opportunities to improve the competitiveness of the destinations, which will have an impact on economic revitalization by attracting more activity to the area”, said the Coordinating Minister of the Government Economic Council, Edna Camacho.

 

María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the leadership of local governments and ongoing initiatives in Sarapiquí, Turrialba y Jiménez.

“With the support from ICT, it is the people of Sarapiquí and Turrialba who are in charge of deciding where they want to be in five years. They are the engines of this train, and ICT is one more car. We want to facilitate investment in hotels, increase overnight stays and encourage new tourism products that differentiate each Tourism Development Center”.

The National Tourism Plan - a document produced by ICT in partnership with the private sector - has identified 32 Tourist Development Centers spread throughout the country. These centers have a connotation of “local destinations” and are defined as the segments of tourist areas where the concentration of attractions, facilities, tourist equipment and services in general attracts a steady flow of overnight tourists who stay at least one night on a fairly regular basis.

“The integration and coordinated work of local actors are necessary to improve competitiveness, the generation of social capital, and the conditions for the development of tourism. In general, they are indispensable for the organization, execution and monitoring of the actions necessary to face challenges and take advantage of opportunities to contribute to the development of the country as a world-class tourist destination”, said Rodolfo Lizano, director of Planning and Development at ICT.

In the company of local actors in Sarapiquí and Turrialba, ICT presented the management plans for these destinations on the 13th and 15th of March, respectively. In Tamarindo, the presentation of the results is scheduled for April.

“We have set clear goals and the document we receive is the guide to navigate the path towards the future. Tourism is our hope”, said the mayor of Sarapiquí, Pedro Rojas, while in Turrialba, its mayor, Luis Fernando León, said about the plan: “We understood that to achieve our objectives we must work together and this is the payoff”.

 

 

• Between August and July, 249 boats will have set in at Puntarenas, Caldera, Quepos, Golfito and Limón, representing some 354,000 cruise ship passengers.

• Every passenger spends, on average, $137 per day, with a major impact on the revitalization of the local economy of coastal regions.

• ICT, INCOP and JAPDEVA are in close contact with the world’s largest four cruise lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Star and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises.

• In 2019, Costa Rica will host the V Central America Cruise Summit for the first time.

Costa Rican ports have received 203 vessels to date during the 2018-2019 cruise ship season, which began last year on August 23 with the arrival of the Sea Princess out of Key West, United States, and her 1,870 passengers to JAPDEVA’s Hernán Garrón Salazar terminal in Limón.

In the next four months, another 46 boats are expected to set in to the five main ports in the country: Limón, Caldera, Quepos, Golfito and Puntarenas, which will welcome the last ship of the season, the Queen Elizabeth, on July 13.

This will bring the total for the season to 249 cruise ships, 153 of which arrived at Pacific ports and 96 of which docked the Caribbean, which represents an increase of 9.2% over the previous period, which saw 228 arrivals.

Once on land, passengers have the option to choose between various tours offered by local operators, transport companies and guides, which promote the history, exuberant natural surroundings, cuisine and diverse culture of Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

Each cruise ship passenger spends, on average, $137 per day, which has a major impact on the revitalization of the local economy of coastal communities. By the end of the 2018-2019 season, an estimated 354,800 cruise ship passengers will have arrived in the country.

“The growth over this season in the arrival of cruise ships is further proof of the challenges that we have ahead of us in terms of port infrastructure, arrival centers for cruise ship passengers, increases in visits to the port cities in which they dock and a higher spending level in the country’s coastal region, among others”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

How is Costa Rica able to attract more cruise ships?

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) maintains direct contact with the world’s four largest cruise ship industry groups: Carnival Group, Royal Caribbean, Star and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises.

ICT holds joint working sessions with the port authorities of INCOP and JAPDEVA in which they discuss issues related to the improvement of infrastructure and the tourist offer, as well as provisioning fees and services, seeking to increase the frequency with which these vessels come to the country.

Over the last few years, ICT has been participating in Seatrade Cruise Global, the largest cruise ship fair in the world, which is held in the first four months of the year in Miami, United States. This event seeks to bring together every facet of the business, including cruise lines, suppliers, travel agencies and partners.

In addition, it offers the opportunity to establish contacts with nearly 1,000 exhibitors and over 11,000 attendees from 125 countries, a conference program with industry experts and plenary sessions guided by executives from the four largest cruise ship companies.

In 2019, Costa Rica will host the V Central America Cruise Summit for the first time, in which the Costa Rican industry will have the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings and workshops with high-level decision makers.

ICT, along with other organizations, will also be training the various actors who interact with cruise ship tourism in port cities.

 

  

• The first awards ceremony was held at Dominical Beach and will roll out from today into next week in the Costa Rican Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
• The program has been established for 23 years and ensures beaches that are clean, sustainable, and provide services for tourists.

For the first time since the Ecological Blue Flag (EBF) program was launched for the beaches category, a record number of 118 outstanding beaches have attained this award thanks to the organized efforts of the committees in each of the coastal communities to achieve sustainable beaches with tourism features on the Costa Rican Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

The announcement was made this morning by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) in Dominical Beach, located in the southern Pacific region. The beaches that were announced corresponded to the results of the 2018 evaluation period, with scores ranging from one to five stars. A select group of five beaches achieved a high enough score to obtain the Ecological Blue Flag with five stars: Playa Matapalo and Punta el Madero in northern Guanacaste, Playa Carrillo in southern Guanacaste, Playa Blanca and Playitas in the central Pacific.

In the particular case of Playa Carillo, it received an additional “golden star” distinction because of the commitment of the EBF committee and the wider community to avoiding sources of pollution from streams and river mouths into the ocean. Playa Blanca also received an additional “pink star” for specific educational and preventative efforts related to the presence of wild species near the beach. These new distinctions were added by the EBF Evaluation Commission in August last year.

“ICT’s Ecological Blue Flag program is a tangible example of the country’s efforts to be a sustainable destination, strengthening the reputation that Costa Rica has gained in the international sphere as a country that preserves nature. This program also establishes Costa Rica as a destination that provides unique experiences in wonderful settings, and that looks after the conservation of its beaches, one of the most popular attractions for national and international tourists,” explained Virgilio Espinoza, Head of Certifications and Socially Responsible Tourism.

 

Ecological Blue Flag Bearers

Just one question emerges amidst the sea and the sand. How does a beach obtain an Ecological Blue Flag? The ICT serves as the entity in charge of the EBF’s beaches category and they take into account aspects such as sanitary conditions ensured by constant ocean water and potable water analysis (with the support of the AyA, Costa Rica’s public water and sewerage utility), as well as safety aspects such as riptide warning signage and lifeguards during weekends and high season. Other elements that add to the score are the presence of showers, washrooms, separation of recycling from waste, and environmental education, among other aspects.

Karina Díaz Vazquez, the Blue Flag Committee coordinator in Puerto Carrillo Beach, which received the five-star Ecological Blue Flag recognition, said she was very happy with the result obtained. "As a representative of the Red Cross, we decided to assist the community during this process that seeks the well-being, health and sustainability of the activities that take place on the beach. The Blue Flag is more than an award, it is a way to work conscientiously to ensure that our beaches remain safe, look their best, and that we as residents always think about reducing the impact of the people who visit us,” expressed the community representative with pride.

In addition, Nancy Mendoza, coordinator of Dominical Beach, expressed that she is grateful because the ICT selected her coastal community (recipient of two stars) to host the first Ecological Blue Flag awards ceremony. "Raising the flag is a symbolic act, an indicator that actions can be taken to protect the planet, regardless of whether a community is large or small," noted the police officer, who is passionate about the care of nature and beaches.

For this occasion, the ICT decided to award the 118 blue flags in four special events near the beaches and the committees for greater ease. The first of the ceremonies took place today, March 19th, in Dominical Beach. The award ceremonies will continue this week on March 20th in Cóbano, Puntarenas and on March 21st in Liberia. The "blue tour" of awarding ecological flags will conclude in the Caribbean coast on March 27th in Puerto Limón.

During the year, as a part of the ICT’s work, three visits are held to evaluate the progress that each committee has made on the plan they had proposed. The objective of the visits is to inspect the work on the beaches, advise the group on technical and administrative tasks, and provide recommendations for improvement for the next visit.

 

 

  

• In meetings with ICT in the ITB Berlin tourism fair, airline representatives expressed their intention to expand operations to our country.

The airlines that connect Europe with Costa Rica—seven of which operate direct flights—informed the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) that they are completely pleased with the results that they have obtained over the last months from their operations in our country. They also indicated their surprise at the reception that the destination has received in the markets that serve it.

The airlines made these statements in meetings held with ICT representatives in the 53rd edition of the world’s largest tourism fair, ITB Berlin, which was held in the German capital from Wednesday, March 6 to Sunday, March 10.

“In 2006, Costa Rica only had a single indirect flight to Europe; currently eight airlines offer flights between the continent and Costa Rica, seven of them direct and one with a stopover, which goes to show the major leap our country has made as a result of our airline attraction strategy”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

The tourism head emphasized the commitment by the country’s President, Carlos Alvarado, and the ICT to support companies contributing to Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism development, which is recognized around the world by the international tourism sector.

Revelo, who personally welcomed representatives of Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Edelweiss and Condor, confirmed that these airlines plan on continuing their expansion to the country in the near future, since Costa Rica has been one of the most profitable destinations for companies in the region.

The increase and success of the new routes from Europe to Costa Rica was clearly seen in the number of negotiations held by Costa Rican business leaders with wholesalers from around the world at ITB Berlin at the country’s stand in the trade fair.

“Without a doubt, the existence of direct flights from Europe to Costa Rica encourages local companies to seek out more opportunities to attract tourists to the country. Following the Minister’s presidential mandate, we have strengthened our efforts in this area, working alongside our airports and the private sector”, said the Director of Investment Attraction for ICT, Hermes Navarro.

The Minister confirmed that the figures for visits during 2018 were very positive for the European markets, and that figures for early 2019 confirmed that the busy season has been as solid as forecasted.

Some 414,722 arrivals by air were recorded from Europe in 2018, with the largest number coming from Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Spain. This figure is an increase of 7.6% over 2017, when 383,066 Europeans arrived by air.

January 2019 saw 248,754 international arrivals from tourists by air, an increase of 9.2% over the same month in 2018. Of this total, 45,643 arrivals from Europeans were recorded, an increase of 4.2% over January 2018.

“These figures encourage both the private and public sectors to continue working together to increase the sustainability and quality of our tourism offerings for the benefit and progress of the communities whose livelihoods depend on this industry”, emphasized the Tourism Minister.

Costa Rica takes the lead

The Costa Rican tourism model based on small and medium businesses—with 94% of hotels having 40 or fewer rooms—was a leading example of sustainable development at the ITB Berlin trade fair.

Revelo was the guest of honor at the panel “International visits by Germans have an impact. What responsibility does the German government have?”, held on Thursday, March 7, in which she participated in a discussion with three German ministers: Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Minister of the Environment, Nature, Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Sabine Hepperle, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, and Norbert Barthle, Minister of Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The tourism minister invited Germans to support tourism models like the Costa Rican example and to purchase offsets for greenhouse gas emissions from their long-distance journeys to our country. As an example, she mentioned “Vuelo Limpio”, or Clean Flight, an offering of the National Fund for Forest Financing (FONAFIFO).

Revelo was also the main speaker at a panel on tourism for sustainable development on Friday, March 8.

“Sustainable and responsible tourism seeks to reach a balance between economic, social and environmental aspects”, Revelo explained. “We believe that tourists who are committed to this model will continue to be willing to spend their money and vacations supporting sustainability”, she noted.

 

•  Government redoubles efforts to guarantee the protection of the National Park and improve the quality of visits
• The Protected Forest Area received 525,000 visits in 2018, making it the country’s most popular

The Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), with collaboration from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), are taking measures to strengthen the management of Manuel Antonio National Park, the country’s most popular national park.

These measures include the following decisions:

• Presenting a draft law to reform the distribution of the resources of the trust for the Manuel Antonio National Park (Law no. 8133) so that funds will be made available for the integrated management of the Protected Forest Area and its buffer zone, while still supporting the land purchase arrangements inside the National Park.
• Regulating visits inside the National Park, capping the maximum number of visitors allowed at the same time at 600 from Tuesday to Friday and 800 over the weekend, with a maximum daily number of visitors set at 1,700. These changes have been made to avoid putting the safety measures at risk. This regulation will remain in force during the months of March and April 2019.
• Extracting solids and liquids from the improved septic tanks from the septic system on a regular basis over the next four months. This will be done in partnership with Coopealianza R.L., with a contribution from the company of three million colones, as well as a contribution of 300,000 colones each from Hotel Costa Verde and Hotel San Bada and 250,000 from the Association of the Friends of Manuel Antonio National Park.

• The immediate installation of portable sanitary systems as a temporary and preventive measure in advance of the installation of a new wastewater treatment plant.
•  
• Designing and constructing a wastewater treatment plant in one of the septic systems of the National Park beginning in March 2019. This will be made possible by the public-private partnership that exists between SINAC and the Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre.
•  
• Beginning the contracting process for the design and construction of the remaining wastewater treatment systems for the National Park’s sanitation system. The new systems will be built in August 2019.
•  
• Beginning the contracting process for the preparation of an online reservation system to reserve admission for Manuel Antonio National Park. This ticket reservation system is set to begin operating in the second half of 2019.
•  
• Setting out a sustainable tourism plan for Quepos Canton, which includes the design and promotion of tourism circuits in the region to promote the distribution of visits throughout the region.
•  
• Undertaking partnerships with environmental organizations such as Asociación Proparques to promote volunteer programs to support maintenance and environmental education work.

“We are committed to improving the conditions of our Protected Forest Areas to protect biodiversity, the country’s economy, our employees and the thousands of tourists who decide to visit us each and every day”, said Pamela Castillo Barahona, Vice-Minister of Natural Resources.

“We are already taking measures to address the challenges of managing Manuel Antonio National Park in a strategic, long-term manner. In the short term, we will meet the demand of the two most popular months, forming partnerships to guarantee the cleanliness of the park’s wastewater management system, to carry out Ministry of Health inspections and to tender the construction of the three new wastewater treatment systems that the park needs. In addition, as a preventive measure, we have decided that, in collaboration with the ICT, we will install portable sanitary facilities while the improvements to the park’s sanitary system are ongoing. These measures are a response to the President’s call to be a government that finds solutions, not problems”, added Vice-Minister Castillo.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, said “As a promoter of sustainable tourism development, ICT will cooperate with MINAE and SINAC in implementing the necessary decisions to improve the management of Manuel Antonio National Park”.

“As we have done in the past, acting within our mandate, we will also offer our assistance to seek out joint solutions to preserve this treasure and ensuring that it can be enjoyed by Costa Ricans and visitors in balance with nature”, Revelo concluded.

MINAE, SINAC and ICT agree that sustainable tourism management in Manuel Antonio National Park involves many actors, which is why they thank the private sector organizations that are collaborating at this stage and call on more organizations to join in this effort to ensure the well-being of the Protected Forest Area and the Central Pacific region.

 

 

• A 63-meter boardwalk made from recycled plastic beams was opened in Madrigales Sector of Playa Jacó.
• The Garabito Municipality officially launched its Jacó Accesible strategy on the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day

With an accessible tourism strategy, the official opening of a 63-meter boardwalk made from recycled plastic boards with access to the sea for wheelchairs, Jacó has become the first beach in Central America with universal access. The move was brought about by a series of ideal conditions and teamwork between public and private institutions.

This official announcement occurred on the occasion of Zero Discrimination Day and challenges other beaches and tourist destinations to follow its example. To provide some facts and figures, the boardwalk was made from a collection of 420,000 plastic lids made from plastic number 5 (weighing 840 kg), along with 521 kg of bags made from plastic number 4, for a total of 1,361 kg of recycled plastic. This sustainable effort was made possible by the active participation of thousands of Costa Ricans who helped Proyecto Dona Tapa come alive over a period of more than 7 months.

The organizations responsible for the initiative and their strategic partners assembled for an emotional ceremony in Madrigales Sector of Playa Jacó. These organizations included the Garabito Municipality, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) the Chamber of Tourism and Sustainable Commerce of the Central Pacific, the Costa Rican Network for Accessible Tourism, Dona Tapa, the Costa Rican Federation of Surf, the Adapted Surfing Association of Costa Rica, the Lifeguards of the Municipality of Garabito and the National Commission of Persons with Disabilities (CONAPDIS). The demonstration by the National Adapted Surf Team, who inaugurated the boardwalk and used the amphibious wheelchairs, was a particular highlight.

At this point, you may have a few questions, which we’ll do our best to answer: What is an accessible beach? What are its characteristics? According to information from the Municipality of Garabito, a beach that can be considered 100% accessible must allow for the enjoyment of the entire population and have reserved parking for persons with disabilities, nearby accessible public transportation, access ramps connected to boardwalks, as well as boardwalks that reach to the edge of the water. This is combined with the presence of trained support personnel, accessible restrooms, changing rooms and showers, umbrellas or shaded areas, amphibious wheelchairs or crutches and flotation devices, buoys to indicate the swimming area for greater safety, mobile lifts or assistance systems for transfers, visual and sound devices for persons with sensory disabilities, and the option to practice aquatic sports.

“For the Municipality of Garabito, this new start sets out our commitment in this canton to improve the local infrastructure options with a universal vision. Our infrastructure must be adapted for use by persons with disabilities. We are proud to officially inaugurate the Jacó Accesible project in the Playa Madrigales sector, by including all of the elements and conditions to be the first accessible beach in Costa Rica and Central America”, said Tobías Murillo, Mayor of Garabito.

Sustainable efforts

Stephanie Sheehy, one of the proponents of the initiative and President of the Costa Rican Network for Accessible Tourism, said that she was very proud to officially inaugurate the first of many such boardwalks in the future. She created the Dona Tapa social responsibility program, which seeks to create accessible beach boardwalks made from plastic beams. According to the network’s information, 15% of the world’s population has some kind of disability, 22% of whom are senior citizens. These figures support the development and expansion of these kind of projects. “We are working for the right of all people with some form of disability to enjoy the full right to be tourists and to make use of tourism products and services. This includes having a choice of destinations, lodging, transportation and visits to natural and cultural spaces”, Sheehy elaborated.

The expert finished by indicating that the National Council of Persons with Disabilities

(CONDAPIS) had signed the Declaration for Accessible Tourism for all in Latin America and the

Caribbean, which created the Accessible Tourism Network, whose mission was to position Costa Rica as an accessible destination for all.

Alberto López, ICT Manager, said that sustainable tourism must be accessible for all populations. “Social tourism contains the concept of human sustainability as one of its fundamental pillars. It takes human beings as its basis, their essential care and respect for particular physical attributes and ways of being. It is without prejudice on the basis of gender, race, citizenship, social position, ability and lifestyle”, he concluded. He also highlighted Jacó as an example that should be repeated throughout the South Pacific and in other beaches and tourist regions of the country.

According to the ICT, 68% of tourists visiting the country over the period of 2013-2017 engaged in sun and beach activities. Playa Jacó is one of the main attractions of the Central Pacific and is one of the preferred destinations of Costa Ricans and foreigners thanks to its proximity to the capital and the constant renewal of its offerings to tourists. The regulatory body for tourism also indicates that 35% of tourists who entered the country by air visited the region. The seed was sown in Jacó, leading to the creation of the first accessible beach. The conclusion of the first step remains ongoing, as well as the second phase, which will be carried out over the medium term.

Beginning with its opening as an accessible beach, Jacó will have a municipal lifeguard service made up of 5 permanent lifeguards and 5 volunteer lifeguards, 365 days per year, who will be on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This move is also a first for the destination. For more information and details about the Jacó Accesible project and the Dona Tapa initiative, see the website www.accesiblecostarica.com

 

 

IRONMAN 70.3 Costa Rica (www.ironman.com/costarica70.3), is one of the over 300 IRONMAN events held worldwide every year. Miami Tri Events is pleased to announce that after 6 years of hard work, it has been able to acquire a license for this incredible high-performance extreme event. Costa Rica won out against stiff competition from Central and South American countries due to the excellent conditions of the country, its people and its culture. The company is proud to be able to announce that the second edition of this event will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2019, giving athletes with the opportunity to run through a tropical paradise known for its ecological paradise and its world-class beaches.

It has been an intense year of work, which has been finalized down to the last detail so that attendees to kölbi IRONMAN 70.3 Costa Rica 2019 will be able to enjoy not just the competition, but also the EXPO and their surroundings. We have created a space in one of the most incredible places in Costa Rica so that athletes, family members and locals will feel at home, enjoying a fresh and active environment where we promote a healthy lifestyle through a variety of activities.

There will be 3 categories in this event: IRONMAN 70.3, relays and the 51.50. The competition is a classifying round with 40 places for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, which will be held in Nice, France on September 7, 2019.

In this third edition of kölbi IRONMAN 70.3 Costa Rica 2019, we guarantee a unique and unforgettable experience for participants and for all Costa Rica. An event of this magnitude has many positive impacts that will impact communities. We are very thankful to be able to have the support of kölbi and the ICT for the third consecutive year. We thank them for the incredible welcome they have given us, for their effort in positioning Costa Rica as a world-class sporting destination. Thanks to them, we have obtained full success in planning the event. Costa Rica Tri Events is committed to keep working, making every effort and sacrifice necessary to contribute positively to the country”, said Wilber Anderson, CEO of Miami Tri Events.

kölbi will provide technical support and connectivity for this important competition, with internet services to cover the needs of the organization, participating athletes and accredited press.

“Our company is contributing to the success of the event with the telecommunication services the organization requires, since we have the required cutting-edge equipment. This is a sign of our company’s historic commitment over 70 years to satisfying the needs and expectations of our clients, while providing timely, trustworthy and quality service”, said Luis Roberto Hernández, Product and Service Unit Director at kölbi.

“The Costa Rican Tourism Board is proud to provide continuity in the support to an event with a national and international profile. IRONMAN 70.3 consolidates Costa Rica’s position as a tourist destination that promotes open-air activities and sports. In addition, our country has the added value of enchanting locations and luxurious beaches that complement unique experiences. The same way a triathlete faces the challenge of overcoming personal barriers throughout the competition, Costa Rica is competing on the world stage to be at the vanguard of sustainable tourism”, explained Rafael Soto, ICT Administrator.

Miami Tri Events is proud to see how, after so much work, everything is ready to enjoy the big day. They are pleased to thank their sponsors from the heart for their help in making all of this possible. These include, principally, kölbi and the Costa Rican Tourism Board for their collaboration and support.

If you need more information about the event or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact julliamThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Don’t forget to follow us on social media, where you will be able to follow all the action live during every day of the event. Facebook: IRONMAN 70.3 Costa Rica and Instagram: @IRONMAN70.3CostaRica

 

 

• The ₡4.08 billion project was developed through an agreement between AyA, ICT and the private sector.
• It will benefit 14,250 people from Trancas, Playa Panamá, Playa Hermosa and the Golfo Papagayo Tourism Hub.
• This aqueduct is one of 54 projects implemented by the Comprehensive Water Supply Program for Guanacaste (PIAAG)

This Friday, the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, inaugurated the Las Trancas-Bahía de Papagayo aqueduct in the district of Carrillo, Guanacaste, in project’s pumping station.

At this stage, this project will provide an additional 120 liters of water per second, which will supply 14,250 people in communities, as well as the manufacturing and tourism sectors. It consists of 15 kilometers of pipes and a 3,000 cubic meter water storage tank.

The project was developed through an agreement between the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) and the private company Grassland Enterprise Limited.

The total investment was ₡4.08 billion, of which AyA provided ₡1.981 billion, the ICT provided ₡1.499 billion, and the company Grassland Enterprise sponsored the construction of a storage tank, valued at ₡600 million.

President Alvarado reiterated that only when we work together, focusing on what unites us, can we promote equitable development in each of our territories, always striving for the well-being of the people.

In addition to President Alvarado, the inauguration was also attended by the Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo, and the Executive President of the AyA, Yamileth Astorga Espeleta. The President of the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism and member of the Golfo Papagayo Tourism Hub’s Board of Directors, Aileen Ocampo Fernández, as well as representatives of the private sector and community leaders were present.

“Not only does this aqueduct turn on the tap on in terms of quality, quantity, and continuity, we are also opening the doors for the planned tourism development projects agreed to by the ICT for licenses held by the Golfo de Papagayo Tourism Hub. We are opening the door to the creation of jobs and to all the associated services that will be used,” said the tourism minister.

“This is one of the projects that was developed during the period of our national emergency due to drought, a phenomenon that seriously affected us between 2014 and 2016. We must recognize the work done in partnership by the ICT and the private sector, which is now allowing us to provide a permanent solution to communities like Playa Panamá y Playa Hermosa, who suffered from saltwater intrusion in their water sources,” stressed the AyA’s Executive President, Yamileth Astorga.

The Las Trancas-Bahía de Papagayo aqueduct is one of the 54 projects implemented by the Comprehensive Water Supply Program for Guanacaste (PIAAG).

 

 

 

• Cooperation agreement will be for a term of five years.
•  ICT and CINDE will join forces to attract investments.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) will implement a new strategy over the next five years in the search and promotion of foreign investment projects in the tourism sector that respect the authenticity, values and cultural traditions of the country’s communities. To accomplish this goal, ICT signed an agreement on Thursday with the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives (CINDE) a body that has specialized in attracting foreign direct investment to Costa Rica for 37 years.

“We will support projects from the country’s creative industry, which supports culture as an engine of growth”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo. “A coordinated and efficient effort is required to promote Costa Rica as a suitable destination for foreign tourism investments. CINDE, which is a premier investment promotion agency according to the International Trade Center (ITC), has the experience and strategic partners to help us reach our goals”, she noted.

The General Director of CINDE, Jorge Sequeira, commented: “This agreement will allow CINDE to promote the arrival of tourism infrastructure projects that will have a direct impact on the creation of employment across the country. We are putting all our technical experience in assisting investors at the ICT’s disposal so that we can increase the positive impact of the important work our institutions perform. We are also pleased to support a sector whose foreign exchange earnings from tourism represented 6.3% of the GDP in 2016 and which also creates thousands of jobs in regions outside the GAM region, with knock-on effects for thousands more”.

Foreign direct investment in the tourism sector includes hotels, leisure and corporate properties, themed attractions and sporting infrastructure, as well as the port and airport infrastructure that supports the tourism sector. Each of the inter-institutional projects will be executed individually.

“For several decades, tourism has been classified as one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy. With this agreement, the world’s highest-ranked foreign investment promotion agency will provide support for ICT’s tourism infrastructure programs. I am sure that this partnership will generate numerous benefits for all Costa Ricans that will be translated into benefits for the country and job opportunities throughout the full expanse of the country. Today, we are celebrating this agreement between the tourism and foreign trade sectors, in which we will work as partners to help revitalize our economy”, said the Minister of Foreign Trade, Dyalá Jiménez.

As part of the agreement, ICT is committing to inform CINDE about its plans and work programs to that opportunities for synergy can be identified. The parties will also share knowledge, specific skills and experience in issues related to promoting and attracting investment.

ICT will also adopt measures aimed at prioritizing its involvement in the One-Stop Investment Program managed by PROCOMER to streamline procedures and facilitate the process of enacting foreign investment projects.

CINDE will formulate plans and strategies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism infrastructure sector and will seek to bring target investment areas on board for the tourism infrastructure sector. Furthermore, it will work to develop an integrated system for FDI promotion, supported by promotional materials, to achieve efficient management and promotion of foreign tourism investment.

 

 

• Since 1990, February 21 has been International Tourist Guide Day.
• CONAGUITUR is an inter-institutional professional certifying agency that will establish and monitor training programs for guides

In the course of celebrations for the International Tourist Guide Day,the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) announced the official formation and legal induction of the members of the National Commission of Tourist Guides (CONAGUITUR), an inter-institutional agency with representatives from the public and private sectors, which will establish and monitor a training program for certified guides.

CONAGUITUR is overseen by the ICT and is also made up of the Costa Rican Association of Tourist Guides (Acogitur) and the Costa Rican National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (Fenaguitur). Furthermore, it has active representatives from the National Training Institute (INA), the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) and the Costa Rican Operational Association (ACOT).

CONAGUITUR met for the first time on Thursday in the ICT headquarters in the presence of all of its representatives. The session served as an opportunity to review the Tourist Guides Regulation, published in La Gaceta last November, whose chapters include the membership and scope of the commission.

“Forming this commission, for the ICT, is a tangible demonstration of the importance of teamwork and a partnership between the public and private sectors that has been brought about by common objectives. CONAGUITUR will be able to validate, train and formalize tourist guides, who are one of the main actors in the value-creation chain in the tourism industry, which is an engine of the Costa Rican economy”, declared Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

Luis Diego Madrigal, President of the Costa Rican National Federation of Tourist Guides (Fenaguitur) noted that “guides are the largest sector under ICT regulations, and the creation of a commission was vital. We have been waiting for this commission for over forty years, as it will help us regulate, support and sustain tourist guides and other actors”.

In the ceremony, the President of the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), Sary Valverde, recognized “the major effort that was undertaken to reach a consensus that will now allow us to have the largest possible representation for tourist guides at a national level. This will be done through CONAGUITUR, which will have the capability of understanding and solving the individual needs of such a profession as large as tourist guides, who are indispensable for tourism activities”.

Valverde added that the involvement of CANATUR in the commission will allow it to serve as a channel of communication between guides, fostering a recognition on the part of the private sector of the value of certified tourist guides and the importance of qualified professionals to maintain levels of excellence in all of the tourist services offered in the country.

CONAGUITUR starts off with clear functions

Starting at the first working session, the road map for CONAGUITUR will be based on its 16 functions. A focus on technical education, professional development and training of tourist guides with programs from INA. In this area, studies that guides have undertaken from international tourism guide organizations will be recognized.

Another key function will be to harmonize training programs to set objectives and content in accordance with the required professional profiles according to the standards and needs of domestic and international tourist activities.

Furthermore, it will seek to manage and coordinate monitoring action with the competent entities to comply with the Regulation on Tourist Guides and related legislation. CONAGUITUR will monitor the agreements, programs and public-private projects related to its oversight role for tourist guides operating under the ICT aegis. Finally, the commission will play a role in proposing regulations that set out continuous improvements in the tourist guide profession, as well as developing activities to strengthen the profession and to acknowledge work performed by guides that is outstanding or extraordinary.

ICT noted that the Tourism Board’s legal counsel is making inquiries with the Costa Rican Attorney General’s office, asking that the hiring of certified tourist guides be made mandatory for all tourist activities.

“ICT’s tourism marketing has confirmed and validated the importance of tourist guides in the services that they provide to visitors. It consolidates the processes and makes it possible for investments to generate value. It makes tourism services tangible with a face-to-face interaction that sustains the image that is projected internationally and strengthens the National Plan of Tourist Development. This is the importance of a guide that does their job well, which is why guides should be certified and trained to provide service to tourists”, said the FENAGUITUR President.

The ICT has 2,299 guides with registered valid certification (1,226 with general certificates, 634 with local certificates and 439 who are specialized in adventure activities)

 

 

 

• Air Transat will add two direct flights, one to the Liberia airport and another to Juan Santamaría
• A cooperative campaign will be developed over the course of the year to promote Costa Rica in the cities of Toronto and Montreal.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) and the Canadian airline Air Transat confirmed an increase in the number of seats the company would offer to Costa Rica’s two international airports. Two flights originating in Toronto were added this winter, one to the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport and another to Juan Santamaría International Airport.

“Attracting airlines and a greater number of seats from our main tourist-sending markets is a significant achievement that benefits the country’s tourism market. It is a significant achievement that is the result of our ongoing efforts in this strategic area”, said the Costa Rican Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

“Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in the popularity of Costa Rica among Canadian visitors, and Air Transat is pleased to be able to meet this demand with direct flights from Montreal and Toronto”, said Annick Guérard, Director of Operations at Air Transat. “This destination is ideal for nature lovers who are delighted to discover new experiences; it also appeals to those who love spending their vacation on the beaches and coasts”, she added.

Hermes Navarro, Director of Investment Attraction for ICT, confirmed that the agreement was signed at the end of January during a meeting at FITUR 2019, an international tourism fair in Spain, with representatives from the airline.

“We are very proud to deepen our ties with an airline that has proven its strength in Canada, especially in the cities of Montreal and Toronto, where most of the Canadian tourists who visit us come from”, Navarro said.

Air Transat operates several weekly flights to San José from Montreal (Monday and Friday) and Toronto (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday). It also flies to Liberia three times per week from Toronto (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and twice from Montreal (Wednesday and Friday).

Continuous improvements in the Canadian market

The ICT is will also be carrying out a cooperative campaign with Air Transat over the coming year using the airline’s own communication media as well as other Canadian mass media with the aim of promoting travel to Costa Rica, especially in the cities of Toronto and Montreal Although the amount to be invested and the implementation date remain to be confirmed, each of the parties will contribute 50% of the investment.

Some 217,000 tourists arrive in Canada each year from all sources in 2018, which represented an increase of 7.5% over the previous year.

According to ICT statistics, 42% of Canadians who visit Costa Rica travel with their partner, 24% with their family, 22% on their own and 9% with friends. The average stay of tourists from Canada is 14 nights, and their average spending per person is $110 per day.

The preferences of Canadian visitors tend towards sun and beach activities (84%), hiking (50%), observing flora and fauna (61%), visiting volcanoes (46%) and enjoying hot springs (37%), among other activities. These exit surveys are delivered to tourists and are multiple-choice.

 

Our capital will become a showcase for the emblematic art of Jorge Jiménez Deredia, a Costa Rican sculptor whose work has attracted international renown. The public spaces, boulevards and museums will host the exhibit The Power and Universality of the Sphere, where visitors will be able to enjoy 27 featured monumental works that the artist has created out of marble, bronze and granite.

You can find this display on the pedestrianized section of Avenida Central, in front of the Central Post Office and in the Plaza de la Democracia. In addition, the exhibit will include features in the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum, the Jade Museum and the Museum of the Central Bank.

Cultural Identity

“The idea is that all Costa Ricans should be able to come into contact with my work and be able to understand a little bit of why art is important for the people through the features in the city’s museums and all the information stands”, Jiménez Deredia said.

The artist went on to say that this is an opportunity for everyone passing through the city to have a greater closeness with works of art, a global conscience and urban spirit, and, most importantly, an awareness of Costa Rican history.

Art in all its forms

San José’s municipal government invited the sculptor over a year ago and has taken charge of the organization of the activity along with other governmental bodies and corporate sponsors.

The first phase saw an installation of sculptures and photographs in the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum relating to Jiménez Deredia’s artwork. This exhibit is based in an understanding of one’s own cultural identity and the way in which a sense of being and existence are contained in a symbol like the sphere.

Meanwhile, the Jade Museum is presenting a series of photographs relating to the artist’s work in its east wing that were taken by the world-famous photographer Ignacio Guevara. Marble and bronze sculptures are featured in the installation, which will also offer an opportunity for the public to directly experience the creative process of the making of a sculpture by participating in interactive workshops directed at children and adults, as well as special sessions for the visually impaired.

We recommend that you download the free Deredia SJO app, which you can use to scan the QR code of each piece’s descriptive plaque. This will give you additional information about the exhibit and artist, as well as a map of where each art piece is located. For added inclusivity, this app can be used by persons with visual impairments.

“This is my first major exhibit and may be the last one I do in San José. This showcase took over 20 years of work and being able to show the physical objects that will be exhibited here requires an investment of time similar to what would be needed to create new pieces. Sculpture is a thought made material; this project is important for me, as it reflects my effort to understand myself as a Costa Rican and to automatically understand the symbols that represent me, which are part of the work, and communicate them to the public”, Derrida concluded.

The Power and Universality of the Sphere will be here for you from February 20 to July 14.

 

 

• Bloque Victor was inaugurated on Friday by the President of the Republic and represents a westward expansion of the country’s main air terminal.
•  It has four boarding lounges, a basement for baggage handling, a restaurant, a VIP lounge and a pet area, among other innovations.
•  This investment of $23.5 million will increase the airport’s number of boarding gates to 20, with 13 boarding bridges

Over 14,000 domestic and international passengers who arrive and depart the country every day will benefit from the modern expansion of Juan Santamaría International Airport, which was inaugurated on Friday by the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada.

Bloque Victor (V Block) is the new four-story building that represents a westward expansion of the airport of more than 6,000 m2. It will have four boarding lounges, two with connecting bridges and two for remote positions.

It also has a restaurant at the departure gates, a VIP lounge, and a 45 m2 pet area with artificial grass, waste bag dispensers, drinking fountains and hand-washing stations.

The investment in this project totals $23.5 million, of which $22.5 million came from the expansion plans being implemented by AERIS Holding Costa Rica for Juan Santamaría. The remaining million dollars is a contribution from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) for the expansion of the concrete parking ramp for aircraft by two positions, totaling 5,500 m2.

The inauguration activity was attended by the Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Rodolfo Méndez Mata, the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, the General Director of Civil Aviation, Guillermo Hoppe, and the Executive Director of AERIS, Rafael Mencía.

“It is with great excitement and satisfaction that I am witnessing the completion of part of the work that we inspected in November”, said President Alvarado, referring to the night-time visit he carried out late last year.

“This airport - which represents the main port of entry and departure of the country - is receiving a total influx of $96 million for its modernization and expansion”, Alvarado continued.

In addition, President Alvarado reaffirmed the government’s commitment to economic revitalization, the strengthening of projects to improve service to passengers and the concerted efforts to attract more airlines and tourists.

Minister Méndez Mata explained that this project was designed to be implemented over a two-year period, with the objective of meeting the growing demand for passengers and cargo at Juan Santamaría Airport.

Rafael Mencía, Executive Director of AERIS, explained that this modernization effort would improve service and airline operations. “Juan Santamaría will increase its total number of boarding gates to 20, with 13 boarding bridges. V Block is a modern, comfortable and safe space that will contribute to the country’s competitiveness”, he emphasized.

This expansion and modernization project is the result of a joint effort for the country’s development by the airport management company, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, the Costa Rican Tourism Board, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation and other state institutions.

The General Director of Civil Aviation, Guillermo Hoppe, noted that “in line with our main pillars of safety management, timely assistance to users and maximizing resources and innovation, we at DGAC celebrate the initiatives to promote inter-institutional cooperation and private sector partnerships. This is a clear example of how public-private partnerships create positive results”.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, explained that six of every ten international passengers entering Costa Rica pass through Juan Santamaría International Airport, with a growth in arrivals of 5.9% through this port of entry between 2017 and 2018.

“Because of its role as strategic infrastructure for our tourism industry, improving its services enriches the experience of our visitors while maximizing the country’s competitiveness”, the ICT head concluded

 

 

• Minister of Tourism seeks to consolidate the Spanish market through a strategic partnership
• Iberia announces the introduction of its new Premium Economy class on its flights to Costa Rica

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, and the President of Iberia, Luis Gallego, signed an agreement this Thursday to promote Costa Rica in Europe. The announcement was made during the Fitur 2019 tourism fair.

Revelo noted that the agreement will strengthen the ties of friendship between the Costa Rican tourism sector and one of its most important strategic partners in Europe. “Signing this agreement will lead the way for greater efforts to consolidate and boost the Spanish and European markets”, said the Tourism Minister.

For four decades, Iberia has been connecting Costa Rica with Europe, with the first-ever direct flight to the continent. The partnership has remained constant over the years, with the airline offering quality air transport services for passengers on their established San José to Madrid-Barajas route. “We have been flying to Costa Rica for over 40 years and we have promoted the country as a tourist destination across Europe. We are delighted to renew our commitment to Costa Rica and to be able to offer our customers new services for quality tourism”, said the President of Iberia at the signing ceremony.

Partnership to build quality

The promotional campaign includes actions on the airline’s official communication channels including the Ronda Iberia newsletter, the airline’s social media and the website www.iberia.com, which will promote the sale of seats in the Spanish market. The company projects an increase in demand that will strengthen its other connections throughout Europe.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board will develop a joint promotional campaign for the destination. The cooperation with Iberia will last for three years and will represent an as yet undefined investment.

Some 480,000 European tourists visited Costa Rica in 2018, 69,000 of whom were Spanish nationals, according to official data. Observation of flora and fauna is a top choice that Spaniards enjoy (89%) in Costa Rica, as well as sun and beach activities (87%), visiting volcanoes (73%) and hiking (63%), according to multiple-choice questionnaires completed by visitors to the country.

Premium Economy on flights to Costa Rica

Iberia has just begun to offer Premium Economy service on the daily direct flights it operates between Spain and Costa Rica. This service is an intermediate offering between Business and Economy class with 23 seats, which represent an investment in quality tourism and passengers with a greater spending potential. Premium Economy is designed for customers who tend to fly Economy but who are willing to pay a little more to travel in greater comfort, with additional services on board and at the gate. Iberia flights between Madrid and San José are operated by A340-600 planes that offer 23 Premium Economy seats. Some of the features offered by this new class are:

• 20% more space between rows of seats - 94 cm in Premium Economy as opposed to 78.7 cm in Economy class
• Wider seats: 48 cm in Premium Economy as opposed to 43 cm in Economy
• 40% greater recline, from 5” in Economy to 7” in Economy Premium
• Adjustable headrests and reclining footrests
• 12” FullHD screens (9” in Economy), noise-canceling headphones and connectors for individual electronic devices
• Exclusive on-board service: welcome drink, exclusive menu and exclusive grooming kits
• Larger baggage allowance: two suitcases included with ticket purchase, priority boarding and disembarkation and special check-in counters in the Madrid airport.

 

 

• For the first time, Costa Rica will host the Social Tourism Encounter of the Americas from June 12-15.
• The official announcement was made at the Costa Rican stand at Fitur in Madrid, Spain in the presence of world leaders in social tourism.

For the first time, Costa Rica will host the 2019 Social Tourism Encounter of the Americas from June 12-15. The official announcement was made at Fitur, an international trade fair being held in Madrid, Spain. Costa Rican Minister of Tourism Maria Amalia Revelo made the announcement alongside officials from the International Social Tourism Organization (ISTO), represented by Inés Ayala Sender, ISTO President, Sergio Rodríguez Abitia, President of ISTO Americas and Verónica Gómez, Director of ISTO Americas.

According to the Encounter’s organizers, the main goal of this meeting is to share the vision for twenty-first century tourism that ISTO has been promoting and implementing through its global partners. This event also sets out to create an additional space for the exchange of ideas, models and strategies through collaboration and innovation to promote and develop social tourism throughout the Americas and in Costa Rica.

Minister Revelo noted that she was extremely pleased to welcome this continent-spanning event. “In Costa Rica, we are developing a social tourism model with integrity that seeks to have a positive impact on everyone, no matter their social status, nationality or age, so that they can enjoy and access the sustainable tourist attractions of our country”.

ISTO President Inés Ayala Sender remarked on the importance of promoting social tourism in every country in the Americas, with the aim of bringing the public into contact with spaces that create well-being. She also highlighted the ways in which the tourism industry has a social responsibility that it has to meet with initiatives organized systematically throughout the countries of the Americas.

Previous meetings have been held in Montreal, Mexico City, São Paulo and Santiago.

The meeting that will be held in Costa Rica is divided into three different periods, each one with a focus on raising awareness and adopting best practices in social tourism. These practices emphasize solidarity and sustainability and are currently being applied in some countries in the Americas. In addition, a seminar will be held entitled “Tourism and sustainability: rights, access and current challenges for Social Tourism”. The ISTO Annual General Meeting will also be held, along with a series of expert visits to interested companies that will showcase successful social tourism experiences in Costa Rica.

Social tourism blooms in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, social tourism is seen as a universal right that guarantees access to rest, recreation, leisure and free time with suitable economic conditions, accessibility, security, comfort and quality for populations who are experiencing social and economic vulnerability.

“Social tourism is a tool that will allow many more citizens to experience tourism through national programs that facilitate these activities. They improve citizens’ quality of life through enriching experiences in sustainable destinations throughout the country. In addition, it offers tourism companies the opportunity to provide an important social service”, Revelo concluded in her remarks at the official announcement in Madrid, Spain.

The announcement, held in the Costa Rica stand at Fitur, was attended by other authorities in sustainable tourism issues. Representing Chile was Andrea Wolleter, National Director of the National Tourism Service (SENATUR). Jorge Mario Chajón, Director-General of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute also attended, along with Liz Chirinos Cuadros, Vice-Minister of Tourism of Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR).

What is the reach of the International Social Tourism Organization (ISTO)?

The International Social Tourism Organization (ISTO) is a not-for-profit organization created in Brussels in 1963. It is known as the home of socially responsible tourism around the world. It has over 150 partners in 47 countries around the world and it promotes close collaboration between its members and partners. ISTO has three regional bodies, including ISTO Americas, which is responsible for promoting, building relationships, coordinating actions and exchanging information with partners in the Americas. The regional group also supports the creation of public policy on tourism and the development of programs throughout the Americas

 

 

 

 

• Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, met with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as well as 35 Ministers and Secretaries of Tourism from around the world.
• For the first time, a historic number of tourism enterprises participated, with 50 companies showcasing the most outstanding and innovative Costa Rican tourism offerings.

During the first day of activities of the 2019 International Tourism Fair (Fitur), the Costa Rican delegation played a leading part. The delegation, headed by Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, included a historic contingent of 50 tourism enterprises. The fair is dedicated to tourism and travel, and will be held from January 23 to 27 in the massive IFEMA events center in Madrid. Fitur is considered one of the largest trade fairs in the world. According to the organizers’ official data, this year’s event will feature participation from 165 countries, over 9,000 companies and an expected 200,000 attendees, which will include industry professionals and the general public.

The official opening ceremonies were held by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. The royal couple held a closed-door meeting with over 35 tourism ministers and secretaries. Minister Revelo attended this meeting and was greeted warmly by the royals. King Felipe acknowledged the efforts that Costa Rica had made on sustainability issues.

Following the official opening, the participating Costa Rican tourism sector entrepreneurs began their negotiations, showcasing the ample Costa Rican tourism offerings, which include sun, beach, nature, birdwatching, wellness and adventure activities, among others. The Costa Rican business delegation is made up of hoteliers, travel agents, tour operators, car rental agencies, chambers of tourism, rural tourism businesses and theme parks.

Minister Revelo noted that she was very satisfied with the participation of Costa Rican business leaders in one of the largest tourism fairs in the world. “Today, we are taking part alongside 50 tourism companies, all of whom have an ICT Tourism Declaration or Certificate of Sustainability, and they are all committed to developing the European market”. The Minister pointed out that in addition to meeting with Spain’s leading tourism companies, they were creating business connections with companies from around the world, and holding strategic meetings with airlines, wholesalers and international press, including some of the most prominent Spanish media.

Another boost for “Pura Vida”

The Department of International Trade Fairs at ICT coordinated the construction of an impressive stand measuring 300 square meters and decorated with natural Costa Rican plants. The one-on-one negotiation spaces and meeting rooms were combined with wide-format digital screens and a series of activities that included coffee tastings, cotton candy, shaved-ice cones and rosquillas. A high point of the day’s events was the presence of the painter and artisan Rolando Alvarado, an expert in painting ox-cards, who spent the day painting an ox-cart wheel in the famous style of the Sarchí Canton.

Meanwhile, Minister Revelo spoke with the international press, participated in strategic meetings with wholesalers, and visited the Guatemala stand in the Central America pavilion to take part in official events with her Central America counterparts. This included the transfer of the rotating Presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA) from Belize to Guatemala. The Minister finished the first day of the event with a meeting with the famous Spanish fashion designer Juan Duyos, and Carla Royo-Villanova, the Princess of Panagyurishte and Duchess of Saxony. The designer’s summer collection is inspired by Costa Rica and will be presented at the Madrid Fashion Week later this year.

Finally, as part of the events surrounding Fitur 2019, the Ambassador of Costa Rica in Spain, Ana Helena Chacón was invited as a panelist in the Women’s Forum for Dialog and Education. Chacón’s talk was entitled: “Women and Tourism: Other Visions”.

Spain represents the fourth-largest European tourist-sending market, with over 69,000 visitors recorded over 2018, with an average visit length of over 12 nights. Spanish tourists stand out for their passion for the country’s nature, sun, beaches and hiking. The increasing visits by Spaniards to the country generally take the form of family visits or couples’ holidays.

 

 

• The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo gave a talk on opportunities for tourism investment and the challenges facing innovation in Costa Rica at the Ibero-American Conference of Tourism Ministers and Businesses.
•  The twenty-second version of the Ibero-American conference was attended by the Ministers and Secretaries of Tourism from Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, and Venezuela.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, held a pair of talks at the XXII Ibero-American Conference of Tourism Ministers and Businesses (CIMET), an event held in the run-up to the official program of activities of Fitur 2019 in Madrid, Spain. Participants from Latin America, Spain and Portugal shared their advances and innovations in the tourism industry. They also discussed new trends in a highly connected world with variable costs, where there is an ever-growing need to foster unique, unforgettable experiences, comfort and high-quality services.

In her first appearance, the Minister spoke in front of an audience of over 300 people from a total of 16 countries in the Ibero-American region. She touched on the tourism investment opportunities that Costa Rica offers, with an emphasis on how small and medium tourism businesses are the backbone of the tourism development model.

In addition, she noted that Costa Rica surpassed 3 million international tourists with an increase of 5% in arrivals to the international airports of Juan Santamaría in San José and Daniel Oduber Quirós in Liberia. The tourism head mentioned the notable increase of tourists coming from Europe, with a historic figure of over 480,000 visitors. “These figures are a source of pride for us, because we have reached them steadily and we interpret them as a clear demonstration of our maturity and strength as a destination”, Revelo said.

The Minister mentioned other relevant issues relating to the improvement of investment conditions in Costa Rica, the importance of Spain as a trading partner, the development of tourism enterprises, promotion and marketing of Costa Rica in Europe and the increase of eight connecting flights from Europe as a key element of connectivity. She also underlined the importance of the country brand, Essential Costa Rica.

“Essential Costa Rica reflects the essence of what we are: a small country with a concentrated population full of people with talent, specializations, inventiveness, warmth, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Our essence contains the great riches of our land: though it only represents 0.03% of the earth’s territory, it is home to around 5% of the biodiversity. With a population of 4.6 million people, it exports 4,500 different products to 146 countries”, she went on.

For additional context, the European Union, the third most important region for Costa Rica, represented 16.1% of the country’s total trade in 2017, with exports totaling $2.19 billion and imports of $1.60 billion.

New Challenges for Innovation

The second talk consisted of a panel relating to new challenges in the area of technology and information. In this session of CIMET, the Minister emphasized the impact of the Social Progress Index (IPS). “Using the IPS and with support of various universities, we have applied technology to measure the impact on well-being in various tourist zones of Costa Rica, taking the leap from economic measurements to social ones as well. She added that the innovative measuring tool allows the measurement of how higher quality of life can be achieved for the citizens of Costa Rica and for those of the region.

This year’s CIMET saw participation from tourism ministers, vice-ministers and secretaries from Spain, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, as well as the main representatives from the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Accommodations (CEHAT), the Spanish Tourism Council, the Spanish Institute of Tourism Quality and the Iberia airline. The presence of Jaime A. Cabal, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was another noteworthy feature of the event.

The twenty-second CIMET was held in the IFEMA North Convention Center from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CET. The day’s events concluded with a working session between all of the participating ministers and businesspeople

 

 

“I am Pura Vida. When are you coming?”

• Giant posters along the Paseo de la Castellana and digital promotions in the Atocha Train Station invite thousands of Spaniards to visit Costa Rica.
•  Over 69,000 Spanish tourists chose the country as a destination last year.

Beginning today, Costa Rica will be showing a surfer in the middle of the sea and sun on a 450 square meter surface in front of the Plaza de Cuzco in the centrally located Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, Spain. The giant billboard will invite Spaniards to escape their winter months to come see Costa Rica’s tourist attractions.

At the same time, the Atocha Train Station will be showing breathtaking images and videos of the nature, fauna, adventure activities, waterfalls, beaches and cultural encounters that Spanish tourists will experience in Costa Rica. The promotional video will play some 1,000 times each day on giant screens and on interactive digital displays in this crowded station. At the same time, the escalators leading to the Madrid-Barcelona high speed trains have been decorated with allegories, special designs and colors that were inspired by the traditional Sarchí ox-carts.

This outdoor promotional campaign in the city of Madrid has been titled Yo estoy Pura Vida. Y tú, ¿Cuándo vienes? (I am Pura Vida. When are you coming?) It is directed at a market that has been growing constantly, which sent over 69,000 tourists between the months of January and December 2018. For Costa Rica, Spain is the fourth-largest tourist-sending market in Europe.

“For the first time in our history, we are carrying out a destination positioning campaign in an outdoor environment on a large scale for the Spanish market, which allows us to have a major reach using strategic points like the Paseo de la Castellana and Atocha Station”, noted Ireth Rodríguez, Promotions Director at ICT.

This campaign stands out for the size of the displays, the wide visibility, the reach and the location chosen. Around 60,000 vehicles and 285,000 people pass through the Paseo de la Castellana every day. The building chosen to display the giant poster is located in the financial heart of Madrid.

Atocha Station has daily traffic amounting to 1.8 million passengers with an intermediate and upper intermediate demographic profile. Most noteworthy, it sees some of the best prospects for Spanish tourists identified by ICT’s research.

The investment involved in this campaign was around €90,000.

These actions have been coordinated jointly with the support and backing of the Blueroom public relations agency in Spain and will coincide with Costa Rica’s participation in the FITUR 2019 fair, one of the largest tourism and travel fairs in the world, which will be held next week in Madrid.

According to ICT studies, Spanish tourists who visit Costa Rica stay for an average of 13 nights and spend some $198 per day. Observation of flora and fauna is a top choice that Spaniards enjoy (89%) as they travel through the regions of the country, as well as sun and beach activities (87%), seeing volcanoes (73%) and hiking (63%), among others. The questionnaires were completed by Spanish tourists who visited the country and were multiple-choice

 

 

 

• The works will include a new air terminal, widening and improvements to the runway, construction of a parking platform for three aircraft, as well as improvements to the security band and perimeter fencing.
• The investment will be over ₡3.4 billion and will benefit operators, tourists and passengers.
• President Alvarado indicated his satisfaction at having completed a project that is returning hope to the populace. “As part of the economic revitalization measures, we are also working to improve the airports of Palmar Sur, Golfito and Pérez Zeledon”, the President said.

The Drake District, at the southern end of the Osa Peninsula, will receive a boost to its tourism and economic revitalization thanks to the modern works carried out in the regional airport, which amount to an investment of ₡3.4 billion from the resources of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation.

The new infrastructure, which includes the construction of the terminal, runway, security band and perimeter fencing, was inaugurated this Wednesday by President Carlos Alvarado Quesada.

This activity kicked off an intensive tour of the far south of the country for the President, which will see him travel over four days to the cantons of Osa, Corredores, Golfito, Coto Brus and Buenos Aires, accompanied by the leaders of some twenty institutions.

During the event, General Director of Civil Aviation Guillermo Hoppe explained that the new and modern air terminal consisted of a 260 m2 area that would host 162 people.

“Having this infrastructure is incredibly important to facilitate the entry of more operators to the region and increase the arrivals of tourists and passengers, which will translate into substantial improvements for the local and national economy”, Hoppe specified.

The work also included an expansion of the paved area of the runway (from 10 to 18 meters wide and 770 m to 1,004 m long), as well as the construction of a parking platform for three type B aircraft and improvements to the security border and perimeter fence.

President Alvarado indicated his satisfaction at having completed a project that is returning hope to the populace. “We are focused on the economic revitalization of the Southern Region, which is why we will continue improving the airports of Palmar Sur, Golfito and Pérez Zeledón”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism Maria Amalia Revelo commented that “the investments in infrastructure have been fundamentally important for tourism development, which is why we at ICT laud the modernization of this air facility, the substantial improvement in compliance with air travel safety and the comfort that it offers tourists”.

The Minister went on to add that “for many years, the landing strip was unpaved, and there were no facilities for processing passengers or waiting rooms. We are witnessing a project that, without a doubt, will bring positive developments with it for tourism in Drake and the neighboring towns, an airport that represents relief for tourists given that the trip here by land and sea lasts some six hours”.

Advancing airport modernization in the Southern Region

The General Director of Civil Aviation, Guillermo Hoppe, explained that, much like in Drake, they are continuing to improve the remaining airports of the southern region with efficient, transparent, responsible and appropriate management, making an effective use of resources. These are the details of the improvements:

Palmar Sur:Reconstruction of the runway structure, remodeling and widening of the terminal, vehicle parking, improvement in the security border, horizontal limits and runway lighting. This airport is currently in the final steps of implementation. Investment: Over ₡1.45 billion.

Golfito.Remodeling and widening the existing air terminal to offer heightened comfort for tourists, passengers and air operators. Investment: ₡400 million.

In the second phase, ₡700 million will be invested to improve the runway.

Pérez Zeledón. A new module will be built for the air terminal, and the aircraft parking area will be expanded for greater ease of use. Investment: ₡225 million.

 

• ICT and companies from the country’s private sector will attend the Vakantierbus tourism fair - the largest in the Netherlands - on January 9-13 in the city of Utrecht.
• The Dutch market is one of the main European tourist-sending countries for Costa Rica. Over 30,000 visits to the country by Dutch citizens were recorded in 2018, representing a growth of over 8% compared to the previous period

Starting this Wednesday, Costa Rica will be showcasing the most outstanding aspects of its ample and diverse tourism offerings at the five-day Vakantierbus international trade fair. Highlights will include sun, beaches, adventure, a closeness with nature, “Wellness Pura Vida” lifestyle offerings and meeting tourism. Vakantierbus is one of the largest trade fairs in the European country, which is itself one of the continent’s largest markets.

The fair is aimed at the general public and is held in the city of Utrecht on January 9-13. It is the first fair of the year in which the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) will be participating, alongside representatives from the country’s private sector. This attendance is part of the ICT’s program of international trade fairs.

The Costa Rican stand will occupy a space of 100 square meters and boasts outstanding decorations that highlight the essence of Costa Rica using a series of giant photographs and large screens, which show attendees audiovisual representations of Costa Rica’s unmissable attractions and activities. In addition, the trade fair includes negotiation tables and customer service areas.

According to Ireth Rodríguez, Head of Promotion at ICT, participating in Vakantierbus will kick off the international trade fairs program for the year 2019.

“It is vitally important for the Costa Rican Tourism Board to start off the annual plan for participating in international trade fairs on the right foot with this tourism and travel fair in the Netherlands. This is one of the largest European tourist-sending markets”, Rodríguez said.

The promotions director noted that Costa Rica registered over 30,000 tourist arrivals from the Netherlands in the year 2018, a figure that represents an increase of over 8% over the previous period of 2017. She further emphasized the direct connection between San José and Amsterdam currently being operated by KLM, as well as the increase in direct flights to Europe.

ICT’s tourist profile for Dutch visitors indicates that their main reasons for visiting Costa Rica are to enjoy the country’s beaches, engaging in open-air activities such as nature hikes, hanging bridges and ziplining, observing flora and fauna, visiting volcanoes and visiting hot springs, among others.

Rodríguez indicated that participation in international trade fairs is one of the most important actions for the institution in terms of raising the profile of Costa Rica as a tourist destination. “Trade fairs allow us to display Costa Rica and its variety of attractions and activities on offer to tourists from various geographies. Furthermore, it allows us to secure commercial agreements by approaching strategic partners such as airlines and tour operators, while allowing for a negotiation platform for the businesses that come along with us.

ICT is projected to participate in at least 20 of the most prominent trade fairs, with the objective of contributing to the promotion and positioning of Costa Rica. The main tourist-sending markets in North America, South America and Europe have been chosen to showcase the country. The program includes participation in trade fairs for the general public, those aimed at specialized tourism professionals, meeting tourism and others.

Costa Rica will be participating in a number of upcoming international trade fairs in January and early February, including FITUR in Spain, the New York Times Travel Show in the United States, and FESPO in Switzerland.

 

 

 

• Costa Rica Green Airways is a new operator with flights to Tambor, with Quepos and Nosara coming soon.
• The airline’s entry strengthens the supply of regular local flights and the promotion of domestic tourism.

Over 10,000 local operations have been recorded in the six months following the inauguration of the SJO Domestic Terminal, representing a total of 50,000 passengers arriving and departing from the terminal between May 14 to October 31 of this year.

Starting in early November, the supply of regular local flights was strengthened by the launch of, Costa Rica Green Airways, a Costa Rican-owned airline that is flying to Tambor, Puntarenas.

“Ever since we began this work, our conviction has been to provide a more responsive service with airline operations in a modern, comfortable and secure space. The arrival of a new airline reconfirms the commitment AERIS has to Costa Rica in terms of improving the relationship with our users and serving operators with airport infrastructure that the country deserves. Furthermore, it is a signal of trust and the opportunity that exists to increase a service that stimulates the economy and promotes visits to different parts of the country”, said Rafael Mencía, Executive Director of AERIS Costa Rica.

Growing domestic traffic in Juan Santamaría International Airport fits perfectly with the efforts made by the government to improve the quality of the tourist experience, as well as well-being and productive linkages throughout the country’s territories.

“We are delighted by the news that a new airline will be serving the country’s domestic transportation needs. With domestic and international tourism on the rise, Costa Rica needs more actors to transport tourists from one region to another, which will broaden the benefits that our tourist industry can provide”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

Flight	Departure time	Departs from	Destination
CRGA420	7:00 a.m.	SJO	TMU
CRGA422	10:30 a.m.	SJO	TMU
CRGA424	3:15 p.m.	SJO	TMU
CRGA421	8:00 a.m.	TMU	SJO
CRGA423	11:30 a.m.	TMU	SJO
CRGA425	5:00 p.m.	TMU	SJO

Costa Rica Green Airways operates three flights in each direction with a fleet made up exclusively of twin-engine aircraft that specialize in taking off and landing on short runways, noted Everardo Carmona, the company’s CEO.

“Our first destination will be Tambor, with three flights per day and prices starting at $98. We will soon offer additional destinations, beginning with Quepos and Nosara, with expansions to the rest of the country following suit. We will also be expanding our fleet and offering charter flights”, he added.

The airline has been planning its launch for over two years as a sister company to Carmonair Charter. It recently received the Air Operator Certificate (COA), which grants it official status and allows it to run regular flights.

“Connectivity is a key factor for the development of communities. It opens up enormous commercial and tourism opportunities: the more choice travelers have, the more they will be attracted to the country. There is no doubt that this new and modern Domestic Terminal will show results in the very near term, with local airlines such as Costa Rica Green Airways and a greater influx of tourists, including domestic and international travelers”, said Guillermo Hoppe, Director-General of Civil Aviation.

The SJO Domestic Terminal can move over 200,000 passengers per year on regular and private flights, which represents a total of around 20,000 operations.

An increase of scheduled domestic air traffic operations is expected in 2019, with a further flight from Skyway coming in December, and TAC Airlines beginning operations next year.

 

• “Taking care of one another is in our nature” is the main message of the initiative. 
• The campaign was presented within the XX Tourism Safety Congress, organized by CANATUR and sponsored by the Costa Rican Tourism Board.

Using the slogan “taking care of one another is in our nature”, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) launched a new tourist safety campaign on Wednesday, to coincide with Costa Rica’s main tourist period, with high numbers of visitors from abroad as well as local tourists.

The publicity components were shown in the opening ceremonies of the XX Tourism Safety Congress, an event held by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) and ICT, which is being held in the Costa Rica Convention Center.

The Congress brings together over 700 representatives of the Costa Rican tourism sector from every region of the country for training on tourism safety issues. The invitees were the first ones to learn about this campaign, which has been designed to build capacity with respect to the importance of taking care of one another, both locals and visitors from abroad.

The first phase will be underway from today to December 22nd.

Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism, noted that “this campaign is the result of joint efforts that we have been bringing forward with various public institutions to strengthen tourist safety by calling for people to take care of one another as well as those who come to visit us”.

“A sustainable destination must also be a safe destination”, Revelo emphasized.

In addition, training events with local and international experts were held on Wednesday for over 700 business leaders from the tourism sector.

While taking part in the opening ceremonies of the Congress, the Minister of Public Safety, Michael Soto, highlighted the importance of training representatives of the various sectors involved in tourism activities. In addition, he stressed that the partnerships being developed between different ministries and the private sector serve to strengthen wider issues of security across the country.

ICT has led joint efforts alongside the National Committee for Tourist Safety (CONSETUR), which is comprised of the Public Safety Ministry, the Judicial Investigation Organization, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic and representatives from the Embassy of the United States, the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGA) to adopt measures to strengthen tourist safety.

Rafael Quesada, ICT’s Head of Promotions, explained that the campaign is making an appeal to the natural tendency for ticos to take care of one another, show solidarity and respect others.

The Juan Santamaría and Daniel Oduber international airports will be showing safety videos produced by the ICT’s Tourist Service, which will include messages regarding rip tides, preventive measures to take when renting a vehicle and taking care of personal belongings in public areas, including on buses.

 

• Aeroméxico is an airline that has operated in Central America and the Caribbean for over 11 years
• More than 100,000 Mexicans visited Costa Rica in 2017, a figure that led the airline to open a new route to the country.

Aeroméxico, the flagship Mexican airline, will begin operating a seasonal route between Liberia and Mexico City, which will be available beginning November 10, 2018 until April 21, 2019. Liberia is now the second destination served by the airline in Costa Rica, in addition to San José, to which it began flying over 8 years ago. With over 11 years of operations in Central America and the Caribbean, Aeroméxico is the largest Mexican carrier in the region.

This new route is being operated with Embraer 190 planes with the capacity for 99 passengers, 11 of whom will fly in Premier Class.  

The itinerary of the flights is as follows:

Liberia, Costa Rica- Mexico City*

AM 2657

12:06 a.m.

3:10 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday

Mexico City – Liberia, Costa Rica*

AM 2656

8:15 a.m.

11:06 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday

* The times listed are the local times in each country and are subject to change without warning.

Paul Verhagen, the Director of International Sales for Aeroméxico, said: “With the opening of this new route, Aeroméxico is strengthening its relationship with Costa Rica, a country that is full of opportunity and which has become an ever more important partner for Mexico. Mexico is the second-largest investor in Costa Rica in the Americas after the United States. With over 35 Mexican companies operating in this country, we are sure that this air connection will benefit both countries while increasing their tourism and cultural exchanges”.

Meanwhile, Hermes Navarro, Director of Investment Attraction for ICT, noted that this new flight arriving from Mexico will not only increase connectivity with a country that one of the main tourist-sending markets, but also connect Costa Rica to all of the connections Aeroméxico offers to destinations in the United States, Asia and Europe. It will be a valuable contribution to the development of tourism in Guanacaste and nearby regions, a tangible demonstration of ICT’s efforts to bring airlines to the country. “We are very pleased to announce the official opening of this new route to Daniel Oduber International Airport. This has been a joint effort by CATURGUA, CORIPORT and ICT to promote tourism linkages to small and medium enterprises, as well as to Costa Rican families who make their living from tourism”, Navarro concluded.

Furthermore, CORIPORT, the operator of Daniel Oduber International Airport, noted that this route will open the door to one of Latin America’s largest airports, which will allow visits from Mexico as well as from various other destinations with connections in Mexico City.

“We are pleased to be building bonds with Mexico, and we are sure that the tourists who visit us will have an excellent first impression of Guanacaste, just as we have incredible respect for their nation. We will continue our efforts to attract new flights, and this is an excellent time to celebrate our continued growth”, said César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT.

Over the last decade, visits from Mexico have seen a considerable increase. By the end of 2017, over 100,000 arrivals had been registered from the country, showing the keen interest in this market for Costa Rica's tourism offerings. By this August, over 69,000 arrivals from Mexico had been recorded, a figure that may well increase with the opening of this connection. According to studies done by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, over 53% of tourists from Mexico take part in activities such as enjoying the sun and beaches, observing flora and fauna, experiencing local cuisine, visiting volcanoes, and others. These are activities that can be enjoyed in the province of Guanacaste.

This means that Aeroméxico will not only increase its international connectivity and presence in Central America, it will also strengthen its commitment to offering more and better options to its clients with quality destinations.

ABOUT AEROMÉXICO GROUP

Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are dedicated to commercial aviation in Mexico and to the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeroméxico, Mexico's most global airline, operates over 600 daily passenger flights on regular routes to 43 destinations in Mexico and 46 international destinations from Mexico, including 18 in the United States, 11 in Central America and the Caribbean, 7 in South America, 4 in Europe, 3 in Canada and 3 in Asia.

The Group's operating fleet is comprised of around 130 Boeing 787 and 737 planes, along with the latest generation of Embraer 170 and 190. In 2012, it announced the largest investment plan in the history of Mexican aviation, with the purchase of up to 100 Boeing aircraft, which will comprise 90 B737 MAX and 10 B787-9 Dreamliners.

As a founding partner of SkyTeam, an alliance that is now in its 18th year, Aeroméxico offers more than 1,000 destinations in 177 countries thanks to its 20 member airlines that allow passengers the possibility of receiving various benefits and enjoying 672 VIP rooms around the world. Furthermore, it also has commercial partnerships with Delta Air Lines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, EL AL, GOL, Jet Airways and WestJet, Aeroméxico offers a wide variety of connections to countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Colombia, India, Israel and Peru. www.aeromexico.com www.skyteam.com

 

 

• The event will feature participation from local and international experts, who will hold talks and panels.

Costa Rican tourism business leaders will be trained on security and innovation issues during the XX National Tourism Congress (CNT), an event being organized by the National Chamber of Tourism in collaboration with the Costa Rican Tourism Board on November 21-22 in the Costa Rica Convention Center.

The CNT is the largest event for the country's tourism sector, bringing together leaders and representatives of the public and private sectors. Each year’s event seeks to delve deep into the current issues affecting the industry while also creating spaces for dialog and reflection.

The slogan of the twentieth Congress will be “Towards Tourism Excellence: Innovation and Security for a Competitive Destination”. To this end, it will feature talks, conferences and discussion panels, which will be facilitated by local and international experts.

“Security and innovation are priority areas for the competitiveness of the destination. That is why we are seeking to build capacity among our business leaders through training and the communication of experiences and success stories. We are seeking to find solutions to the challenges we have and to strengthen the sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of our tourism sector", said the President of Canatur, Sary Valverde.

The first day of the event will be completely free of charge and exclusively by invitation for representatives of the tourism sector. The day will be reserved for dealing with issues relevant to the country’s integrated security, from prevention to proper management of emergency situations.

Local experts will participate in these events alongside specialists from countries including the United States and Spain, who will speak about the impact of crime on the tourism industry and risk management for events and tourism.

According to Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, “sustainable tourism must also be safe, which is why the training being held by ICT on the first day of the XX National Tourism Congress has set the goal of raising awareness and involving business leaders in the task of improving the service given to tourists, as well as the assistance they receive in the event of an emergency. This is one of the efforts that this administration is undertaking to coordinate the actions of the State, local governments, business leaders, civil society, academia, embassies and other actors for preventive measures to make Costa Rica a safer destination”.

The second day will have innovation as its primary focus, with the objective of ensuring that the sector adapts to new global trends and challenges. Juan Manuel Baixauli, an expert in the field, will be in attendance to give two keynote speeches: one on Innovation and Creating a Tourist Product, and another on Trends in Tourism Distribution.

In addition, there will be panels on competitiveness and more precise information will be presented on the impact of tourism activity on the country’s economy.

“It is an honor for us to be part of this important event, since innovation is a key pillar of our strategy that is founded in our business vision. We understand that innovation is a process rather than a single idea or action. The opportunity of hosting this meeting allows us to make a substantial contribution to the discussions, since visitors will experience an event carried out at the CCCR, which is one of the most innovative experiences currently offered by the Costa Rican tourism sector”, added Álvaro Rojas, General Manager of the Costa Rica Convention Center.

Tickets to the second day of the Congress cost $125 per person or Canatur member, or $95 for affiliates and $75 for students.

For more information about the event, please call 2234-6222 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

• The Costa Rican Tourism Board will merge the operations in their Guanacaste regional office in the city of Liberia beginning on November 1.

In the interest of maximizing existing resources and locating the regional office of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) in the most strategic location for the consolidation of the services provided to the province of Guanacaste, the country’s leading tourism institution will only have a single regional office in the city of Liberia as of November 1.

Previously, there were two regional offices, one of which was located in Nicoya and the other in Liberia, also known as the “white city”. However, with the issue of an administrative order to foster the achievement of results, a decision was made to consolidate staffing and operations in Liberia. While the office will remain in the same building, located 150 meters east of the Police Force offices, the ICT is currently searching for a larger office closer to Daniel Oduber International Airport.

With the merger of these offices, eight ICT employees will remain active, seven of whom will be located in Liberia, along with an additional employee who will serve the public in the country’s second-largest international airport, also located in Liberia.

According to Jorge Retana, Coordinator of Regional Offices of the ICT, the unified regional office will maintain the services they provide in an optimal manner. These include the Tourism Declaration procedures as well as those for the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST), development concerning the awarding of the Ecological Blue Flag for beaches, and monitoring of all aspects of the Coastal Land Zone. It will also continue providing support to tourism in the region. Finally, it will continue to develop its actions relating to tourism service, such as responding to complaints as well as being the processing point for various institutional procedures.

It should be mentioned that Mr. Walter Torres will remain in his position as Director of the Regional Office of Guanacaste, a position he has held for six years with exceptional performance in his duties. For more information and for additional questions, tourism business leaders in Guanacaste can get in touch by telephone at 2666-2976. The hours of operation are from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

 

 

• Cuisine, artisan products, agricultural products and tourism offerings are part of the first edition of the Turrialba Tourism Festival
• Entrance is free of cost and there will be draws for tours and lodging, among others

The first edition of the Turrialba Tourism Fesitval is a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this canton, while sampling good food, purchasing products from local artisans and learning more about the region’s tourist attractions, all in a single place, in a festive and family-friendly environment.

The activity, organized by the Turrialba Chamber of Tourism, will take place on Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11 in CATIE, where different producers and businesspeople from the region will offer the best they have to offer to win over visitors.

During the two days of the fair, attendees can enjoy the wonderful artisan products from the region, including jewelry, painting, traditional masks, hand-made bags and wooden sculptures, as well as delicious traditional food, including cheese tortillas, rice & beans, cajetas and home-made ice cream.

This is also an ideal opportunity to learn more about the spaces and attractions around Turrialba, with special prices and unique offers for those who visit the festival. You can find out about rafting on the Río Pacuare, mountain bike tours, visits to the CATIE botanical gardens, information on National Parks and Archaeological Sites, and private reserves for hikes and birdwatching, such as La Marta and Espino Blanco.

“We have created a space to share the different attractions in Turrialba, while also ensuring that it is a place for the entire family. We invite you to support the efforts of artisans, small producers and businesspeople who want to show you all of the beauties of our canton”, said Shirley Bermúdez of the Turrialba Chamber of Tourism.

From 9:00 a.m. until nighttime, visitors can experience traditional games, concerts, circus activities, hikes and good food, all of which are part of the agenda that has been prepared to win over Costa Ricans to visit this canton of Cartago Province. You can also enjoy the CirConexion Circus, with acts that include fire, machetes, classic juggling, daredevil performances, tightrope, unicycles, clowns and much more.

Admission is free, and parking is available for cars at ₡2,000 and motorcycles at ₡1,000. There will be bus service on the Transaro line from downtown Turrialba to CATIE. You can visit the Visite Turrialba page for more information.

 

Agenda

Saturday, November 10

9:00 a.m. Festival inauguration, presentation by the Turrialba Folklore Association

10:00 a.m. Presentation by Gimnasia Amigos

12:00 p.m. Presentation by UCR music students

1:00 p.m. INA culinary show

1:45 p.m. Photography contest

2:15 p.m. Band contest

4:00 p.m. Presentation by the Rondalla de Turrialba

5:00 p.m. Free-style presentation

5:30 p.m. 10 km night race start

6:00 p.m. CircoConexion presentation

6:30 p.m. DITSÄ KAJUÑE presentation (Indigenous knowledge)

Sunday, November 11

9:00 a.m. Dog walk

9:30 a.m. Dancing exercise (Oscar Saborío)

11:00 a.m. Traditional games

11:30 a.m. Pasacalles CUC

12:30 p.m. Presentation of the Turrialba symphony orchestra and choir

12:30 p.m. ABC landscape photography workshop (beginners)

1:30 p.m. Ritmo Caribe dance group

2:00 p.m. Photography workshop prizes

2:10 p.m. Presentation of the integrated destination plan

3:00 p.m. Grupo Marfil concert

 

 

• Total investment in the new projects will reach $76.5 million
• The airport’s first expansion will be towards the west, with new boarding areas, a widened runway, southern taxiway and secure area.

From the end of October to mid-2019, group of large projects will begin to open at Juan Santamaría International Airport. These infrastructure projects are being carried out by AERIS, the administrator in charge of Costa Rica’s main airport.

Work began in the middle of this year on the Calle La Candela project, which consists of six construction projects valued jointly at $39.5 million.

“The La Candela project work is sure to be a catalyst for larger projects, and their main effects will be felt in a more efficient airport with faster takeoffs and up to 12 additional takeoffs per hour on runway 25. That means, for example, that the wait times at peak hours will be much lower and airlines operating in the airport will be better served”, said Rafael Mencía, Executive Director of AERIS.

1. Relocation and extension of Calle La Candela, the objective of which is to create space to develop a series of much-needed improvements to the airfield. This project will improve the airport’s connections to the communities of El Coco, La California and Ojo de Agua, as well as between the communities themselves.
2. The road that passes by the eastern side of the airport will be moved 300 meters, and a new 1.5 km road will be built.

The new section of Calle La Candela from the Autopista General Cañas to the Ojo de Agua intersection was completed on October 26th. Meanwhile, the section from Ojo de Agua to the west will be ready by December 17th.

1. The runway end safety area (RESA): it will improve operational safety at the airport, with an obstacle-free area that is 90 m wide and 150 m long, reserved for cases in which a takeoff has to be aborted.
2. Runway length extension: along with the safety area, there will be an extension of the runway by 60 meters, which additionally allows for the creation of two access points from the new south parallel taxiway towards the head of the runway.
3. New lighting system: completely substitutes the existing system of runway lighting, which has not been replaced in 40 years. It will provide improved protection against atmospheric discharges, more circuits to minimize adverse effects and improve redundancy, ease of maintenance and energy efficiency.

The RESA, the runway extension and the lighting system will come into service in mid-December 2018.

South Parallel Taxiway: the new taxiing surface will allow aircraft to proceed to the head of the runway for takeoff or to head to their parking position after landing.

The South Parallel line will eliminate the need for aircraft to travel by the runway itself to access the head of the runway (runway 25).

Furthermore, the new taxiway is far enough from the main runway that it allows wide-body aircraft to circulate without affecting operations.

1. East Sector Perimeter Road: it will be a road along the eastern side of the airfield, nearly 3 km in length, which will allow for access by all kinds of vehicles, including maintenance, security and firefighters to the eastern half of the airport. In addition, it provides two thirds of the access points required for the future Coopesa facility.

The Perimeter Road project and the Eastern Circuit of the South Parallel Taxiway will be concluded between April and May of 2019.

Victor Block: new boarding areas and more points of contact

A new 4-story building with over 6,000 square meters will expand Juan Santamaría airport towards the west for the first time. The new construction is called Victor Block (V Block), and its features will include:

1. Four boarding lounges:

• Two with connecting bridges
• Two for remote positions

1. Expansion of the parking ramp in two positions of 5,500 m2 of concrete.
2. A restaurant at the departure gates
3. An upper level for a new VIP lounge
4. Pet area 

“We have a genuine interest in contributing to Costa Rica’s competitiveness and in ensuring the development of modern and efficient airport infrastructure. Moving forward with air traffic means growing and growing quickly. With V Block, we will achieve 13 contact bridges and we will have the ability of having up to three wide-body planes at the same time in the boarding areas”, added Rafael Mencía, Executive Director of AERIS.

Block V will represent an investment of $20 million, with the work set to be completed in December of next year.

In parallel to the Victor Block development, the terminal will grow toward the west with a four-story space consisting of basement, arrivals, departures and mezzanine. The project, valued at $17 million, envisions:

1. 16 additional positions for checking passengers in or depositing baggage
2. 15 additional self-serve check-in kiosks
3. An additional baggage carousel fed from the basement
4. Expansion of the customs and agricultural areas from four to six processing lines
5. Additional area for airline offices

This expansion of the terminal will increase the general capacity of the airport and will decrease the passenger processing time.

All of these projects are part of an intense investment program set out in the AERIS Master Plan. The plan encompasses over $143 million and is aimed at improving the operation and providing Costa Rica with the airport infrastructure it deserves.

 

 

A photograph taken at Veragua Rainforest has been named a Highly Honored Finalist in the prestigious 2018 Windland Smith Rice Awards for Nature's Best Photography. The photograph will be featured in the 23rd Annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards Smithsonian Exhibition at the famed Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. from October 29, 2018 to September 2019.

The remarkable nature photograph, taken by Spanish photographer Javier Lobon-Rovira, shows a bright green and yellow Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur) perched on a crimson ornamental torch ginger plant. Native to Costa Rica, the critically-endangered Lemur Leaf Frog is being studied by the Foundation for Rainforest Research located at Veragua. The photograph is a finalist in the Conservation Story category.

​“I am so happy to have the chance to show the world the amazing project of the Agalychnis lemur developed by my friends at Veragua Rainforest, where I had the opportunity to spend time. Research, photography and conservation have been my life for many years and this is an honor and recognition to it all,” said Lobon-Rovira.

Category winners and a selection of Highly Honored images will be displayed as large, fine-art prints in the annual Smithsonian exhibition, and also published in the 2018 Fall/Winter Special Collectors' Edition of Nature's Best Photography magazine. 

Named for nature photographer and conservationist, Sandra Windland “Wendy” Smith Rice, the annual competition has become one of the most widely respected nature photography awards in the world. From more than 26,000 entries submitted to the 2018 competition, 60 images were selected to showcase the extraordinary work of outdoor photographers in 59 countries.

“United by their creativity and technical skill with a camera, these artists of all ages and experience levels share their visions of nature to inspire its conservation,” states Nature's Best Photography Awards information.

“It is an honor for Veragua Rainforest to be present at the Smithsonian Institution.  Showcasing one of the wonders of this unique reserve to the world is a testament to our conservation efforts and to Javier’s fascinating photography technique,” said Martí Jiménez, president of the Veragua Rainforest.

Javier Lobon-Rovira is a biologist and wildlife photographer from Asturias, Spain. Conservation and wildlife photography have been his passions since he was very young. As a biologist, he collaborates on research projects around the world for nature conservation.

In 2017, Lobon-Rovira spent three months at Veragua Rainforest collaborating with Veragua Foundation Research Coordinator, José Andrés Salazar Zúñiga, on the Lemur Leaf Frog Conservation Project. Once a common frog species in Costa Rica, Panama and northern Colombia, the Lemur Leaf Frog’s numbers have drastically declined in recent years. The last remnant populations in Costa Rica are found in the central Caribbean rainforests – where Veragua is located.

Less than one hour from the historic Caribbean town of Puerto Limón, the Veragua Rainforest allows visitors to explore the natural wonders of Costa Rica's amazing tropical rainforest. Surrounded by 100% rainforest, the private reserve borders the spectacular La Amistad International Park (“Friendship International Park”), the largest nature reserve in Central America. With enchanting views of the endless mountains of the Talamanca Range, world-class facilities, astonishing natural beauty, and a commitment to conservation and scientific research, the Veragua Rainforest offers the most complete, exciting and educational Costa Rican rainforest experience in all of Central America.

With on-site research facilities and biologists, the Veragua Foundation engages in ongoing scientific investigation of the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest in the Central Caribbean coastal mountains of Costa Rica. Formally known as The Foundation for Rainforest Research, understanding and protecting the biodiversity of Costa Rica's rainforests is at the forefront of the Foundation's work.

 

• The airline will fly 4 times per week and will begin daily flights on November 8^th.

Beginning this Friday, the new Spirit flight on the Orlando-San José route will double the number of available seats between the Floridian metropolis and Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica.

In the last three months of this year, Spirit will serve this route with Airbus A320 commercial airplanes, with 182 seats, and A319 aircraft, with 145 seats. This means that over the last quarter of 2018, the new flight will add approximately 12,728 seats to the existing 13,800 seats already offered by this airline.

“We are very excited to expand our service in Costa Rica,” said Matt Klein, the Chief Commercial Officer of Spirit Airlines. “Connecting the Orlando area with San José will unite families and friends and will offer more connections to other destinations in the Spirit network throughout the United States”.

The Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo, noted that the Costa Rican Tourism Board is aiming to “increase the arrivals to Costa Rica from various parts of the United States making connections in Orlando through Spirit. We also seek to increase the number of Costa Rican tourists traveling to Orlando and beyond”.

The North American market remains the main tourist-sending market for Costa Rica. In 2017, some 1,199,241 international arrivals were recorded from the United States. Meanwhile, between January and June of 2018 there were 813,321 arrivals originating in the US, representing a 5.7% increase over the same period from a year earlier. The United States offers a potential market of 24 million people to the Costa Rican tourism sector.

 

 

 

• The World Veterinary Association Congress will be held in the Costa Rican Convention Center from April 27-30, 2019.
• Some 1,500 people are expected to participate in the event, where they will hear from 62 speakers from around the world

Costa Rica has been chosen to host the World Congress of Veterinary Medicine, which will be held on April 27-30, 2019. This is a unique opportunity for veterinarians worldwide from every branch of the profession to meet and explore the challenges facing the health and wellness of animals. Some 1,500 people are expected to participate in the event, where they will hear from 62 speakers from around the world.

The meeting will be held in the Costa Rican Convention Center (CCCR): once again, the eyes of the world will be on Costa Rica, placing it on the map for meeting tourism. This will bring about business development opportunities for the participating countries and demonstrate once again the country’s ability to attract international events. This is the result of joint efforts and hard work on the part of various institutions, including the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) the Convention Bureau, The Convention Center and the various service providers who strengthen the destination’s offerings.

The organization and logistics of the World Veterinary Association Congress 2019 will be handled by COMEXP, a Costa Rican professional congress organizer. With over 30 years’ experience developing these kinds of projects; it has carried out over 600 successful events across Latin America.

The designation of Costa Rica as the host of the world meeting of veterinary professionals, held for the first time in Latin America, represents a “vote of confidence in the talent and skills of Costa Rican professionals”, said Nuvia Ramírez, General Manager of COMEXP.

COMEXP is very satisfied to have access to world-class infrastructure like the Convention Center. Without a doubt, it will attract new projects and will facilitate these kinds of activities in the country, bringing benefits for professionals in a variety of fields including the development of new businesses and tourism spending.

This is a major opportunity for Costa Ricans to realize that the organizers of international conventions choose the destination first, as in the case of Costa Rica, and once the country is confirmed, they select the venue and the service providers in charge of operations, among other tasks. “The synergy between various institutions was key to attracting this congress, and we at the CCCR have made our own contribution. We are working in a strategic manner to continue assisting other institutions so that our country keeps attracting more of these events” said the CCCR General Manager, Álvaro Rojas.

For Gustavo Alvarado, Director of Tourism Management at the ICT, this is good news, which demonstrates that the promotional efforts directed towards congresses and conventions are bearing fruit by attracting large international events. “The possibility of attracting a world congress of this size contributes to strengthening Costa Rica’s position in this sector. It shows that we are ideally equipped to host such events, with a committed private sector, a high level of quality in service provision, and a country with enviable geographical conditions that is close to a variety of tourist attractions, which will complement the experience of this group of tourists”.

The world-class venue provides participants with a 10-hectare campus with 3 halls of different sizes, which can be divided into various areas, as well as six meeting rooms, a press hall, a VIP room, and a cooking area, among other features.

The event’s scientific program will have three main areas: public health, academics and clinical medicine. Furthermore, sessions will be held which relate to areas including wildlife, smaller species, equines, buiatrics and regenerative medicine.

According to the organizers, registration has been confirmed for professionals from the Netherlands, Germany, India, Italy, Chile, Brazil, England, Argentina, Scotland, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Nigeria, Venezuela, Uganda, Peru, Uruguay, Japan, Korea and the United States.

Silvia Coto, President of the Costa Rican Association of Veterinarians (CMVCR), said that the event would be a unique opportunity to encourage “professional development and a pathway towards excellence in this profession”.

“We are offering a program with talks from world-renowned speakers regarding the latest advances in our discipline, their impact on public health, therapeutic applications, diagnostics, clinical issues and production”, Coto declared.

The CMCVR President highlighted that this was the first time that this congress would be held in Latin America, meaning that Costa Rican professionals would benefit from access to up-to-date information and learning about latest-generation techniques.

“For us as a country, this is an opportunity for local veterinary medicine to implement world-class strategies and knowledge, as well as the possibility to innovate and improve the services we offer to society”, Coto added.

Rojas concluded that the goal of the Costa Rican Convention Center is to satisfy the demand for meeting services, both at a domestic and international level, with the aim of becoming a leading global destination, which supports the ICT’s country strategy for this sector.

 

 

• For Costa Rica there are 22 athletes in men and 8 in women

Two days before the start of the Essential Costa Rica Surf Pro, the producer RPM TV defined the names of the national athletes who will have a wildcard to participate in the event.

The World Surf League (WSL), gave the organization a total of 5 wildcards for Costa Rican surfers; two of these were assigned by RPM TV to the Surf Federation of Costa Rica and the other three were in the hands of the producer.

RPM TV, decided to invest their spaces in three Junior figures: Aronne Ramírez, Kenneth Peralta and Zulay Martínez, the latter will be planted in Round 2.

"We want to take advantage of an event of this magnitude, to bet from now on for junior figures who have started to stand out in the sport", said Warren Báez, Senior Director of RPM TV.

For its part, the Federation decided to deliver the two wildcards to the national champions, one for Anthony Fillingim and the other for Rubiana Brownwell. But the good news is that the two athletes gave that joker to two other young promising national surfers, Sebastian Mora and Rachell Agüero, since the champions with anticipation were planted in the tournament.

Twenty-two men are registered for Costa Rica: Carlos "Cali" Muñoz, Noe Mar McGonagle, Jairo Pérez, Anthony Fillingim, Tomas King, Malakai Martínez, Esteban Chávez, Aldo Chirinos, Sam Reidy, Cedric McCrackin, Bruno Moggi, Anthony Flores, Darshan Antequera , Andre Chacón, Óscar Urbina, Axel Castro, Carlos Urbina, Bruno Carvalho, Carlos Brown; and the three that entered by wildcards Aronne Ramírez, Kenneth Peralta and Sebastian Mora.

The list of participating women is the following: Eva Woodland, Coral Wiggins, Paulina Summers, Nataly Bernold, Ryan Auxiela, Rubiana Brownell, and the aforementioned Zulay Martinez and Rachell Aguero.

The producer RPM TV, invites all lovers of surfing and the general public to enjoy this great event, which is completely free; The main competition will be held in front of the Best Western Hotel in Jaco Beach.

 

 

 

• For the first time, Elite and Basic categories will be granted with a 100% digital framework, cutting the Certification for Sustainable Tourism application in half.

Amidst the celebration of World Tourism Day, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) recognized the commitment of 72 tourism-sector businesses that increased their levels of participation in the new categories of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) standard over the last year.

A new aspect of the awards presented this Thursday morning in the Hotel Park Inn was the inclusion, for the first time, of the Elite and Basic categories, the new two-tier system created as part of the new digital certification process. The standard was created to strengthen the efficient use of commercial resources, preserve cultural and social values and promote solidarity and well-being in tourism communities. A total of 16 tourism-sector companies earned this prize for bridging the gap of this transition.

The process of obtaining this certification involves a user-friendly online registration, which includes a self-assessment to request a CST, which is then be reviewed by a group of leading auditors who are certified for that purpose. In this manner, a process that used to take around six to eight months to complete, with printed documentation and the presentation of evidence, is being changed to a 100% digital process, which lasts three to four months on average.

Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism, celebrated this renewal of the CST standard. “We are innovating and modernizing this certification tool so that it is in line with the digital age. We have simplified the procedure and are seeking greater reach for the CST standard in order to recognize the excellent management by businesses and organizations that are working actively to mitigate the impacts from their operations”.

As a result of this transformation, the CST standard is strengthening the social, cultural and economic work of tourist destinations, as well as their development. Furthermore, it reinforces Costa Rica’s position as a leader and pioneer in sustainable tourism.

The main components of the CST update process took place throughout 2018, beginning with the launch of the pilot plan with the first businesses, as well as informal workshops that provided information to the tourism-focused regions of the country to provide direction to interested companies on the new certification process. This process includes online registration, self-evaluation, the request and application for a hearing, the certification request, following which the Technical Verification Committee certifies the interested company.

Another new feature is the improvement of the CST standard and the increase in business categories from 6 to 9. The previous categories, namely lodging businesses, culinary businesses, tour operators, theme parks, vehicle rental agencies and tour operators in coastal waters, were joined by hot springs and spa businesses, institutions and organizations, as well as protected areas.

The award being given is a piece of artwork by Costa Rican artist and architect Francesco Bracci, who uses recycled materials in his sculptures to increase awareness about the consumer society that produces unrestrained waste and about the need to look to the future with sustainable practices like those recognized by the ICT’s CST certification.

UNWTO celebrates application of technology to tourism

Virgilio Espinoza, Head of Certification and Socially Responsible Tourism for the ICT, noted that these improvements are an enriching experience that has come from synergies between the public and private sector.

“The process of continuous improvement to the CST standard includes the inclusion of technological tools to this mechanism, which has resulted in greater efficiency in its application. It reduces the analysis periods and covers more companies in less time while facilitating the participation of the parties involved,” he concluded.

In 2018, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has been focusing on a worldwide emphasis on Tourism and Digital Transformation, which coincides with the modernization of the CST mechanism.

Currently, 399 businesses have received the CST standard and are participating in the renewal process to be included in the medium-term in the only two certification levels: Basic and Elite. Certified businesses receive special benefits from the ICT, such as discounts on their participation in international fairs, priority in domestic and international publicity campaigns, and inclusion in visits of international agents or journalists to Costa Rica, among other benefits.

 

 

San José, Costa Rica (September 18, 2018). Costa Rica is a world leader for its natural beauty, the warmth of our people and the strength of our democracy, aspects that are widely acknowledged and admired internationally. That is why I am urging the trade unions to choose the Costa Rican path of dialog, which will allow them to come to an agreement with the government and strengthen our country’s image.

The majority of the Costa Rican tourist industry is made up of small and medium businesses, which not only generate wealth, but distribute it to thousands of families. Last year alone, foreign exchange earnings from tourism grew to $3.864 billion, or 6.7% of the Gross Domestic Product. 

As Minister of Tourism, I call on protesters to observe good sense and calm. Defending the rights of a few cannot justify impinging on the rights of the rest of the population, affecting public services and the free movement of citizens and tourists who have chosen Costa Rica from among dozens of options as a destination to enjoy their vacation.

Blocking our national highways, especially in Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Limón, impedes the proper functioning of the country. Furthermore, acts of vandalism to the public infrastructure and threats to workers who have decided to keep working will not be tolerated.

I know that in this turbulent environment, many tourism sector businesses have developed strategies to mitigate the impact felt by tourists. Furthermore, they have supported the Police Force, recognizing their responsibility to maintain order. In particular, I would like to recognize the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (Caturga) and its leader, Aileen Ocampo, for her tireless work to support the police. Her proactive initiatives to coordinate travelers’ transportation needs and lend them a hand have helped in finding a solution. 

I am so proud of all of the workers at the Costa Rican Tourism Board for continuing with their duties during this strike, showing their commitment to the Institution, the tourism sector and the country.

Maria Amalia Revelo                                                                                                   

Minister of Tourism

 

 

 

• ICT is launching a manual to help tourism sector companies familiarize themselves with the Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Children and Teenagers.
• Over 50 tourism-sector companies were recognized for their commitment to the program. 

Both Children’s Day and World Tourism Day will be celebrated during the month of September. It is within the framework of these celebrations that the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), in coordination with Fundación Paniamor, recognized a group of 56 tourism sector companies for their commitment over 5 consecutive years to the Code of Conduct Program. The goal of this program is to discourage and prevent, to the fullest extent possible, the commercial sexual exploitation of underage children related to tourism and travelers. In turn, this initiative seeks to promote responsible tourism that is essentially rooted in the sustainable tourism model that has been developed in Costa Rica. This model includes a key component of tourist safety, namely the protection of underage children. The launch ceremony took place in the Hotel Crown Plaza Corobicí on Monday morning. The occasion marked the official launch of the Action Manual for Tourism Sector Companies, which will be available beginning today for free download on the official ICT website at www.ict.go.cr/es/sostenibilidad/codigo-de-conducta.html.

The creation of this manual seeks to invite more private companies from the tourism sector to take part in this program, which rewards hotels, tourism operators, adventure activities, vehicle rental agencies and other services for their commitment to ensure the protection and supervision of children and teenagers who use their services or who live in the areas where these tourism sector companies are located.

“For the Costa Rican Tourism Board, it is very important to promote and position Costa Rica as a tourist destination that is responsible for the most vulnerable sectors of our society. The Code of Conduct program reflects the interest that the tourism sector itself has shown in developing sustainable and responsible tourism for the sake of our children and teenagers. As a result of this self-regulation mechanism by companies linked to the tourism sector, we have been able to improve the process of voluntary membership in the program every year. This has included the creation, in collaboration with Fundación Paniamor, of a manual that explains each of the steps needed to file a suspected ESCNNA complaint in a practical and straightforward manner,” noted Gustavo Alvarado, Head of Tourism Management for the ICT.

Indeed, the 20-page digital manual includes information of interest about the processes to follow in the event of suspected activity, contact information, the complaint form to submit to authorities such as the Public Ministry, OIL, PANI, the Directorate of Immigration and Foreign Nationals, as well as signs that may indicate exploitation and may be detected by lodging services. The action is part of the program of Zero Tolerance for any suspected action against children or teenagers. The sexual exploitation of children and teenagers is a recognized problem worldwide and also in Costa Rica. However, the dedication that the tourism sector has shown, alongside Fundación Paniamor, Chambers of Tourism and the ICT, has shown Costa Rica to be one of the countries with the greatest commitment to eradicate the commercial sexual exploitation of underage children in the tourism sector.

“Fundación Paniamor, alongside the ICT and the private sector, has been applying its technical knowledge for many years in order to raise awareness, build capacity and promote the filing of complaints by businesses when they notice suspicious situations of possible cases of sexual exploitation against children and teenagers (referred to as ESCNNA) in their businesses or in the community. Sustainable tourism must include social sustainability. The situation of child exploitation is one of the most severe violations of human rights and we must never let down our guard in this important struggle” said Carolina Suarez, representative of Fundación Paniamor.

To sign up for this program, corporate signatories must commit to complying with the following five steps of the Code of Conduct:

• Participate in a training workshop held by the institution.
• Train 100% of their staff.
• Create a policy of ethics that includes zero tolerance for ESCNNA.
• Prepare a letter indicating commitment to the program by the administration.
• Present an annual report in which the degree of compliance with the commitments is recorded.

Those interested in further information and downloading the manual can access the website here: http://www.ict.go.cr/es/sostenibilidad/codigo-de-conducta.html

 

 

 

• Costa Rica will be in attendance at the 18th edition of Termatalia on September 12-14, displaying its advances in wellness tourism.
• This specialized trade fair will be held in Iguazu, Brazil, with more than 30 countries attending.

Advances in the Wellness Pura Vida strategy being implemented by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) to promote wellness tourism will be on display on September 12-14 in the Feria Termatalia in Iguazu, Brazil, in which more than 30 countries will take part.

Costa Rica is participating in the international trade fair for the third consecutive time, this time with a stand and the participation of business leaders from the tourism sector. The fair is the world’s largest in the area of hot springs, wellness and health. In addition, there will be demonstrations of healthy Costa Rican cuisine. The participation will be accompanied by destination-themed presentations that will focus on presenting Costa Rica as a wellness destination with scenery that exudes the natural energy of its biodiversity, which adds value to the experience.

“Building on the strategy, one of the goals of the ICT’s participation in Termatalia 2018 is to develop our network, which is a task we are undertaking with businesses that work in developing wellness tourism. For the first time, we will be presenting a demonstration of recipes and cuisine that is unique to the Blue Zone of the Nicoya Peninsula. The destination will also be shown to tour operators who sell and promote Costa Rica as an integrated destination for wellness, nature and adventure”, explained Melissa Tencio, coordinator of the ICT’s Wellness Pura Vida strategy. Tencio added that participating in this specialized fair feeds into the strategy, helps capacity-building efforts and helps the public-private partnership move forward while contributing to Costa Rica’s positioning in this market niche.

One of the most important events for the Costa Rican delegation will be the exchange of information in the panel “Strategies for Developing International Destinations for Health and Wellness Tourism”, which will feature international experts from Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Spain, Mexico, Austria, and other countries. The purpose of this event is to build knowledge, establish a basis for public policy in the respective countries and identify new global trends. In addition, Costa Rica will be present in a forum on cities with hot springs.

Wellness tourism is a global phenomenon of great economic significance, which is growing at twice the rate of tourism at large. Between 2013 and 2015, for example, worldwide revenue in this niche grew 14%, at $563 billion, and the Global Wellness Institute estimates that it will reach $808 billion in 2020.

Termatalia as a window into the world of global wellness

The eighteenth edition of Termatalia will be held in the city of Iguazu Falls, Brazil. According to this year’s organizers, the trade fair will mainly focus on exchanging experiences from a business perspective. World experts, business roundtables, investor forums, workshops and seminars will play a leading role, with participation from the international press. The event will also feature an international water tasting.

As part of Termatalia’s programming, the International Meeting on Water and Health stands out as a special attraction, with a panel of world experts amidst a “water bar” with a relaxation and wellness area, hot spring paths and a recreated hot spring center. In parallel, the trade fair space is divided into thematic areas dedicated to wellness, healthy habits, dermocosmetology, dermatological treatments, innovations in skincare products and healthy diets.

“Costa Rica will also be participating in culinary demonstrations, showing healthy diets that are aligned with the National Plan for Sustainable and Healthy Costa Rican Cuisine (PNGCS), with an emphasis on recipes from the Blue Zone of the Nicoya Peninsula and some dishes from La Fortuna de San Carlos, a tourist region known internationally for its hot springs. The purpose of these demonstrations will be to show the integral manner in which wellness can be combined with healthy diets”, noted Alejandro Madrigal, a Termatalia delegate in Costa Rica.

The chef in charge of the demonstrations of healthy Costa Rican cuisine will be Nicole Aguilar. She was selected by the Costa Rican Culinary Foundation, the ICT, the National Association of Chefs and the Gastronimía Esencial Project. “Participating in Termatalia will help put our country on the world culinary map thanks to creative recipes that use local, organic products. At the same time, it will allow us to promote sustainable, healthy development”, said Ms. Aguilar.

 

 

• Costa Rica “a stopover from Dubai” will be at the center of the promotion of the country as a tourist destination.
• Emirates Airlines will help connect Costa Rica with the Middle and Far East and with Africa.

The Technical Council of Civil Aviation approved the request from Emirates Airlines and JetBlue Airways for the operation of flights under a shared code between San José and Dubai via points in the United States. Emirates is one of the most sophisticated airlines in the world, flying with a fleet of 244 planes, all of which are Airbus 380 or Boeing 777-300, to more than 160 countries directly or with a shared flight. The base for the company’s operations is the Dubai International Airport.

This airport, with 78 million passengers traveling through it last year, will help Costa Rica connect directly from Dubai to the markets and destinations of the Middle and Far East and Africa, opening an important niche for the attraction of tourism and investments to the country.

The United Arab Emirates have shown interest in Costa Rica. Since the year 2010, an airline services agreement was negotiated and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, establishing overarching elements that are being made concrete today with the operation of the shared code.

The concept of a shared code consists in a cooperation agreement in which an airline partners with another to be able to reach other destinations to which it would not have direct access at that point in time.

In this case, Emirate Airlines has five weekly flights from Dubai to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, five weekly flights from Dubai to Orlando, Florida, and one daily flight from Dubai to JFK Airport, New York City.

In each case, these flights will connect with JetBlue flights from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando to San José, and from New York City to Liberia.

The shared code requested by the companies from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation includes all of the JetBlue destinations with routes to Costa Rica. They correspond to the routes Orlando- San José- Orlando, New York- Liberia- New York and Fort Lauderdale-San José- Fort Lauderdale.

In the case of the New York-Liberia flight, the government negotiated the beginning of JetBlue’s MINT service beginning on December 15, 2018, with an A321 plane that seats 159 and includes, for the first time on this route, 16 fully reclining business seats (called ‘business flat’).

The Vice President and Chancellor of the Republic, Epsy Campbell, showed her satisfaction at the news.

“I am especially pleased to learn of the success of the work carried out by the Costa Rican Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, along with our colleagues in the Chancellery and the Costa Rican Tourism Board. We have demonstrated that there is inter-institutional capacity to work successfully for the benefit of the country. Economic diplomacy is an important tool for development and the progress of our society”, she said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, noted that “this is the first step of the long path that awaits us in opening to the Middle Eastern market and to destinations further afield. We hope that in the medium term, we can begin to make headway into various markets with effective actions that promote travel not only to the Middle East, but also to the connecting destinations, including India, South Africa, Australia and some parts of Asia”.

Emirates Holidays, the tourism business that is part of the Emirates Group, will promote Costa Rica as a destination within the Americas.

Costa Rica and the United Arab Emirates have had reciprocal embassies in San José and Abu Dhabi since 2017 and 2018, respectively. Citizens of both countries do not need a visa to travel between the states, which have signed 11 international documents within a single year.

Dubai will be the host of the next World’s Fair, EXPO 2020 Dubai, which will take place from October 2020 to April 2021

 

 

• The event will bring together some of the best professionals in the world of surfing on October 4-7 in Jacó Beach
• The event’s prize pool will amount to a total of $40,000

Some of the world’s highest-ranked surfers will be competing in Costa Rica at one of the stops of the World Surf League (WSL). The event, whose official name is Essential Costa Rica Surf Pro, will be held in our country on October 4-7 at Jacó Beach with backing from WSL North America and the producer, RPM TV. The event has also been endorsed by the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica.

The WSL event will be held in Costa Rica with the world qualification series (QS) 1,500-point event. It will be stop number 52 for the men and 42 for the women, who have been competing throughout 2018 with the aim of obtaining the most points for the 2019 World Championship Tour.

“We are very proud to be able to bring together the best professional surfers in the world in such a high-caliber event. We have been working hard for two years, since we had an international amateur event in our country. Now, being able to have a WSL event commits us to redoubling our efforts”, said Manrique Mata, President of RPM TV.

Holding this competition in Costa Rica represents a great opportunity for the highest ranked Costa Ricans to participate, as well as allowing some surfers who are not in the general group to take part without leaving the country. Currently, the highest ranked surfers in their respective QS tours are Carlos Muñoz (ranked 39th), Noe Mar McGonagle (ranked 53rd) and Tomas King (ranked 139th) in the men’s group, as well as Brisa Hennessy (ranked 10th) and Leilani McGonagle (ranked 18th) in the women’s group. They will all have a place among the challenging waves of Jacó, though not all have confirmed.

The Costa Ricans currently signed up are: Rubiana Brownell, Paulina Summers, Coral Araya Wiggins and Eva Luna Woodland, in the women’s event; while Leo Calvo, Aldo Chirinos, Anthony Fillingim, Tomas King and Malakai Martínez are taking part in the men’s event.

WSL will be providing a total of 5 wildcards, three for men and two for women. With this in mind, RPM TV will be giving one from each category to the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica for the national-level champions, with three up for grabs before the event.

The manager of the North America tour, Brian Robbins, has seen the progress in Costa Rican surfing and has been a witness of how the discipline has continued to grow exponentially, especially among women, providing surfers with the opportunity of doing what they love on an international stage after beginning in their countries of origin.

“We are very happy to be coming back to Costa Rica. It will be great to help the entire organization to work on this event and observe how surfing will continue to provide even more opportunities in the future”, Robbins said.

One of the most outstanding aspects of this event is the support and vote of confidence given by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) as an official sponsor of this stop on the WSL circuit in Costa Rica.

“For ICT, it is an honor to support these kinds of initiatives, which support sports and tourism. Year after year, our country has been receiving international recognition for our excellent waves, spectacular beaches and unique backdrop for this sporting discipline. This event will allow us to show the world the essence of a country that promotes sustainable practices that generate an economic impact for communities”, said Alberto López, ICT General Manager.

This event will be completely free for fans of the sport and the general public, since one of the goals is to bring tourism to the region throughout the entire weekend.

Approximately 112 athletes will participate in Essential Costa Rica Surf Pro according to their ranking, 72 men and 40 women. The complete list will be released on September 18, the date on which registration closes.

About WSL

The World Surf League (WSL) is the entity organizing the annual tour of professional surfers.

The professional surfing’s first governing body, International Professional Surfers, was founded in 1976 and led by the Hawaiian surfers, Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick. The next evolution was to the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), founded in 1983 by Ian Cairns, which, in the 1990s, gave rise to the company philosophy of “the world’s best surfers, the world’s best waves”. In 2015, the ASP was officially turned into the World Surf League.

The WSL broadcasts live events over its webpage, www.worldsurfleague.com.

 

 

 

• Sunday saw the largest number of visits, with 730 people arriving.
• Tourists noted the orderly entrance procedure and indicated satisfaction with the observance of safety measures.
• Authorities believe that the flow of tourists will increase as the public familiarizes itself with the new ticket reservation system.

After being closed to the public for 16 months, the Poás Volcano welcomed 1,550 visitors last weekend following its official re-opening last Thursday in the presence of the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, leaders of the institutions involved, NGOs and the communities surrounding the volcano.

In the words of the administrator of the Volcán Poás National Park, Mahyar Shirazinia Riggioni, “the re-opening of the mountain has been a success, thanks to the increase in the daily visits we’ve seen at the National Park, as well as the public’s satisfaction with the new safety measures”.

He noted that 200 tourists came to the park last Friday, along with 620 on Saturday and 730 on Sunday, with visits increasing as the public became familiar with the new ticket reservation system.

Local and international tourists will notice the newly developed security system, which is the only one of its kind in the Central American region. It includes clear evacuation routes and better management of the number of tourists entering the National Park, along with refuges, protective equipment, and real-time gas monitors to protect the lives of visitors in the event of a possible emergency.

These measures were implemented thanks to the joint efforts of MINAE, ICT, the Emergency Commission, OVISCORI, RSN:UCR-ICE and non-governmental organizations such as Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre and Fundecor.

The protected area was re-opened to the public on August 31, after the security requirements put in place by the expert vulcanology group were met.

“The comments from visitors after reaching the crater have been positive. They rated their visits as orderly, with a strict control on entry in place to guarantee the safety of visitors” the park administrator added.

Visitors are reminded that the tickets to enter the park can only be acquired online, using the website of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC): www.sinac.go.cr. Tickets cannot be acquired inside the park as they could before the closure.

Access to the protected area is limited to groups of 50 visitors, who will be able to observe the volcano’s crater from the lookout for a maximum of 20 minutes. The hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The public is reminded that trails in certain sectors remain closed, as well as the picnic area.

 

 

• The official re-opening of the protected area, announced by President Carlos Alvarado, will feature an advanced risk management and prevention model.
•  The Poás Volcano will have refuges, protective tools and real-time gas monitors to offer visitors a safe experience.
•  Tickets will be sold exclusively online at www.sinac.go.cr.

With the official re-opening of the Volcán Poás National Park, announced this week by President Carlos Alvarado, Costa Rica will become the first country in Central America to have a risk management system in a national park featuring a volcano.

The model will provide the public with a series of measures set out by the CNE’s Technical Assessment Committee (CAT) of Vulcanology and Seismology. These measures, which include refuges, protective equipment and real-time gas monitors will provide protection to ensure the safety of people in the event of a possible emergency.

The park, which was closed over 16 months ago, will re-open to the public starting Friday, following the signing of the resolution to re-open the park in a ceremony that took place this Wednesday in the protected area, which was attended by President Alvarado.

In order to control visits, an online ticket purchasing system has been set up for both local and foreign tourists on the website www.sinac.go.cr.

The CAT has set a limit of 50 people per group to enter the crater lookout. They will be able to remain there for a period of 20 minutes.

President Alvarado expressed his satisfaction with the inter-institutional work and the joining of forces with the private sector and neighboring communities.

“The route that was followed has allowed us to re-open the park with a management model that will make us stand out internationally as an innovative country in the area of tourist safety”, the President noted.

The investment for this project amounts to ¢77 million, obtained from the Second US-Costa Rica Debt-for-Nature Swap, administered by the Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre and the Service Operation and Tourist Assistance Trust administered by Fundecor with the SINAC Central Conservation Area.

The funds were used to build the five refuges, to purchase real-time gas sensors, helmets and masks, as well as safety signage and training for park rangers, tourist guides and residents of the surrounding communities.

The Minister of the Environment and Energy, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, noted that work has been ongoing on a continual basis since the beginning of the Alvaro Quesada administration to make this re-opening possible while complying with the standards set by the experts.

He highlighted the formation of the high-level committee that included MINAE, SINAC, ICT, CNE, Oviscori and the Seismological Network, as well as non-governmental organizations like Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre and Fundecor, and representatives from the Poás Chamber of Tourism, the Fraijanes and Poasito ADIs and Coopetransasi.

The Vice-Minister of the Environment, Pamela Castillo, explained that the experience of visiting Poás will now be completely different and very exciting. “People will have to wear helmets and will only have access to authorized areas. Other sectors of the park will remain closed for security reasons, such as the Laguna Botos lookout.”

She remarked that visitors would even be able to observe some of the impacts of volcanic rocks on the lookout’s railing.

The President of the CNE, Alexander Solís, noted, “Our main mission is to ensure the protection of the people visiting and working at the Poás Volcano. Since the events of more than a year ago, we have coordinated a new volcanic risk management paradigm, which has led to our work to comply with safety measures”.

Regarding safety measures

5 refuges have been built: 3 new modules and 2 renovations and/or retrofits of the park’s existing infrastructure, such as the control house in the crater and the central hall in the health services area close to the crater area.

• A 2.5x2.0 m refuge for 18 people at the crater.
• A 2.0x2.5 m refuge for 10 people at the crater.
• A 1.5x3.2 m refuge for 8 people at the crater.
• Enlargement and remodeling of the control house for 20 people at the crater.
• 30 m2 of earthenware for the central health services module for 50 people.
• 4 wooden structures with shade cloth to keep tourists off the paths.

200 helmets, 70 masks and 4 real-time gas measurement sensors, were also acquired, which will be able to detect high levels of sulfuric acid and other gases that are potentially harmful to humans. In the event of an emergency, a protocol will be activated to move visitors to a safe place.

“In the event of a possible emergency, there will be ten seconds to reach a refuge and put on masks”, said Vice-Minister Castillo.

Zdenka Piskulich, Executive Director of Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre, commented that “part of the mission of the second Debt-for-Nature Swap is to strengthen protected areas through the involvement of the communities”.

“That is why are not just supporting the reopening of the national park, but are also working to ensure that the residents are leaders in its management, and can diversify the economic activities in the region. They have received various training courses and will continue to receive our technical and financial support”.

Felipe Carazo, Executive Director of Fundecor, said that “the process of re-opening the Poás Volcano has allowed us to take advantage of our partnerships to make the Poás Volcano work as a protected area and a tourist destination. All of our support will be directed to the work that is yet to come, the economic revitalization”.

The Poás Volcano has exhibited a sustained decrease in its activity. However, if new, smaller eruptions or more hazardous events occur, whether related to the groundwater or magma, measures will be taken to ensure the safety of employees and visitors.

 

 

• The sales will be carried out exclusively via the site www.sinac.go.cr.
•  Tourists will be able to purchase tickets to enter this Friday, August 31.
•  The system will facilitate access on the daily schedule from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•  The modernization efforts seek to provide security measures for visitors to the volcano

Volcán Poás National Park will be opening its doors once more with a modern online booking system through www.sinac.go.cr, which seeks to ensure safe, controlled access.

It is essential to purchase tickets before visiting, as they will not be sold in the park the way they were before the park’s closure.

Entry to the park will be enabled starting this Friday, August 31, with tickets available for purchase online as of this Wednesday.

The Vice-Minister of the Environment, Pamela Castillo, explained that this method of purchasing tickets – similar to the one used in Chirripó National Park – is part of a series of recommendations made by the National Commission of Emergencies in their comprehensive proposal for safe and orderly access to the park.

Castillo noted that an initial limit of 10 tickets per transaction will be put in place, and that groups of 50 visitors will be organized. Each group will be able to enjoy a view of the crater from the lookout for a maximum of 20 minutes.

This time limit at the crater is part of a measure that will allow this national park to have an effective response capacity in the event of a possible emergency, said Castillo, who has been leading the process from MINAE with intense coordination between institutions, non-governmental organizations and the communities around the volcano.

A series of actions aiming at responsible risk management were implemented in order to re-open this conservation area. They include the acquisition of safety equipment such as masks and helmets, the construction of safety refuges and the purchase of real-time gas monitors.

For safety reasons, neither the paths nor the picnic areas will be open during the first stage. The cafe and souvenir shops will also remain closed.

         Online booking system

The system is similar to the one used in Chirripó National Park. To purchase tickets, visitors must register with a username and reserve the date and time they wish to visit the volcano.

It is essential to purchase tickets before visiting, as they will not be sold in the park as they traditionally were.

The cost of admission is:

• ₡1,000 for citizens and residents
• ₡500 for children of citizens and residents (aged 2-12)
• $15 for non-residents
• $5 for children of non-residents (aged 2-12)
• ₡500 for citizens and residents in primary and secondary school on field trips organized by educational centers that have been coordinated in advance with the administration of the protected area.
• Children under 2 years of age and citizens and residents over the age of 65 enter free of charge.
• ***For security reasons, it is not recommended for people with health problems to enter at this time; children under 12 and adults over 65 are also advised not to enter.

The daily schedule will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In the event of a possible emergency that prevents access to the park, tourists can use the ticket to visit another national park. Reimbursements will not be made.

Children under 12 and people with limitations due to health or age are not advised to visit the massif at this time.

Steps to purchasing tickets

1. Enter the site www.sinac.go.cr and click on the section “On line booking”.
2. If you are a first-time user, enter the information required and click.
3. In the “Purchase Requisition” section, select “Parque Nacional Volcán Poás”, as well as your preferred date and schedule, depending on the availability at the time. Please note the number of tickets required and the admission type. You must accept the terms and conditions.
4. On the next screen, please enter the following information for each ticket you are purchasing:

• The name and ID number of the person or people for whom you are buying the tickets.
• Origin (local or foreign)

1. Enter your debit or credit card information. Once the system has processed payment, you will receive a payment confirmation and a reservation number, which you must present at the park entrance.
2. If you are traveling in a personal vehicle, remember that you must pay for parking once you reach the park.

That’s it! Volcán Poás National Park is waiting for you. Enjoy your visit!

 

 

• The Minneapolis and St. Paul to Liberia route will see an increase of 15 flights between December and March.
• ICT is forecasting one of the largest busy seasons of recent years.

The US-based airline Sun Country Airlines announced that it will increase its operation from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota to Liberia, Guanacaste, for the busy season between December 2018 and March 2019.

With this increase of 15 flights, the airline will operate a total of 53 flights that will be distributed as follows: 6 in December 2018, 14 in January 2019, 15 in February and 18 in March.

“This increase in operations by Sun Country reflects the continued interest and trust of the US market in the Costa Rica destination. According to projections, this will be one of the largest busy seasons that we have had in recent years. We hope that it will bring with it many benefits for all communities”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

Minnesota is hit hard by severe snowstorms and low temperatures during the winter months, making a flight to Liberia highly attractive for its residents during the Costa Rican dry season.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Minnesota, with a population of over 3 million.

ICT’s Director of Airline Attraction, Hermes Navarro, added that “our intention is to see tourism from North America grow in a gradual, sustained manner to both international airports”.

He noted that the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela has had a 6.5% increase in arrivals from North America in May and 7.5% in June. In the specific case of tourists coming from the United States, this percentage rose by 8.2% in May and 9.2% in June.

Meanwhile, in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, visits from the three North American markets (United States, Canada and Mexico) to the Guanacaste hub grew 8.6% in May and 11.9% in June.  

In 2017, 525,661 international arrivals to Costa Rica were recorded in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber airport, 74.7% of which originated in the United States of America. From January to June of the current year, the figure has reached 331,187, according to data from the Directorate-General for Immigration and Foreign Nationals analyzed by ICT.

 

 

● Extensive training included an overview of the domestic tourism industry and the most important tools to guarantee quick and effective justice in cases involving foreigners.

Over the last week, the National Tourist Safety Commission (CONSETUR) held two workshops to raise awareness of the importance of tourism for Costa Rica, training consuls, honorary consuls, prosecutors, workers from the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), regional directors of the Police Force and police officers.

The activities were held on August 16-20 in the Hotel Tryp San José Sabana, and included talks on promoting visits and tourism, tourist safety, the role of the Office of Technical Assistance and International Relations (OATRI), part of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic, the proposed changes to the police report that the Police Force will send to judicial authorities in the event that the person affected is a tourist, and a presentation of the OIJ’s newsletter regarding the attention given to a foreigner visiting the country on a short-term stay.

The operational consultant for the Office of Planning and Operations of the OIJ, William Odio, explained to attendees that the newsletter, dated May 10, 2018, seeks to expedite complaints from tourists who have been the victim of a crime, noting that tourists will leave the country and for a case to be resolved in a satisfactory manner, as much information as possible should be collected so as to be able to locate and contact them afterwards, especially once they return to their countries of origin.

The OATRI prosecutor, Laura Monge, discussed success stories in which videoconferences were used so that victims or witnesses living outside of the country were able to play a key role in the resolution of criminal proceedings in which tourists had been victims.

With regards to the police report, the Director of Legal Assistance from the Public Safety Ministry, Kattia Rivera, noted that plans are being created for a new police report that would include the possibility of reporting whether the victim is a tourist as well as their native language, among other information.

These actions seek to create a trusting, supportive and peaceful environment for tourists visiting the country and for the authorities in charge of dealing with complaints filed in the event that the tourists are victims of a crime.

During the opening of the workshop, the Attorney-General, Emilia Navas, called for zero tolerance for criminal activity and emphasized that caring for the country’s beauty.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, repeated that tourist safety is a priority for her mandate, and that the ICT would take every measure necessary to protect both Costa Ricans and foreigners.

 

 

 

 

 

• The project will be led by the National Chamber of Tourism, a representative of the private sector in the National Tourist Safety Commission.

With the aim of building a safer destination for domestic and international travelers, the National Tourist Safety Commission (CONSETUR) suggested that each chamber of tourism should form a safety committee that is able to carry out preventative measures in the areas of the country they represent.

The project will be led by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), which holds one of the seats on CONSETUR, alongside the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the Public Safety Ministry, the Police Force, the Judicial Investigation Organization, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic and the Embassy of the United States of America.

The agreement was made last weekend in a meeting, which was also attended by members of the National Network of Small Hotels, the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, the Costa Rican Association of Car Rental Agencies and the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Operators.

Some 40 safety committees would be formed, corresponding to an equal number of chambers of tourism, according to the Executive Director of CANATUR, Shirley Calvo.

“We are pleased that the private sector is partnering with the public sector to meet the challenge of guaranteeing the destination’s safety”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo. “The Public Safety Ministry requires all of the assistance we are capable of lending to make Costa Rica a safer country”, she added.

Other measures

Last week, the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, announced that the ICT would transfer $1 million each year over the next four years from its budget to be invested in tourist safety. The annual sum would be equal to the amount contributed by this institution over the previous 12 years.

Some of this will be invested in equipment for the Tourist Police, as well as the development of an app with safety tips and important information for domestic and international tourists, the first version of which will launch in December 2018, at the beginning of the busy season. Finally, the investment will pay for the training of 4,000 business leaders from the tourism sector and an awareness-raising campaign that will call on the public to take care of one another.

The first 1,000 business leaders will be trained in commercial tourist safety within the framework of the CANATUR Congress on November 14-15. The training will be facilitated by security specialists from the tourism sector.

In the medium term, CONSETUR will consider the creation of a certification in security matters for tourism companies, to be granted by the ICT

 

 

• The app will be ready for the busy season and will provide advice on safety issues for tourists.
• The ICT will train 2,000 business leaders in the sector over the following six months in prevention strategies.
• It will launch an awareness-raising campaign, with a focus on gender to promote taking care of one another.
• The National Tourist Safety Commission will outline a plan for a $1 million yearly investment that ICT will dedicate to tourist security.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) will launch an application for domestic and international travelers, the first version of which will provide advice on safety matters for tourists. The goal is for the app to be ready for the beginning of the busy season in December.

This is one of the key steps announced on Friday, August 10 in the Casa Presidencial by the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, and the Vice-Minister of Public Safety, Eduardo Solano.

It is part of a series of actions aimed at tourism safety that the administration has fast-tracked due to recent violent events. They are seeking to involve public institutions, private businesses and the general public.

During the activity, the two officials noted that the National Tourist Safety Commission (CONSETUR) will outline a plan to invest $1 million per year for the next four years, which ICT will dedicate to tourist security through a partnership with the Public Safety Ministry.

CONSETUR is made up of the Public Safety Ministry, the Judicial Investigation Organization, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic, ICT, and representatives of the Embassy of the United States of America, the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (Caturgua).    

Measures announced

New app. ICT will implement a work plan to ensure that this app will be working in December, at the beginning of the busy season.

The app will be free to download for telephones running the Android and iOS operating systems. It will provide an orientation to tourists on safety issues, as well as on routes, suggestions on the most spectacular natural attractions, and more.

“In following versions, it will have safety notes on dangerous currents at every beach in the country, as well as the possibility that beachgoers themselves provide alerts about security risks”, said Minister Revelo.

Furthermore, it will include information from embassies, links to other useful apps, such as an earthquake app and to the websites of services such as the Meteorological Institute.

“Updates and improvements will be ongoing throughout the present administration”, Revelo explained.

Preventative training. ICT has committed to train 2,000 tourism sector business leaders over the next six months, with the aim of their incorporating prevention strategies in their businesses (hotels, transportation, restaurants, tours), as well as in their communities. “The goal is to double this number by the end of 2019”, Minister Revelo noted.

This project will be carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Safety and will take advantage of the Ministry’s ample experience in training and prevention.

Tourist Police. The Vice-Minister of Public Safety announced that this security corps would be strengthened with additional personnel and that, in parallel, large-scale operations would be held in areas highly frequented by tourists.

In certain cases, when required by the Tourist Police, ICT will provide inter-institutional support, with infrastructure and equipment, in concert with the Public Safety Ministry.

Campaign. The awareness-raising campaign will have a focus on gender, with goals that include a reminder to the general public that safety is something we build together. It will emphasize respect and dignity of women, calling on the public to take care of one another and the tourists who are visiting us.

 Tourism Safety Congress. The Congress will bring together subject-area experts from Costa Rica and abroad to compare successful cases that provide an example and inspiration for the Costa Rican tourism sector.

 

 

 

• The National Commission for Tourist Safety (CONSETUR) held an extraordinary meeting following the murders of two vacationers this weekend.

After being convened by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the National Commission for Tourist Safety (CONSETUR) held an extraordinary meeting this Monday following the murders of two foreign vacationers in Tortuguero and Cóbano this weekend.

During the meeting, which began at 5:30 p.m. in the ICT offices, the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, called on business leaders from the private tourism sector to work proactively alongside the public sector in building and implementing urgent strategies to strengthen short-term security efforts in the most vulnerable tourist destinations.

“We are at a breaking point. Guaranteeing the sustainability of our tourist destination is not just up to the ICT, but rather also the other institutions of the government and key actors in the tourism sector, including business leaders, chambers of tourism and municipalities”, the Minister of Tourism stressed.

The private sector was represented by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), the Costa Rican Association of Car Rental Agencies (ACAR), the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA), the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH), the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Operators (ACOT) and the San José Small Hotels Network.

“It is completely clear that in order to be a sustainable tourist destination, we need to be a safe destination. This is a priority issue under my leadership, which has been identified as a strategic focus since I took on this role”, Revelo emphasized.

“This is a task that requires everyone’s participation. It is vital for the private sector to lose their fear of speaking about public safety and take the necessary actions, along with the government, to take care of the destination”, the Tourism Minister added.

Over the last 48 hours, both violent actions against tourists have been directly monitored with great care by Michael Soto, the Minister of Public Safety, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Relations, Lorena Aguilar, and the Minister of Tourism with their respective working teams.

With respect to the direct responsibilities of the ICT, the institution coordinated support for the family and friends of the Spanish tourist, providing transportation, lodging and the services of psychologists. In the case of the Mexican tourist, the family has decided to handle things privately.

We are thankful for the presence of Minister Michael Soto and the Minister of Justice, Marcia González, in the meeting of CONSETUR; we will continue to coordinate action with them for tourist safety.

 

 

• Actions are part of an integrated risk management strategy to create conditions that allow for visitor safety, the first of its kind in the country.
•  The talks are being held jointly between MINAE, ICT, the Emergency Commission, OVISCORI and RSN:UCR-ICE.

With a new security model coming into effect once the Volcán Poás National Park re-opens, a training event was held on Wednesday, July 31 for 70 people from the communities around the volcano, as well as the municipal authorities and Municipal Emergency Committees.

The activity, held in Poasito, was the result of joint action between MINAE, ICT, CNE, OVISCORI and RSN:UCR-ICE.

Experts explained why the volcano had been closed off and the safety measures required in order to authorize the re-opening of the park.

Furthermore, participants were given an updated overview of the volcano situation and the different scenarios that the volcanic activity could cause.

They also delved into the construction of the 5 shelters for visitor protection and the process of acquiring 4 real-time gas measurement sensors, which will be able to detect high levels of sulfuric acid and other gases that are potentially harmful to humans.

The talk touched on the process of meeting certain requirements, including the purchase of masks and helmets, the reconstruction of trails, the posting of safety signs and training given to employees of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).

Earlier, the Technical Assessment Committee (CAT) for Vulcanology and Seismology of the National Committee for Risk Prevention and Emergency Assistance (CNE) carried out a visit to the protected area to monitor the implementation of safety measures that must be carried out for the re-opening of the park.

When it is re-opened, visits to Volcán Poás will be carried out with guides and in a staggered manner. Furthermore, entrance to the crater’s lookout will be limited to 50 people on 20-minute intervals.

The chief of the Department of Research and Prevention of the CNE, Lidier Esquivel, noted, “this is the first time that risk management activities have been carried out to create the conditions to guarantee the safety of local and international visitors and park rangers”.

“We have been working jointly to meet the directive of the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, to open the Poás Volcano as soon as possible. As a result, we are leading a process with strategic allies, including the Casa Presidencial, MINAE, SINAC and non-governmental organizations like Costa Rica por Siempre and FUNDECOR, the Poás Chamber of Tourism, Coopetransasi, and the Integrated Development Associations of Fraijanes and Poasito towards a re-opening that is safe for everyone”, concluded the Vice-Minister of the Environment, Pamela Castillo.

 

 

• The First Costa Rica Wellness and Spa Congress will take place in La Fortuna de San Carlos from August 31 to September 2.
• International experts from the United Kingdom, Spain, United States and Mexico are confirmed to be in attendance.

With the confirmation of 8 international speakers from Spain, United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom, as well as the publication of the agenda of activities, the First Costa Rica Wellness and Spa Congress, to be held in La Fortuna de San Carlos from August 31 to September 2, is reaching the homestretch.

One of the pillars of this Congress is the promotion of a wellness culture in our country that will allow both Costa Ricans and international tourists to recognize Costa Rica as a “Wellness Pura Vida” destination in which wellness activities can be given the tico touch, featuring the use of biodiversity, the country’s ample natural resources and landscapes, as well as the local water sources and cuisine, all in a sustainable environment.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), as the leading tourism institution, has been developing a strategic wellness tourism program, hence its support for this congress in collaboration with the National Institute of Learning (INA), the Arenal Chamber of Tourism and Trade, the Costa Rican Association of Wellness Tourism and the Latin American Spa Association. Furthermore, this congress is being organized in the context of the recent signing of a cooperation framework agreement with Asociación Wellness Costa Rica, which sets out a series of objectives and action lines that include the implementation of this kind of international events to position the country as a wellness tourism destination.

Recently, while speaking about the importance of wellness tourism, the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, recently noted that “The ICT is modernizing itself and becoming open to the needs of the market; we are committed to promoting policies that promote wellness tourism within the country offer”.

According to its organizers, the main focus and objective of the congress will be to create an “unforgettable experience” for participants. In addition to gaining new knowledge and carrying out business meetings, attendees will be able to experience the transformational power of wellness in their lives through a series of sensory experiences that are carried out throughout the event, which include a concert with Tibetan bowls, meditation, aromatherapy, and color therapy with a set of lights in an enclosure.

New worldwide trends in wellness

The agenda of the congress includes various subjects of interest such as global trends in wellness tourism in 2019 and how to integrate it into a wider lifestyle offering. It also includes new developments in trends such as thermal baths, thalassotherapy, medical hydrology and hydrotherapy, along with the latest generation of dermatological and cosmetic treatments for application in thermal baths and spas. Modern issues of wellness marketing and corporate wellness will also be explored, along with how sustainable wellness can be integrated into cultural traditions and natural environments. Finally, subjects such as Blue Zones will be discussed, an example of which is the Nicoya Peninsula. Attendees will learn recommendations on how to create and design a solid wellness product.

The list of exhibitors features a series of experts confirmed to be in attendance from Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico and the United States. From Spain, Dr. Antonio Freire will be attending, a specialist in medical hydrology and hydrotherapy and President of the organization Gala Termal. He will be accompanied by Lic. Daniel Roibal, a specialist in Corporate Wellness and Dr. Francisco Maraver, President of the Spanish Association of Medical Hydrology. The list of distinguished guests from the UK includes Dr. Sara Jones, International Consultant and Director of Wellness & Spa Mexicaribe, and Sonal Uberoi, MBA, CEO of Spa Balance Consulting and the British International Spa Association. From Mexico, Dr. Patricia Hernández, a specialist in dermo-cosmetics and bio-stimulation has also confirmed her attendance, as well as Dr. Ramón de la Rosa, Academic President of the Latin American Spa Association. Participants will also be able to gain knowledge from attendees from the United States, including Bonnie Baker, MBA, Co-Founder of Sattev Spa & Wellness and Co-Chairwoman of the Sustainability Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute.

According to Melissa Tencio, coordinator of the ICT’s wellness tourism program, “Costa Rica has been recognized on numerous occasions by the World Economic Forum as a leading destination for nature and adventure, as it contains all of the conditions necessary to stand out a paradise that allows visitors to detoxify themselves away from daily stresses and the hustle and bustle, all the while remaining in surroundings that offer unique and unparalleled tourist adventures”. Tencio added that Wellness Pura Vida includes activities such as spa services, open-air activities, massages, hot springs, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, sleep therapy, rest, silence, earthing, forest therapy and healthy and balanced diets, all while remaining in contact with a natural setting.

For Laura Barrantes, President of Asociación Wellness Costa Rica and the congress organizer, “wellness tourism can be seen as a strong incentive to promote a tourist offer with a unique Costa Rican identity, with added value over the current offer. It boasts transformational experiences for locals and foreigners and will have a positive impact on those who practice it and return home feeling recharged. It is a dynamic market segment and needs to be accessible and holistic, with development in every part of the country”.

The First Costa Rica Wellness and Spa Congress will feature updates on the latest global trends and new, innovative tools in this field. Along with the international invitees, eight Costa Rican exhibitors will be present, who will complement the program with a wide array of content. In parallel to the Congress, a wellness fair will be held for micro-entrepreneurs with assistance from the National Institute of Learning (INA), the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MEIC) and the Foreign Trade Promotion Authority (PROCOMER).

Registration for the Congress is still open and is directed to all professionals who want to involve wellness issues in their work and offer an integrated service to their clients and tourists. The event will be of interest to tourism sector professionals, nutritionists, aestheticians, personal trainers, yoga instructors, therapists, and others. The First Costa Rica Wellness and Spa Congress will be held in the Rafael Arenas Convention Center in La Fortuna de San Carlos from August 31 to September 2018. To register, please visit the website www.cibscr.com/congreso. The registration price is $300, which includes participation in all of the Congress’ activities, lunches, coffee breaks, a certificate from INA and participation in a closing cocktail on September 3, along with an open discussion forum

 

 

 

 

 

• VICAL, with support from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) is launching its sustainability campaign, “Costa Rica in a Glass Bottle”.
• This directly refers to Costa Rica’s landscapes, beautiful places that may be under threat from pollution.
• Glass is the most sustainable and responsible packaging material; choosing it reportedly leads to major benefits for the environment.

A joint conservation and protection effort by Grupo Vidriero Centroamericano, VICAL and the Costa Rican Tourism Board seeks to value our country’s beautiful scenery and natural resources through the development of responsible consumption habits and choosing class packaging that is natural, 100% recyclable and reusable.

“For the Costa Rican Tourism Board, it is a pride, but more than anything, a responsibility, to support the “Costa Rica in a Glass Bottle” project, which promotes sustainable practices such as the use of glass to gradually diminish the consumption of disposable packaging. Improving tourism offerings and protecting the 5% of the world’s biodiversity to which Costa Rica is home begins with caring for our natural resources and conservation areas. It involves building awareness among Costa Ricans of caring for our freshwater and ocean resources,” said Alberto López, ICT General Manager.

By admiring breathtaking Costa Rican landscapes through a glass bottle, it speaks to a pride in being Costa Rican, while creating awareness so that an increasing number of people understand the importance of choosing environmentally friendly packaging. Glass, which is natural and 100% recyclable with infinite uses, is being proposed as the best alternative of choice for people who think before making every purchase.

“VICAL, a socially and environmentally responsible company, believes that glass is the most sustainable and responsible packaging thanks to its physical and chemical characteristics and its environmental safety. That is why, since 2011, we have promoted the ‘Por un mundo limpio como el vidrio’ (for a world as clean as glass) initiative, which promotes information across Central America about this wonderful material, as well as on environmentally responsible consumption habits”, said Carolina Lizano, Brand Manager at VICAL Costa Rica.

Most of the images chosen to show Costa Rica in a Glass Bottle were captured by the expert lens of the famous photographer, Sergio Pucci. They include natural areas such as Parque Nacional Tapantí in Cartago, Parque Nacional Marino Marino Ballena in Puntarenas, Playa Cocles in Puerto Viejo, Limón, Laguna de Botos in Poás de Alajuela, Llanos de Cortés in Bagaces, Guanacaste, and the Reserva Nacional Cabo Blanco in Cóbano de Puntarenas.

The creative work featured in Costa Rica in a Glass Bottle can be enjoyed in panels, electronic screens and outdoor signposts throughout the city, and on social media, beginning in the last week of July.

 

• Real-time gas meter will be installed along with other devices.
• 5 refuges are being constructed simultaneously to comply with CNE requirements

As part of the new management and safety model that is being implemented for the coming re-opening of the Volcán Poás National Park (PNVP), 5 refuges are being constructed. New standards for managing visitors to the park will be established, and protective equipment is being purchased.

In terms of the work schedule, the 5 refuges include 3 new modules and 2 renovations and/or retrofits of the park’s existing infrastructure, such as the control house in the crater and the central hall in the health services area close to the crater area.

The refuges are being built in parallel so as to complete all 5 at the same time.

The projects consist of:

• A 2.5 x 2 m refuge for 18 people at the crater.
• A 2.0 x 2.5 m refuge for 10 people at the crater.
• A 1.5 x 3.2 m refuge for 8 people at the crater.
• Enlargement and remodeling of the control house for 20 people (crater).
• 30 m² of earthenware for the central health services module for 50 people.
• 4 wooden structures with shade cloth to keep tourists off the paths.

The projects are based on Agreement no. 1-2018 of the Technical Assessment Committee for Vulcanology and Seismology, which set the criteria and conditions necessary to authorize the re-opening of the PNVP.

There will also be new arrangement for the logistics of access, which will regularize visits and limit the time on the crater, with limited access for group of 50 people. Furthermore, visitors will be able to purchase tickets using an online platform.

The new arrangements are based on requirements set by the Technical Assessment Committee for the secure re-opening of the protected area, which was closed in April 2017 due to volcanic activity.

The Vice-Minister of the Environment, Pamela Castillo, noted that the Environment Ministry, MINAE, is committed to the safety of visitors and park rangers at the Poás Volcano, which is why they led this inter-institutional process for the safe re-opening of the park in a responsible, professional manner.

“We are coordinating efforts between MINAE, ICT, the Emergency Commission, as well as OVISCORI, RSN, UCR-ICE and non-governmental organizations like Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre and FUNDECOR to protect visitors to this protected area when it re-opens. Furthermore, along with representatives of driving forces in the communities, we are promoting economic activity in the area”, she explained.

Gas measurement sensors to be acquired

As part of the process, a series of devices were recently purchased, along with specialized protection equipment for visitors in the event of a possible volcanic event.

The equipment consists of 4 real-time gas measurement sensors that will allow the detection of high levels of sulfuric acid and other gases that are potentially harmful to humans. The sensors will arrive in the country in the first few days of August.

If an emergency does occur, a protocol will be put into effect that will move visitors to a safe place containing 70 helmets, 140 air filters and 70 individual-use masks.

"The resources for the purchase of this equipment were part of the ¢77 million obtained from the Second US-Costa Rica Debt-for-Nature Swap, administered by the Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre and the Service Operation and Tourist Assistance Trust administered by Fundecor with the SINAC Central Conservation Area”, explained Zhenka Piskulich, Executive Director of Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre.

Felipe Carazo, Executive Director of Fundecor, affirmed that “we have worked hand-in-hand with Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre and SINAC to move forward in an organized, transparent and effective manner to secure the acquisition of this equipment, which is essential for the re-opening of the park.

“We’ve also promoted alternatives with institutions and neighboring communities that will allow them to take advantage of other activities so that they can widen their tourist offerings beyond trips to the crater,” Carazo emphasized.

The efforts are being led by the Monitoring Commission for the Opening of the Volcán Poás National Park, led by MINAE through the office of the Vice-Minister of the Environment. It has relied on close cooperation with the Poás Chamber of Tourism, represented by Manuel Ardón, the Integrated Development Association of Fraijanes, represented by Luis Angel Salazar, the Integral Development Association of Poasito by Luz Orozco Brenes and Coopetransasi R.L. by Luis Aguilar Chacón.

The commission also includes representation from the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and the non-governmental organizations, Fundecor and Asociación Costa Rica por Siempre.

 

• The Daniel Oduber International Airport will be the first in Latin America to welcome this kind of airplane with 16 seats in Executive Class.
•  It will be the only regular flight with fully-reclining seats between Costa Rica and the United States.

The exclusive Mint airplane from JetBlue Airways will fly between New York and Guanacaste beginning on December 15, 2018, making Liberia the first Latin American city to welcome this aircraft.

The service will be offered with JetBlue’s new A321 aircraft, with 159 seats, including, in an all-time first for this route, 16 fully reclining ‘business flat’ seats, the only regular flight between Costa Rica and the United States to offer this feature. Currently, the route is being served by an A320 aircraft with 150 seats and no executive class.

The Mint flight will maintain the A320’s itinerary, flying between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This improvement is the result of the joint strategy to attract airlines to Guanacaste being implemented by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), CORIPORT, the Liberia airport operator, and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (CATURGUA).

“Adding Mint between these cities means that travelers on these routes will finally be able to enjoy a first-class flight experience,” said Marty St. George, Executive Vice President, Commercial and Planning for JetBlue. “When Mint was launched for the first time, more than four years ago, we knew that we had created an unparalleled quality experience, but we couldn’t have imagined that Mint would be landing in more than a dozen destinations in such a short time.”

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, applauded the decision by JetBlue to send one of its Mint flights to Costa Rica, which will offer additional comfort travelers flying with the company and open new possibilities of attracting tourists to Guanacaste.

“The Mint plane cements the negotiations carried out for Costa Rica’s benefit to provide a personalized service to meet the needs of today’s passengers. We are constantly deepening out relationship with our main tourist-sending market, a potential market of 24 million people” said Revelo.

Fully reclining seats, an exclusive cocktail, a tapas menu from the Saxon + Parole restaurant in New York, fresh espresso coffee from a cappuccino machine designed especially for this US airline, Hayward and Hopper amenity kits, and artisan ice cream created in one of the 12 Mint cities: these are just a few of the unique features of this flight.

“It is a true pleasure to announce the arrival of this JetBlue flight, with its Mint layout. An Airbus A321 will fly to Liberia with an interior modified to offer a premium style that has motivated celebrities, technology executives, creative professionals and entrepreneurs to choose destinations such as ours. This flight allows us to announce that not only will the number of passengers increase for the next high season, the profile of the tourists with the opportunity to visit us from one of the best-connected cities in the world will now be widened,” noted Cesar Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the Liberia airport authority.

CATURGUA also collaborated in the effort, which was led by the Costa Rican public and private sectors to bring this new service to the country, the first of its kind throughout Latin America. Guanacaste is taking a step forward with the connection from New York, and many other cities flying to the US hub.

In 2017, 525,661 international arrivals to Costa Rica were recorded in Liberia’s Daniel Oduber airport, 74.7% of which originated in the United States of America. From January to May of the current year, 287,355 arrivals have been recorded, according to data from the Directorate-General for Immigration and Foreign Nationals analyzed by ICT.

 

 

• Seven daily flights to different Costa Rican destinations
• Special launch rates beginning at $45
• Tobías Bolaños Palma International Airport in Pavas will be the base of operations

Aerobell Airlines will begin regular flights to various destinations around the country beginning on Tuesday, July 24. The company, boasting 30 years of charter flight experience in Costa Rica, has decided to begin scheduled flights due to the lack of such services on offer.

“We have noted that there is a scarcity of options in the area of scheduled flights, which is why we have decided to begin regular operations and contribute to the country’s development and the development of tourism”, said Marco Montealegre, CEO of Aerobell.

Aerobell Airlines will base its operations out of the terminal of Tobias Bolaños Palma International Airport in Pavas.

In the first phase of operations, Aerobell will offer daily flights to seven destinations around the country. It will begin using Cessna Grand Caravan planes with a capacity of 12 passengers, with its fleet incorporating four completely new Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft, equipped with the latest in aviation technology, in November.

The destinations served initially will be Tortuguero, Tamarindo, Tambor, Quepos, Drake Bay, La Fortuna, Arenal and Puerto Jiménez, with a launch special of $45 per trip. Further information can be found on the website www.aerobell.com, or by calling the information line at 4000-2030.

In the second phase, the operations will be expanded to destinations such as Liberia, Golfito and Bocas del Toro in Panama, among others.

“We are seeking to bring development and economic benefits to the communities around each of the destinations we will be operating to.Our vision is to offer a new, efficient and safe alternative for getting around the country”, Montealegre added.

The strategy Aerobell Airlines is seeking for its clients is based on providing added value and making a difference for domestic and international passengers, along with ensuring that different options are available on the market.

 

 

• The result is the product of joint action by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, the Daniel Oduber International Airport and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism.

Aeroméxico, Sunwing and United will operate new flights to Daniel Oduber International Airport, either temporarily or permanently, while Air Canada is increasing the frequency of its services.

This result was achieved in the first two months of the Alvarado Quesada administration, and was the product of a joint strategy to attract airlines to Liberia by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the Liberia airport, and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (Caturgua).

The Aeroméxico service between Mexico City and Liberia will be the first flight from North America to the Guanacaste city originating in a country other than the United States or Canada. This airline will begin its flights on the 10^th of November and will continue with two weekly flights until April 21, 2019. It will use Embraer 190 aircraft with a 99-passenger capacity.

Sunwing will fly to Liberia beginning on December 23^rd of this year until March 31, 2019, offering the first-ever direct route from Vancouver, Canada, to Daniel Oduber.

United has confirmed that it will continue operating its Houston-Liberia flight twice per week. Meanwhile, Air Canada will increase the frequency of its flights from Montreal and Toronto to Daniel Oduber beginning in December 2018. The Toronto-Liberia route will increase its flights from four flights per week to daily operations beginning on December 15^th of this year. The Montreal-Liberia route will increase from one to three weekly flights beginning December 18^th.

“We have been joining our forces to diversify the market of flights to Liberia, an objective that we have been working on in collaboration with the private sector”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism.  

Currently, 11 airlines fly to Liberia. Six companies operate from cities in the United States, three from Canadian cities, one from Panama City, and one from London, England.

In 2017, 525,661 international arrivals to Costa Rica were recorded in the Liberia airport, 74.7% of which originated in the United States of America. From January to May of the current year, 287,355 arrivals have been recorded, according to data from the Directorate-General for Immigration and Foreign Nationals analyzed by ICT.

“The United States remains the main sender of tourists to Costa Rica, with a potential market of 24 million people. It remains a priority to convert this number into more tourists traveling to this country”, Revelo emphasized.

 

• Operator carried out the expansion in a proactive manner, forecasting future growth in arrivals.
• Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado heralded the expansion project this Saturday.
• “We have been joining forces to diversify the market of flights to Liberia, working in collaboration with the airport’s operator and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism.

The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport will offer an additional 4,118 square meters in its boarding rooms and 417 m² in its main hall, as well as new facilities, including six airline counters, six stores and a carousel in the baggage claim area.

The inauguration and handover of the expansion work from CORIPORT to the State was made official this Saturday, with the visit of the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, as part of the Gira por Guanacaste.

In an official ceremony, the President, along with the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, local deputies and other authorities, revealed that the new expansion increased its capacity to handle up to 300,000 additional passengers each year.

“The growth of this airport will directly benefit the entire province of Guanacaste. As the operator of the airport, we are committed to constant and proactive improvements that guarantee a unique experience for passengers as they enter and leave the country”, said César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the Liberia airport authority.

“We recognize tourism as an engine of the country’s economy and its multiplier effect for the quality of life of thousands of Costa Ricans”, noted President Alvarado.

For ICT, the project is extremely important because of the high impact that the arrival of more tourists each year has for the province of Guanacaste.

Since this administration took office, the arrival more than four new international flights has been announced. “We have been joining our forces to diversify the market of flights to Liberia, an objective we have been working toward in collaboration with the airport’s operator and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism”, said the Minister of Tourism.

The project represents an investment of over $10.3 million by CORIPORT. It follows the creation of the Diplomatic Lounge and the remodeling of the logistics center and the solid waste management area.

 

 

 

 

• With last-minute promotions and more than 100 small and medium tourist companies, the platform will offer discounts, added value and interesting content at www.vamosaturistear.com.

Have you seen a humpback whale leaping meters into the air? Have you taken in the sky-blue waters of Río Celeste? Do you dare to paraglide over El Puerto? What about a tour to Isla Tortuga? Have you ever practiced yoga in the middle of the rainforest? Have you savored Limón’s Caribbean cuisine? Have you snapped a selfie during a brilliant sunset on a Guanacaste beach?

The Vamos a Turistear promotion from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) aims to help Costa Ricans experience these wonders with new content and a new design on the digital platform www.vamosaturistear.com.

“Vamos a Turistear aims to offer reasonably priced options through a public-private partnership so that Costa Ricans can take advantage of their country, explore new destinations and adventure and wellness activities, and experience the country’s cuisine and contact with nature”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism.

With this aim, the campaign will publish discounts, added value activities and last-minute promotions, some of which must be sold out within a maximum of 48 hours. At the outset, 100 Costa Rican companies with a Tourism Declaration or Certification for Sustainable Tourism will participate, including hotels, tour operators and rental car agencies. The destinations include beach, mountain and rural tourism offerings. The offer will increase in the coming days and will grow in a continuous manner.

What do you need to finally feel at home in your country?

“We want to tempt Costa Ricans to get to know their country while supporting local tourism companies,” said ICT’s Head of Advertising, Rafael Quesada, adding that the campaign’s long-term challenge would be to offer “the best, guaranteed offer” to locals and residents.

At www.vamosaturistear.com the tourist offer has been organized into provinces and price ranges, with the attractions displayed with images and videos. The site features sections including “Quiero”, for an à-la-carte choice of vacation options, “¿Dónde ir?” (where to go?), “Descubrí tu país” (discover your country), and “Inspirate” (get inspired).

Those interested can receive alerts of sales and information on the Vamos a Turistear Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and YouTube channel, with a selection of videos featuring Costa Rican tourist attractions.

The campaign, which will be promoted using high-impact digital and print media, buses, television and movie theaters, is backed by the Costa Rican private sector.

 

• With this addition, the airline now has eight planes with NEO (New Engine Option) in its fleet. This is the third such plane to fly to Central America and the first based in Costa Rica.
• NEO technology allows eco-efficient operation with up to 15% less fuel use.

Avianca has announced the addition of its first plane with NEO technology for Costa Rica. This airplane, the eighth of its kind in the airline’s fleet, is coming to offer passengers beginning their journey in this country a world-class flight experience. The company is continuing its efforts to win its clients’ loyalty and capitalize on its Latin American leadership by serving its travelers with the most advanced flight technology available.

This new plane from the Avianca fleet boasts eco-efficient engines, which give it its name, NEO (New Engine Option). The LEAP 1a engines are supported by CFM International, a specialized division of GM Aviation known for their technical reliability. The engines allow for an additional fuel efficiency of up to 15%, and a decrease in their noise and environmental pollution indices. They generate 50% less noise and their CO₂ emissions are about 5,000 tons lower per year.

“Avianca remains committed to Costa Rica and the region. The addition of the first aircraft with NEO technology in the country is proof of this. It brings with it new horizons in Experience and On-Board Service that attest to its leadership position in this geography. The next-generation technology offered by this plane, which is arriving directly from the Airbus factory in Toulouse is also proof of the efforts Airbus has undertaken to continue earning our clients’ loyalty, which is the beginning and end of everything that we do”, explained Silvia Mosquera, Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Revenue at Avianca.

“We are very happy that this next-generation plane will allow longer flights from Costa Rica that are more efficient in their use of fuel, which is very important for us, as a sustainable tourism country”, noted Maria Amalia Revelo, the Costa Rican Minister of Tourism.

“This month, we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the LEAP program’s launch in July 2008”, said Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “The LEAP development program is unprecedented in the industry. Over five years, we have simultaneously designed three engines and the team has done phenomenal work keeping everything on time. In fact, we actually developed the first complete LEAP engine in 2013, two days before the date we had set in 2008. At the end of the day, we have designed an engine that meets all our commitments and we are incredibly proud of this achievement. But even more importantly, our Avianca customers love this engine. That is the true measure of our success.”

The plane, in addition to its eco-efficient engines, has sharklets on the edge of its wings. These aerodynamic devices generate an additional optimization in fuel consumption of up to 4%. In this manner, re-engineering engines allows the plane to offer a larger cargo capacity (1.8 tons) and to have a larger operating range, with a capacity to fly some 500 miles farther than planes equipped with traditional CEO engines.

Airbus and Avianca have configured the A320Neo with 153 seats: 12 in business class and 141 in economy. In business class, in addition to offering greater space between seats – at over 40 inches – it offers one of the best ergonomic solutions on the market thanks to its makeup and design. Additionally, the entire cabin is equipped with a system of LED lighting, allowing enhanced ambiance on route for travelers’ wellness.

The plane has a renovated on-board entertainment system, which helps travelers to navigate their options on individual screens. They also include a USB port for passengers to connect their devices. Additionally, the inclusion of wireless functionality allows customers to control the content of their screens using their mobile devices by using the Avianca Entertainment application, available for iOS and Android.

This plane is the third in a series of aircraft with NEO technology that will be arriving in Central America throughout 2018. The first two planes were initially assigned to routes from North America through San Salvador International Airport in El Salvador.

This third plane will begin operations on the Toronto-San José route via San Salvador and will then be added into the US routes.

Avianca is proving its position as an operator with the latest aviation technology worldwide, with an average age of 6.8 throughout its fleet, making it one of the youngest carriers in the Americas.

New routes and schedules from Costa Rica

With the launch of new routes, Avianca continues to strengthen connections with Costa Rica through the hubs of San Salvador and Bogotá. The expansion of the Avianca network to be implemented in the second half of 2018 is as follows:

• San José-Guatemala City-Orlando:Beginning on August 2^nd, with three flights per week. From San José on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and from Orlando on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• San José-San Salvador-Boston:Beginning on August 17^th, with four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
• San José-Guatemala City-Chicago:Beginning on October 29^th with daily flights.
• San José-Bogotá-Munich: Beginning on November 16^th with five weekly flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from San José, and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Munich.

Starting on August 2^nd, the San José-Guatemala City route will be increased to three flights per week.

 

• The actions are directed towards financing this niche in the country’s tourism portfolio and offering assistance to companies in the sector.

With the aim of promoting and strengthening the wellness destination within the Costa Rican portfolio, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) signed a framework cooperation agreement with Asociación Wellness Costa Rica this past Wednesday.

The agreement outlines nine goals, including the implementation of activities that seek domestic and international recognition of Costa Rica as a wellness destination. It also aims to manage training, provide professional upskilling in the wellness niche for the tourism sector, and give tourism companies marketing tools to promote this area.

“ICT is modernizing itself and opening up to the needs of the market”, noted Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism. “We are committed to promoting policies that promote wellness tourism within the country offer”.

Wellness tourism is a global phenomenon of great economic significance, which is growing at twice the rate of tourism at large. Between 2013 and 2015, for example, worldwide revenue in this niche grew 14% to $563 billion, and the Global Wellness Institute estimates that it will reach $808 billion in 2020.

“Every part of the country has special features that can result in products for this niche with the right training and innovation platforms”, said the president of Asociación Wellness Costa Rica, Laura Barrantes Requeno.

The agreement will be valid for a period of four years, with an option to extend.

Engagement of INTECO

Adding to this agreement, ICT engaged the services of the Costa Rican Institute of Technical Standards (INTECO) on May 16 to develop a national standard that sets out the service requirements that wellness spas must fulfill in order to be accredited.

In the next six months, INTECO will also train a group of 30 employees about the requirements that wellness spas must follow, using the ISO 17679 international standard, entitled “Tourism and related services -- Wellness spa -- Service requirements”, as well as UNE 186001, “Spa establishments. Requirements for service provision”.

Once accredited by ICT, wellness spas in the country may opt for the ISO 17679 certification from INTECO, which is a voluntary standard with major international recognition.

By taking this step, the Board hopes that the features and the quality and safety parameters for the products and services offered by the country’s wellness spas can be harmonized with their international counterparts.

ICT’s Director of Tourism Management, Gustavo Alvarado, said: “this is a first step. Our intention is to continue working with INTECO to develop additional standards that guarantee the quality of the tourism services we offer to Costa Ricans and to foreigners”.

Overhaul of the tourist declaration

Additionally, the reform to Executive Decree no. 25226, Regulation for Tourism Companies and Activities, is being processed. This will simplify the current requirements to opt for a Tourism Declaration by applying the principles and regulatory provisions of the Law to Protect Citizens from Excessive Requirements and Administrative Procedures. The change will also apply to wellness tourism.

“Once the Executive Decree is signed, the full array of possibilities will be opened to tourism companies that wish to request the Tourism Declaration”, the Minister of Tourism explained.

The new Regulation defines wellness tourism as all activities which, by nature, aim to offer experiential encounters to achieve, maintain or strengthen the personal wellness of the participant in such a way that it promotes a healthy balance of mental, physical and emotional aspects using therapies with water, taking advantage of natural surroundings, and different elements available in a given setting.

“These three achievements are evidence of ICT’s commitment to tourism companies and of the assistance, training and management ICT offers to the tourism industry so that it is prepared to face the demands of the market and remain on the cutting edge”, Minister Revelo emphasized.

 

 

• The initiative is being led by ICT in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and the participation of INCOP, the Tourism Promotion Board and the Puntarenas Chamber of Tourism.
• “We are looking to inspire people from every generation to return to the Port”, said the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo.

At Plaza del Pacífico, in downtown Puntarenas, the First Lady of Costa Rica, Claudia Dobles, and the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, announced the “Jale al Puerto” (“Head to the Port”) tourism campaign, which will be kicked off in August at the national level.

This initiative is being led by ICT in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and the participation of the Costa Rican Institute of Pacific Ports (INCOP), the Tourism Promotion Board and the Puntarenas Chamber of Tourism.

The focus of “Jale al Puerto” will be the culture and cuisine of the port city, and it will be held for four months. An investment of $90,000.00 (51 million colones) will be made, of which the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) will contribute some $45,000 and the rest will come from INCOP, via the Tourism Promotion Board for the City of Puntarenas.

“This stimulus seeks to inspire people of all generations to return to the Port and encounter reminders of the past and the many attractions of the present”, said Minister Revelo.

Meanwhile, First Lady Claudia Dobles indicated that the main objective of the campaign was to showcase Puntarenas as a location with natural beauty and human warmth, which can be an option for a vacation destination. In this context, she announced a City Tour of specific tourist destinations, which would include historic, culinary and cultural routes through the city.

She emphasized “Puntarenas is a tourist destination that offers a large number of attractions for visitors, a great variety of culinary offerings, adventure activities, dolphin spotting, the arrival of cruise ships, visits to the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya and many other alternatives that we would like for Costa Ricans to discover”.

In the course of the activity, the First Lady announced a project to reactivate the Marine Park, with a focus on tourism, which would bring together elements of the marine environment with cultural, scientific and iconic elements of Puntarenas.

The action plan also calls for the physical rebuilding of the location.

Among the inter-institutional efforts, the National Institute of Learning (INA) announced that it would contribute ₡100 million to the Marine Park Foundation for professional training and capacity building in the province.  RECOPE will install solar panels and an energy efficiency system in the facilities, while the Mixed Institute of Social Assistance will contribute ₡93 for scientific research on improvements in fisheries production in the area.

The presidential visit also included a tour through the Marine Park facilities.

 

 

- A worldwide audience can enjoy Costa Rica beauty with 360° images of a total of 76 tourist and cultural locations across the country becoming available today on Google Maps.

- Academic centers and airports are included in the areas recorded, which will be highlighted in the collection.

The 580 kilometers that separate San José from the Isla del Coco will no longer be an obstacle to experiencing and enjoying the flora and fauna, both on land and in the sea, of that luxuriant island. Thanks to technology, anyone with a computer or cellphone with an internet connection and Google Maps will be able to access the marvels of Costa Rica, no matter where they are in the world.

Today, Google announced the arrival of their Special Collections to Costa Rica, thanks to the support of the Essential Costa Rica country mark, as well as various organizations, including the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives (CINDE), the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the Agency for Data Protection of Inhabitants (PRODHAB), the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the University of Costa Rica and the Municipality of San José, among others. 360° images were taken in cities, inside theaters, airports, markets, museums and many other attractions.

“Bicentennial Costa Rica needs a stimulus in the digital economy that encompasses every industry. In this case, the tourism sector has been essential. This effort, which has been shared between the government and private sector, has demonstrated the effectiveness of using artificial intelligence, augmented reality and other emerging technologies to push us to become a better country”said the Minister of Science, Technology and Telecommunications, Luis Adrián Salazar.

Over seven months, the Google team worked to photograph the center of the Costa Rican capital, San José, and the rest of the country’s provinces. The Isla del Coco and its beauty stand out among the locations recorded by Google professionals. Costa Rica is among the first countries in the Central America and Caribbean in which the Special Collections functionality has become available. It follows Bermuda, Puerto Rico, part of the Virgin Islands and Guatemala. Google has a world map encompassing over 220 countries and territories.

The Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica and member of the Essential Costa Rica Country Mark Committee, Maria Amalia Revelo, noted that “by choosing Costa Rica, Google Special Collections is recognizing and enhancing the natural, historical and cultural value of a variety of national treasures. For the Costa Rican Tourism Board, this is a marvelous example of how to use technology for tourism promotion. The 360° images of the 76 different destinations that were photographed will allow users to embark on a journey to places where not even cars can reach, treasure troves that, until now, have been difficult to reach, like the Isla del Coco. They can also explore the panoramic views of the most well-known places that have become part of our daily life, like La Sabana and the museums of the capital. We celebrate the public-private partnership that made this project possible".

Giovanni Stella, General Manager for Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean for Google, explained, “Costa Rica has great tourist and cultural attractions, sites that must be developed and shared with the world. At Google, we always put the user first, which is why we have been working day after day to innovate and provide all of these improvements, reinforcing our objective of contributing to the region’s digital ecosystem and continue our commitment to the country. Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, which is work that we see reflected in today’s launch, with information you can see and access from anywhere inside or outside of Costa Rica.”

What Costa Rican sights can you see in the Special Collections?

You will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of Isla del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal, Playa Panamá, Playas del Coco, and others. Also featured are cultural locations like the Ruins of Cartago, the Jade Museum, Galería Nacional, the Numismatic Museum, the Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold, the Museums of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, the Museo Nacional, and the Museum of Visual Arts. The Juan Santamaría International Airport also makes an appearance, as does the Church of San Isidro de Coronado, the Basílica de los Ángeles, the Estadio Nacional, the Parque de Diversiones, Ocean Ranch Park, Parque Fraijanes, the Llanos de Cortés Waterfall, and the Iglesia Católica de San Bartolomé Apóstol, the Bosque de la Hoja, Alajuela’s Parque Recreativo Los Manantiales, and many more.

Useful and user-friendly

Using Special Collections is easy. When accessing maps.google.com, users can search for or identify the place they want to explore, and the link to Maps or the 360° panoramic view will appear directly. Also, in Google Maps, users can drag the small orange figure known as Pegman from the left side of the screen and drag it to the desired location, until a blue line appears to tour the site. Street View has become one of the most popular applications of Google Maps for its day-to-day usefulness. Not only does it allow users to go on virtual tours and verify the addresses of public places, but it also allows everyone, no matter where they are, to see places as if they were really there themselves.

Cutting-edge technology: How were the images recorded in Costa Rica?

This process was carried out with the Trekker and Tripod, two technologies that allow photos to be taken in places not accessible by car, for which reason it belongs to the Special Collections. A total of 60 sites in Costa Rica were collected using the Trekker. This tool is specially adapted to the outdoors and works with a camera in a backpack hanging from a person’s back that captures images as they walk. For example, the beauty of the beaches of Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal, Playa Panamá and Playas del Coco, among others, were showcased in this manner, as were the Llanos de Cortés waterfalls, the exterior of the Castillo Azul, the Museo Nacional and others.

The Tripod, on the other hand, is a system designed for indoor use. A total of 16 spaces were photographed, including the Basílica de los Ángeles, the Museo de los Niños, the Juan Santamaría International Airport and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold, among others.

Privacy

Google has developed a technology that allows faces and license plates to be obscured, so as to protect privacy. Additionally, it offers easily accessible tools for users to report images they consider to be inappropriate or sensitive, which will be reviewed and then taken down.

 

 

 

• In the peak season, the Toronto-Liberia route will depart once daily, and the Montreal-Liberia route will increase from one to three flights per week.
• The increased frequency will increase the number of available seats by over 17,000.

Starting in mid-December, Air Canada will see a major increase in its operations to the province of Guanacaste, which will increase the number of tourists from the cities of Montreal and Toronto entering the country by the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport.

The Montreal-Liberia route will increase from one to three flights per week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) beginning on December 18, 2018.

The Toronto-Liberia route will increase its flights from four to seven flights per week, with daily operations beginning on December 15th of this year.

These changes will be maintained throughout the peak season, from mid-December to April 2019. Passengers on both routes will be transported using A319 planes.

“We are continuing to share good news and reinforcing our commitment to strengthen tourism from North America. We are proud that our efforts such as the airline attraction and frequency increase strategy are bearing fruit”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

She added that it is also a tangible example of the trust this airline places in Costa Rica and the province of Guanacaste as a destination.

The President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, declared that “the increase in the frequency of flights represents a major commitment for the country to continue offering quality service and a great commitment to boosting tourism in the Guanacaste region”.

This increased frequency will result in an increase of 17,292 available seats to Liberia coming from Canada (Toronto and Montreal) between December 2018 and April 2019, in comparison with the previous peak period.  

Canadian tourism

According to ICT figures, 2017 saw the arrival of a little more than 200,000 Canadians. Some 87,000 tourists from the country of the maple leaf were reported to have entered through Daniel Oduber Quirós airport in Liberia. Canada represented 6.8% of the total arrivals to the country and 13.4% of arrivals from North America.

Additionally, according to studies by the ICT market research team, 35% of Canadians with high interest in visiting Costa Rica (considered as being the best prospects) come from Toronto and Montreal, which validates Air Canada’s decision to increase the frequency of flights.

Canadian tourists are interested in culture, rest and relaxation, exploring nature, adventure activities, visiting beaches and surfing.

“Canada is the country with the second highest number of visitors to our country. Increasing the frequency of these routes fills us with optimism towards the future, since it is a benefit to the province and it translates directly into more and better jobs for the tourist industry. We are committed to receiving these flights from Air Canada with the quality that every tourist deserves”, said César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the managing authority for the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia.

 

 

 

• In the peak season, the Toronto-Liberia route will depart once daily, and the Montreal-Liberia route will increase from one to three flights per week.
•  The increased frequency will increase the number of available seats by over 17,000

Starting in mid-December, Air Canada will see a major increase in its operations to the province of Guanacaste, which will increase the number of tourists from the cities of Montreal and Toronto entering the country by the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport.

The Montreal-Liberia route will increase from one to three flights per week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) beginning on December 18, 2018.

The Toronto-Liberia route will increase its flights from four to seven flights per week, with daily operations beginning on December 15th of this year.

These changes will be maintained throughout the peak season, from mid-December to April 2019. Passengers on both routes will be transported using A319 planes.

“We are continuing to share good news and reinforcing our commitment to strengthen tourism from North America. We are proud that our efforts such as the airline attraction and frequency increase strategy are bearing fruit”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

She added that it is also a tangible example of the trust this airline places in Costa Rica and the province of Guanacaste as a destination.

The President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, declared that “the increase in the frequency of flights represents a major commitment for the country to continue offering quality service and a great commitment to boosting tourism in the Guanacaste region”.

This increased frequency will result in an increase of 17,292 available seats to Liberia coming from Canada (Toronto and Montreal) between December 2018 and April 2019, in comparison with the previous peak period.  

Canadian tourism

According to ICT figures, 2017 saw the arrival of a little more than 200,000 Canadians. Some 87,000 tourists from the country of the maple leaf were reported to have entered through Daniel Oduber Quirós airport in Liberia. Canada represented 6.8% of the total arrivals to the country and 13.4% of arrivals from North America.

Additionally, according to studies by the ICT market research team, 35% of Canadians with high interest in visiting Costa Rica (considered as being the best prospects) come from Toronto and Montreal, which validates Air Canada’s decision to increase the frequency of flights.

Canadian tourists are interested in culture, rest and relaxation, exploring nature, adventure activities, visiting beaches and surfing.

“Canada is the country with the second highest number of visitors to our country. Increasing the frequency of these routes fills us with optimism towards the future, since it is a benefit to the province and it translates directly into more and better jobs for the tourist industry. We are committed to receiving these flights from Air Canada with the quality that every tourist deserves”, said César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the managing authority for the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. 

 

 

•  The communities of Poás, Vara Blanca, Fraijanes, Poasito, Sarchí and Bajos del Toro are making the final preparations to receive visitors during the mid-term holidays
• The Poás Volcano is waiting to welcome these vacationers as well.

An imposing figure, known for its activity, the Poás Volcano is a perfect example of how a “living mountain” can bring about diverse, exciting tourist attractions in the neighboring areas. In this case, this area includes the communities of Poás, Vara Blanca, Fraijanes, Poasito, Sarchí and Bajos del Toro.

Just a few days away from the country's mid-term vacation, between July 2-13, this region is putting the finishing touches on a series of unique experiences for domestic tourists, with the volcano standing by as a -mostly- silent witness.

The unparalleled vistas include a pleasantly cool climate that allows for the delightful treat of local strawberries that feature prominently in the region's cuisine, as well as tours of dairies or visits to majestic, picturesque waterfalls like the Catarata de la Paz.

The options don't end there: there is ziplining, trout fishing, hikes through stately landscapes and even the largest carreta, traditional ox-cart, in the world, full of a thousand curls and colorful figures.

The Laguna de Fraijanes is the perfect spot for a picnic.

Make sure you don't miss the plume of steam, vents and other emanations from the Poás volcano, which often stretch hundreds of meters into the air, providing an extra spectacle for visitors.

Institutions, local government, non-governmental organizations and the government have been working together on the quick and secure re-opening of the Volcán Poás National Park.

“The mid-term school vacation period allows Costa Rican families to look for unique alternatives at reasonable prices. We invite Costa Ricans to escape to the Poás region, which stands out for the series of productive partnerships that promote the development of this destination, with adventure, cuisine, relaxation and family fun always on offer", said Alberto López, General Manager of the Costa Rican Tourism Board.

A tourist's delight on the slopes of the volcano

Poás. This town, famous for its strawberries, coffee and queso palmito, a local cheese, is also home to decorative flower and fern production. Poasito is a community some 10 km from the Poás massif, with traditional restaurants where meat is the specialty, and many souvenir stores.

Fraijanes. Just 18 kilometers from downtown Alajuela, it is located on the route to the volcano. It is known for the lake that bears its name in the Laguna de Fraijanes Recreational Park, a family- and budget-friendly alternative with plenty of parking. A relaxing assortment of trails, boats, cabins and fishing await!

Vara Blanca. It is located between the Poás and Barva volcanoes. A highlight is the Catarata de la Paz, a powerful 40-meter waterfall.

Bajos del Toro. It also has a sky-blue waterfall located in a reserve between the Poás Volcano and the Juan Castro Blanco conservation area. The water falls from a distance of more than 90 meters, and the town boasts lodging options for those who want to spend the night and do it all over again the next day.

Sarchí. This town is the cradle of Costa Rican craftsmanship, especially the traditional carreta, or ox-cart, a colorful symbol of Costa Rican culture and identity. Visit the ox-cart factory, a classic but unmissable attraction of the region, where you will discover the painting and assembly process. The factory has ox-carts that can fit in the palm of your hand and one that won the Guinness World Record for its size, at 14 meters long and 5 meters high.

Come enjoy the attractions that are on offer on the slopes of the colossal volcano.

For more information, please visit www.visitecostarica.com and the Vamos a Turistear Facebook page. In addition, you can get in touch directly with Diego Jiménez at 8890-8957 or Karen Downs de la Cámara from Poás Tourism: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

• Apple Vacations will operate a charter flight over 13 weeks.
•  The flights will leave once per week and will generate 2,340 seats.

This Wednesday, June 20, the Costa Rican Tourism Board reached a deal with the airline Apple Vacations, approving the start of operations for the Rockford, Illinois to Liberia route. This new flight will arrive at Daniel Oduber Airport once per week with a B737-800, transporting 2,340 seats during the agreed period, which will begin on January 4, 2019 to April 5th of that year.

This will be the third flight from North America to the province of Guanacaste announced during the current administration, which will bring benefits to the region's tourism sector.

“As part of the strategy of attracting airlines, I am pleased to announce that we have been able to conclude a deal with Apple Vacations, which will operate a charter flight beginning next year. I am very happy that we have once again activated the attraction of airlines for the province of Guanacaste, which will allow us to generate more visits from our primary tourism market”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

The North American market is extremely important for Costa Rica because of its closeness and affinity. ICT maintains constant negotiations with the main airlines from the region, with the aim of significantly increasing the development of the country's two international airports.

“Rockford is the third largest city in the state of Illinois. With this flight, we'll be able to connect directly with over 14 cities in the United States. We are continuing to open new pathways for the country that visits us more than any other – this won't only help tourism in Guanacaste, it will open new doors to more destinations” enthused César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the Liberia airport authority.

Hermes Navarro, Director of Investment Attraction at ICT, noted that the addition of these operations was due to the demand created in these markets, which have shown a great interest in enjoying their holidays to the fullest by spending them in our country. This situation has been a boost to tourism operations in the province.

“Certain markets of importance for Costa Rica tend to be considered seasonal, since people are limited in their ability to travel mainly because of work issues. In this situation, charter operations have been extremely effective, since they complement regular flight services into the country, enabling connections and sales that are very attractive for this group of travelers”, Navarro added.

The itinerary of the flights will be as follows:

Rockford, Illinois - Liberia (LIR)

• Leaves on Friday: 8:00 a.m.
• Arrives on Friday: 12:40 p.m.

Liberia (LIR) - Rockford, Illinois

• Leaves: 1:40 p.m.
• Arrives: 6:35 p.m.

* The times listed are the local times in each country and are subject to change without warning.

The arrival of this new route to Daniel Oduber International Airport will give tourists the opportunity to enter through Guanacaste to some of the preferred destinations for North American markets.

oo00oo

About Apple Vacations

In 1969, John Mullen and his brother-in-law, Al Atkinson, founded a small travel company called Atkinson & Mullen. Years later, Mullen renamed the company Apple Vacations when he became the sole proprietor and entered into one of the largest travel package operators in the United States.

 

 

• United Airlines will fly daily from Chicago to San José during January and February of next year.
• Alaska Airlines confirms daily operations between Los Angeles and San José during the peak seon.
•  “Approximately 15,000 additional seats will be available in the first three months of 2019 from the United States”, said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

Complementing the efforts and negotiations held by ICT to increase the frequency of flights originating in the United States, Alaska Airlines announced this Tuesday that it would increase the frequency from three weekly flights to one daily flight on the Los Angeles-San José route during the peak season.

This itinerary will run from November 15-26, 2018 and December 16-January 6, 2019 to both of Costa Rica's international airports: Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia and Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela.

In addition, United Airlines announced an increase in the frequency of its Chicago-San José flight, which will be run daily during January and February of next year.

The airline will maintain its flights from Daniel Oduber International Airport to the United States, with the Houston-Liberia route leaving twice per week during January and February 2019, on Saturdays and Sundays.

President Carlos Alvarado highlighted the strategy and effort implemented by the ICT to increase the presence of airlines and increase the frequency of flights, which will be sure to have a positive impact on the national economy.

María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, noted that “we emphasize working in areas where there is greater potential for growth, in this case California with Alaska Airlines and Houston and Chicago with United Airlines”.

The increase in the frequency of Alaska Airlines’ flights represents another 2,067 seats, which, when combined with the 12,771 seats that are projected with the increase on United Airlines’ Houston and Chicago routes, will create an increase of 14,838 seats coming from the United States.

“This is part and parcel of the promotion and marketing efforts that ICT carries out in key cities in the United States, which has an impact on the decisions airlines make to fly to the country. Among other cities, we have worked with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Washington D.C. and Dallas”, concluded Revelo.

The United States is the main tourist-sending market for Costa Rica, with 1.2 million visitors in 2017, a figure that represents 40% of the international arrivals over this period.

 

 

• Costa Rica will carry out a strategic advertising campaign over online video services that will be broadcasting the Russia 2018 World Cup in the main European tourist-sending markets.
• The commercial will invite Spanish, German, French, English and Swiss tourists to take a break during the World Cup and visit Costa Rica on their next vacation

The Costa Rican national team will be participating in the world's premier soccer tournament, with their eye on making their country proud at the Russia 2018 World Cup beginning with their opening game on June 17th. Meanwhile, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) has begun an ad campaign on online video services with exclusive broadcast rights in the main European markets of interest with teams in the World Cup: Germany, France, Spain, England and Switzerland. This campaign is part of the country’s efforts to promote tourism during the world's largest sporting event.

“We plan on using this campaign, which is directed at the main European markets that visit our country, to increase interest in Costa Rica as the natural choice of tourists who wish to experience the essence of pura vida, which can be seen in the pleasure of being in a unique destination and the warmth of its people”, said Alberto López, General Manager of the ICT.

The campaign consists mainly of a 30-second commercial, which will invite viewers to take a break from soccer to visit Costa Rica and experience a new way of seeing the world, where people can see rivers flowing over the mountains and volcanoes rising up over the landscape. It also shows how nature dominates in our country, where adventure is always around the corner, and where tourists can always choose between relaxation and adrenaline year-round in every part of the country.

Different adaptations have been made of the video, with narration and subtitles for each of the countries in which it will be shown, with versions in English, Spanish, German and French. The commercial includes the hashtag #PuraVida at the end of each version, which aims to take advantage of the soccer hype around the recent reference to the Costa Rican phrase made by the renowned soccer star and former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane at the UEFA Champions League final.

A Costa Rican presence in highly watched games

The commercial will begin its run on digital platforms (streaming services) belonging to the following channels: MediaSet in Spain during the Spain-Portugal match (June 15th), TF1 in France during the France-Australia game (June 16th), ZDF in Germany during the Germany-Mexico match (June 17th), and ITV in the UK for the England-Belgium match (June 28th).

In Switzerland, the run will continue on a freer basis on the digital platform of the SRG SSR network. The commercial will be played throughout the matches of the first phase on a random basis.

The campaign will also include digital banners that will redirect the audience to www.visitcostarica.com after showing the commercial.

This advertising campaigns was developed for the ICT with assistance from the MMGY advertising agency. The company was able to carry out a reasonable, measurable and less costly negotiation than is normal for ad runs on traditional television in the countries that also have their national teams in the World Cup. Thanks to this, the decision was made to have a presence in the live broadcasts of matches with high viewership in the selected markets on the official platforms mentioned above with the exclusive broadcast rights for FIFA World Cup games on websites and mobile devices.

The advertising runs were negotiated such that they will reach approximately 30 billion measurable impressions of the commercial. The investment made by the ICT for this digital advertising campaign was $496,500.

“ICT has decided to make a strategic and measurable investment in advertising in the world's largest sporting event. Four years ago, we invested a similar amount in traditional television and this time, the emphasis will be on online video”, López concluded.

 

 

• The airline will start by flying 4 times per week and will begin daily flights on November 8th.

Good news keeps coming, with another new flight from North America to Costa Rica announced in less than a week. This Thursday, June 14, Costa Rican Vice President Epsy Campbell, alongside the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, announced that Spirit Airlines would launch a San José-Orlando route beginning on October 5th.

The US-based airline will launch the route with flights from Orlando International Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport four times per week until the 7th of November and will begin daily flights on November 8th. This route will give a new, low-cost alternative for tourists traveling from the United States.

For Vice President Campbell, this development provides new options for Costa Ricans who want to travel to the United States and will attract tourists to the country. “We absolutely welcome this new option, and we will be directing our efforts to ensuring that other airlines begin to see San José, Costa Rica as a possibility, thanks to our major tourist offerings.”

“We at ICT congratulate Spirit Airlines for this important announcement, which will bring truly competitive offerings and will further strengthen Costa Rica as a destination for the United States. The North American market remains the top source of tourists for the country, with around 1.3 million visitors and a potential prospective market of over $20 million. This new route will enhance air travel operations for this vitally important market and will provide new opportunities at truly competitive markets”, said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

Rafael Mencía, Executive Director of AERIS Costa Rica, expressed his gratitude for the good news. “We are well aware of the importance of the North American market for our country, and this new operation underscores the good work by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, in which they can count on the excellence and security that have made Juan Santamaría International Airport stand out in the region”.

Mencía noted that every new route is a vote of confidence in the operations of Costa Rica's main airport, which opens up a host of options for domestic and international passengers to visit new destinations, while bringing new visitors to Costa Rica and its wide array of attractions.

Spirit announces major route expansion

The airline announced today that it would begin an unprecedented expansion in its flight offerings, with a wide array of international destinations and direct domestic flights to the Orlando region. This list includes the direct flight to Costa Rica in the beginning of October. “Spirit Airlines would like to thank President Carlos Alvarado for his support. We have been flying to and from Costa Rica for more than a decade, and we're very proud to expand in the country once more. Costa Rica is a beautiful country for our clients to explore a destination that is rich in culture, cuisine and the Costa Rican way of life”, said Bob Fornaro, Executive Director of Spirit Airlines.

With Spirit's expanding network, the airline has continued to improve its on-time performance and guest satisfaction, while increasing its commitment to investing in the guest experience. The airline, known around the world for its low-cost rates, recently announced that it will install high speed Wi-Fi connectivity throughout its fleet in summer 2019. Recent information from the Transportation Department shows that Spirit Airlines ranks among the top airlines for timeliness and baggage handling.

The US market was the main tourist-sending country for Costa Rica in 2017, with 1.2 million visitors and 40% of international arrivals. However, it is a market with opportunities for expansion and growth, especially with the launch of this new route, which offers a direct connection to Orlando for domestic and international passengers.

 

• Sunwing will fly to the country for the first time with a Boeing 737 MAX 8, boasting a capacity of 189 passengers at maximum occupancy.
•  Starting on December 23 of this year, Sunwing will begin operations from Daniel Oduber International Airport to Vancouver, Canada

On June 11, Sunwing announced that starting on December 23 of this year until March 31, 2019, it will fly to Liberia, Guanacaste in a Boeing 737 MAX 8. It will be the only operator to offer a direct route from Vancouver.

As part of the negotiations held by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, Sunwing announced that it will broaden its operations to include Costa Rica. This is the second flight announced for the province of Guanacaste under the present administration, with both flights originating in North America.

“I am so happy to have so much good news in so little time, since one of the commitments I have taken on during my term is to strengthen tourism from Mexico, the United States and Canada, markets that are vitally important for Costa Rica because of our affinity and proximity. We will continue working to significantly increase the development of both international airports from those destinations, alongside the growth in the European market”, said Maria Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

The itinerary of the flights will be as follows:

Flight number: WG128

Vancouver (YVR) - Liberia (LIR)

• Leaves: Sunday, December 23, 6:00 a.m.
• Arrives: Sunday, December 23, 3:10 p.m.

Flight number: WG129

Liberia (LIR) - Vancouver (YVR)

• Leaves: Sunday, December 30, 5:30 p.m.
• Arrives: Sunday, December 30, 11:30 p.m.

* The times listed are the local times in each country and are subject to change without warning.

Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing, noted “we are very happy to be showcasing Costa Rica as a destination for next winter. In addition to being famous for its ecotourism and adventures, this popular destination also stands out for the quality of its lodging and its people”.

The arrival of this new route to Daniel Oduber International Airport will give tourists the opportunity to enter through Guanacaste to some of the preferred destinations for North American markets.

“At CORIPORT, we are celebrating the new flight from Sunwing from Vancouver to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia. We have been working side-by-side with the authorities to offer modern, innovative, climate controlled and safe facilities. The expansion of the facilities and the growth in the number of flights gives us an optimistic outlook for the entire region”, enthused César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT, the Liberia airport authority.

 

 

• Beginning on November 10, Aeroméxico will begin operations between Mexico City and Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia.
• More than 100,000 Mexicans visited Costa Rica in 2017, a figure that led the airline to open a new route to the country.

The President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, announced that Aeroméxico will start operating a route between Mexico City and Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia. The prestigious airline will offer two weekly flights starting on November 10.

The announcement was made on Thursday in the Casa Presidencial with the participation of the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, and the deputies Rodolfo Peña Flores of the Social Christian Union Party and Welmer Ramos from the Citizens’ Action Party.

Aeroméxico will begin operations on the 10th of November until the 21st of April (the high season for visits from Mexico). The high-profile airline will offer 2 weekly flights using Embraer 190 airplanes, which seat 99 passengers.

Over the last decade, visits from Mexico have seen a considerable increase. By the end of 2017, over 100,000 arrivals were registered from the country, showing the keen interest in this market for Costa Rica's tourism offerings.

“Tourism is being converted into a powerful source of job creation in every part of the country, from direct jobs to those created from positive knock-on effects. We will continue to strengthen this sector, with more air routes, more tourists, and, as a result, more economic development for our country”, said President Alvarado.

According to ICT figures, more than 500,000 Mexicans will have high levels of interest in taking a vacation in Costa Rica in 2019, a signal of a growing market. With this promising backdrop, the tourism board revealed that it has been in talks with Aeroméxico to come to a cooperative agreement with Aeroméxico that would allow for Costa Rica to be promoted in the Mexican market and support the development of this new route.

Mexico is the second-highest source of investments in Costa Rica in the Americas, after the United States. 37 companies currently operate within the country's borders. Since the signing of a free trade agreement in 1994, commerce between the countries has been streamlined, with an average annual growth of 8 per cent over the last few years.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, noted that Aeroméxico's launch of operations in Daniel Oduber International Airport will have the clear effect of bringing greater tourist development to Guanacaste and other nearby regions.

“The arrival of this new route to Daniel Oduber International Airport will give tourists the opportunity to enter through Guanacaste to some of the preferred destinations for this market, with a focus on vacations, leasure and recreation”, Revelo noted.

She added that more than half of Mexican tourists consider Costa Rica to be an ideal destination for trips for couples and families. “With these efforts, we will be able to continue our promotion of the development of small and medium tourist enterprises, which will be a plus for the well-being of families who live from the tourism sector”, the minister concluded.

Sergio Allard, Executive Director of Institutional Relations, noted that “this announcement is a fundamental part of our strategy to increase connectivity to and from Mexico. During this season, our clients can enjoy a more complete offering that will give them the option to arrive in Costa Rica through San José and return to Mexico City via Liberia, or vice versa”.

CORIPORT, the operator of Daniel Oduber International Airport affirmed that the arrival of Aeroméxico to the airport would not only benefit the tourism options for Mexican passengers, but that it would also facilitate a number of connections from around the world.

“We are delighted by the arrival of Aeroméxico, an airline whose quality and passenger care are internationally renowned. As administrators of the airport, we are also thankful for a series of synergies by which the entire private tourism sector came together to make the launch of this route possible”, said César Jaramillo, General Manager of CORIPORT.

Aeroméxico is an airline that has operated in Central America and the Caribbean for over 11 years. Currently, it offers two daily flights to Mexico City from San José, making Liberia its second destination in the country that it will connect to Mexico City.

The itinerary of the flights will be as follows:

Liberia, Costa Rica- Mexico City**

AM 2657     12:06 p.m.          3:10 p.m.        Saturday, Sunday

Mexico City – Liberia, Costa Rica**

AM 2656     8:15 a.m. 11:06 a.m.      Saturday, Sunday

* The times listed are the local times in each country and are subject to change without warning. ** From November 10, 2018 and April 21, 2019.

The itineraries have been planned such that Aeroméxico customers will have excellent options to catch the connections the airline offers to Mexico, the United States and Canada.

 

• With this statement of national unity, President Carlos Alvarado conveyed an emotional message of support to the national team that will represent Costa Rica in Russia 2018.
• An audiovisual presentation, produced by ICT, highlights Costa Rica's tourist attractions, its biodiversity, its renewable energy and its people.
• “The Soccer World Cup is a unique showcase to promote Costa Rica as a tourist destination”, noted Maria Amalia Revelo, the Minister of Tourism.

In a video produced by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, wearing the jersey of La Roja, gave an emotional message of support and national unity to members of the national team that will represent the country at the 2018 Soccer World Cup in Russia.

Previously, messages of thanks and support had been sent to the players and coaching staff by the singer Humberto Vargas – the winner of the Viña del Mar Festival – Karla Villalobos, a member of the women's national team, and two 5-year-old kindergarten students.

“I also want to thank you because with every play, every kick, every goal, you bring us closer together as a country. We are hoping for a great performance at this World Cup”, said Carlos Alvarado in the video, which was published on Monday on the official website.

Against a backdrop of aerial images of Playa Hermosa, Punta Catedral in Manuel Antonio and the windmills of Santa Ana, the video plays a speech by President Alvarado, in which he emphasizes that Costa Rica is a small country which is nevertheless “a giant in democracy, a giant in the environment, a giant in peace, and a giant in soccer”.

The images also include two wild animals that are representative of Costa Rica, a toucan and a white-headed capuchin monkey, as well as scenes from a football game in the indigenous territory of Yorkin, near the border with Panama.

“This is the moment to show the world what Pura Vida is all about”, said the President, noting that after the performance in the previous World Cup, expectations were high and today “we are hungry for a win”.

The video ends with a resounding challenge: “This time, everyone knows who Costa Rica is, and that's why we're going to give it our all”.

The official debut of La Sele will be in Group E on June 17 in the city of Samara against Serbia, with a match against Brazil in Saint Petersburg on Friday the 22nd and the final game of the round robin on Wednesday the 27th against Switzerland in the Nizhny Novgorod stadium.

 

 

•  These constructions and the acquisition of a gas measurement device will meet the requirements for the re-opening of the protected wildlife area
• MINAR, CNE and ICT are acting alongside community efforts to promote actions to support the revitalization of the area’s economy and tourism sector.
• President Carlos Alvarado has ordered “relentless pursuit” of priority projects for communities, including the re-opening of the park.

Next Monday, May 28 will see the beginning of construction of five security posts in the Volcán Poás National Park, one of the requirements of the Technical Assessment Committee for the re-opening of this protected area, which was closed last April due to volcanic activity.

The announcement was made this Thursday, May 24, in a meeting held in the headquarters of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) between the directors of MINAE, ICT and the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and the Committee for the Opening of Poás Volcano.

In the meeting, it was also announced that next week the bidding process would be finalized for a real-time gas measurement device, and the last phase in training community residents on the re-opening of the park would be initiated.

The other measures requested by the Technical Assessment Committee have already been carried out These include the reconstruction of trails, the posting of safety signs and training given to employees of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).

The hope is that the security posts will be ready within a maximum of two months, at which point the training will also have been finalized and the gas measurement device installed, at which point the tourist center can be re-opened.

Next Thursday, an inter-institutional mission, comprised of MINAE, CNE and ICT will accompany the Opening Committee on a visit to Volcán Poás National Park to inspect the construction and monitor the re-opening process in general.

The Deputy Minister of the Environment, Pamela Castillo, noted that “the objective is to learn about the needs of the people of the area and design initiatives to promote the region's economic stability through inter-institutional coordination”.

María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, announced concerted efforts “to support the tourism operators of Poás and the neighboring regions. In this administration, we will focus on small and medium tourist operators. We believe in the potential and quality of local operators’ offerings.”

Luis Ángel Salazar Arrieta, spokesman for the Committee for the Opening of Poás Volcano, said “we are very positive because we have seen the care that the authorities are taking and the concrete actions they are carrying out to give a real response to the difficult situation we are facing.

“As a committee, we can express our worries about the economic needs of families and businesspeople affected by the closure of the volcano. We will work together with ICT and we have committed to generating new tourist options to attract visitors”, he added.

President Carlos Alvarado has committed to a “relentless pursuit” in solving the most pressing problems in the country. “The secure re-opening of Volcán Poás National Park will allow the reactivation of tourism and economic activity in the region”, he noted.

 

 

 

 

•  The ultra-low-cost airline has finished launching its recent round of new routes to various US destinations, which include Los Angeles, New York and now Washington D.C. via Dulles International Airport (IAD), located in Virginia.

Volaris Costa Rica, the ultra-low-cost airline that operates in Central America, Mexico and the United States, launched its latest route today, flying from San José, Costa Rica to Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport - IAD) via San Salvador, with the goal of connecting more Central American communities with the eastern United States. The route, which begins in San José, will travel via San Salvador on Mondays and Wednesdays. Flights originating in Washington will depart on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The new route joins three others that have recently been launched: the first, from San José to Los Angeles via San Salvador, announced on March 15, the second, from San José to Los Angeles via Guatemala City, announced on March 17, and the third, from San José to New York City via San Salvador, announced on April 17.

The goal of the fourth route announced by Volaris Costa Rica is to increase connectivity in Central America and bring families, friends and businesspeople from the region closer to the United States. “We are very pleased to be able to launch one more route from Central America this year, just as we had announced. For Volaris Costa Rica, having a stop in the US capital opens up new possibilities and strengthens our commitment to offer competitive rates to our new destinations”, said Fernando Naranjo, General Manager of Volaris Costa Rica.

“We're sure that traffic will increase considerably between the major Central American community that resides in Washington, the District of Columbia, in the state of Virginia and in the surrounding area, where travelers can also enjoy the area's tourist and cultural attractions”, he added.

“We congratulate VOLARIS COSTA RICA for beginning their operations to their third US destination, adding Washington DC to the flights they have launched to New York and Los Angeles. The US market remains the top source of tourists for the country, with around 1.3 million visitors and a potential prospective market of over $20 million. The start of operations by VOLARIS will strengthen air travel operations for this vitally important market and will provide new opportunities”, said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism.

For those interested in traveling on this new route, they can do so on the following schedules and frequencies:  

San José, Costa Rica – San Salvador - Washington (IAD). Frequency: Mondays and Wednesdays

(Starting Wednesday, May 16, 2018)

• Departure from San José, Costa Rica at 1:30 p.m., arrival at San Salvador at 3:00 p.m.
• Departure from San Salvador at 4:45 p.m., arrival at Washington (IAD) at 11:35 p.m.

Washington (IAD)- San Salvador – San José, Costa Rica. Frequency: Tuesdays and Thursdays

(Starting Thursday, May 17, 2018)

• Departure from Washington at 1:52 a.m., arrival at San Salvador at 5:00 a.m.
• Departure from San Salvador at 6:00 a.m., arrival at San José, Costa Rica 7:35 a.m.

Tickets are available starting at US$150 (at the current BCCR exchange rate) including taxes for a one-way flight, thanks to the advanced purchasing plan and the “Tú Decides” program, where our clients only pay for the services they need. Tickets can be purchased at www.volaris.com, or from our call centers in Mexico at 01-800-122-8000, USA: 1-866-988-3527, Costa Rica: 506-4002-7462; Guatemala: 502-2301-3939, El Salvador: 503-2504-5540, and Nicaragua: 505-2251-2198, as well as from authorized travel agencies.

 

 

 

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) denies links of any kind to the Facebook page called “Defensoría del Turista ICT” (ICT Tourist Ombudsman). Although the developers of the informational page use images, logos, telephone numbers, lists of businesses, information and links related to ICT, they are not authorized to use our official information, to say nothing of our institutional image.

ICT is taking the appropriate reporting measures with Facebook, especially because it believes that the improper use of this information is a serious blow to Costa Rica's leading tourism institution, which may cause unfortunate confusion to domestic and international tourists, the Costa Rican press, and the private sector in general. We also ask that users not enter the “Defensoría del Turista ICT” page, and that those who have done so either report the page or, at least, stop following it.

It should be noted that the only official Facebook profiles linked to the ICT are the pages “VisitCostaRica”, which is directed towards and international audience, as well as “Vamos a Turistear”, related to the campaign promoting internal tourism directed towards domestic tourists.

Anyone interested in further general details on tourist information, finding companies with Tourism Declarations, or complaints can contact Tourist Services at 2299-5827 or 2299-5828. For complaints, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Finally, the ICT's authorized websites are the following:

1. The institutional website, www.ict.go.cr
2. The international promotional website, www.visitecostarica.com

The website for the domestic tourism campaign, www.vamosaturistear.com

 

 

• More than one hundred public and private institutions will present their environmental initiatives.

Given the urgent need to raise awareness and involve the Costa Rican population in building a country with ecologically sustainable political, economic and cultural systems, environmental sustainability and urban transit, various public and private institutions will come together to hold the XIV Feria del Ambiente (Environment Fair), in which innovative ideas will be discussed to safeguard ecosystems and protect the country's biodiversity.

This year, the event is international in scope, thanks to the actions of several embassies located in Costa Rica to set up strategic partnerships with businesses to develop environmental initiatives in their respective countries.

The event will be held on June 5-7 in the Estadio Nacional and will feature participation by companies that are committed to protecting natural resources, environmentally friendly products, and more.

Over 100 environmental initiatives will be unveiled in this event in the areas of alternative energy, environmentally friendly products, responsible management of waste and natural resources, and more.

Local progress on environmental issues

According to information from the Ecological Blue Flag Program (Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica), the country saved over 2.8 billion colones ($4.96 million US) thanks to proper management of water, paper, electricity and fuel.

Another tangible achievement has been in the national energy grid, with Costa Rica one of the few countries worldwide to use 100% renewable energy.

Although the country has indeed made important progress in its fight to become an emissions-free country, it must be nimbler and committed to protecting natural resources, which are ever more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, especially due to the devastating impact of natural disasters.

The President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, noted that one of his tasks for the bicentennial will be for the country to take up the responsibility of being a world leader in environmental sustainability, as it has been in the past.

“Not only do we have to improve the management of our national parks and the balance between humans and the environment in protected areas, but rather we have the enormous, yet rewarding, task of doing away with the use of fossil fuels in our economy, in order to make way for the use of clean, renewable energy. Decarbonization is the great task of our generation, and Costa Rica must be among the first countries worldwide to achieve it, if not the first”, said Alvarado.

Sustainability is a socio-ecological process that focuses on achieving a balance between species in their natural environment and the many actions taken by humans.

Costa Rica commits to renewable energy generation

Another one of the alternatives embraced by the country is the creation of a clean electricity grid using concerted, coordinated action by every part of society to launch and accelerate this process in an irreversible manner by promoting public transit and the generation of electricity, as well as the use of hydrogen cells and other technologies.

The country has shown that it may be a small country, but it has grand environmental aspirations. Its citizens have developed and established a balance between the economic, ecological, social and political sectors.

“Today, as a society, we continue to throw valuable material into the rivers or bury them in landfills when we could use them to avoid pollution and generate wellness and value”, continued Alvarado.

For COP26 in 2020, as well as for the country's bicentennial, Costa Rica must lead in the Paris climate change agreement, as it is the world laboratory for decarbonization, and is looking ahead to new options in terms of electric and hybrid vehicles and public transportation, reducing emissions and waste management.