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Record 2.100.000 Tourists Expected This Year Inside Costa Rica June 18, 2008
The Cámara Nacional de Turismo (Canatur) - national chamber of tourism - expects a 14% growth in tourism this year over the same period last year. The prediction comes from a sustained growth of the number of visitors to Costa Rica during the first five months of the year.
In real numbers, Canatur is predicting a record total of 2.1 million tourists, 200.000 more than in 2007.
Gonzalo Vargas, president of Canatur, considers the country to offer foreign visitors a variety of tourist attractions, a lot of fun, natural wonders, a diversity in types of hotel accommodations, all reinforcing the country's image to travellers worldwide.
Vargas said that the majority of the visitors are loosing for sun and beaches, followed by nature, adventure and ecotourism.
The Canatur head did not discard that there has also been a growth in medical tourism, a niche market that Costa Rica is carving out, as foreigners see Costa Rica's medical system inexpensive compared to home, while offering quality care.
"Those who come for surgery in the country, more than likely will spend a few extra days to tour the country", said Vargas.
Since 1995 the Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) - World Trade Organization - includes Costa Rica it the top 20 countries with better health systems and third in life expectancy.
Canatur figures show that 95% of the medical tourism comes from the United States, saving between 50% and 70% of the cost of treatment at home.
Vargas added that oral treatments and orthodontics are the leader in medical tourism, followed by surgery and aesthetic services.
According tot he Ministro de Turismo (Tourism Minister), Carlos Ricardo Benavides, the numbers offered by Canatur are reasonable, adding that during the first five months of the year the country say an increase of 133.332 more tourists over the same period last year.
The increase is 15.6% according to the Tourism minister, slightly higher than the Canatur figure. The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - national tourism board - predicts a 5% overall growth of tourism for the year.
Benavides added that the 15.6% growth is unusual and the overall growth higher than the 3% estimated by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The Tourism minister says that the number of flights to Costa Rica in 2008 over 2007 is one of the reasons for the growth, as well as the type of visitor, who for the most part are from the United States and are in a class not affected by the economic crisis in that country.
Mario Zamora, director de Migración y Extranjería, added that Costa Rican has a good environmental reputation that attracts tourists.
The immigration director said that following visitors from the United States are visitors from Europe, mainly from Holland, Germany and Spain.
Weekly review La Nacion June 20, 2008
Trade opening
Costa Rica is the second country in Latin America that meets the best conditions for trade and business, according to the World Economic Forum, which ranked 118 countries. The first place goes to Chile, the most liberalized economy in the region, which offers investors the best conditions. The Forum pointed out Costa Rica’s opening to imports with low or no-tariffs and an efficient customs system. Currently, the country has a 13 percent average tariff for agricultural imports and a 4.7 percent one for industrial goods. At the global level, Chile placed 27th and Costa Rica 44th.
$403-million deal
Mulltinational firm Fresh Del Monte Produce –with headquarters in Coral Gables, Florida– paid $403 million for Costa Rican group Caribana, which exports bananas and pineapples. In Costa Rica, Fresh Del Monte Produce owns Banana Development Corporation and Pineapple Development Corporation. The former is second only to Standard Fruit Company in banana exports.
Confidence in Costa Rica
The chief executive of the National Banana Corporation, Jorge Sauma, and the chairman of the Pineapple Growers and Exporter Chamber, Abel Chaves, reckon that the purchase of Caribana by Del Monte means confidence in the production of Costa Rica and certainty that the market will be healthy in the coming years.
Tourism grows
The arrival of tourists in Costa Rica continues increasing, in spite of the hardships of U.S. economy and the more expensive plane tickets resulting from the upward trend of fuels. During the first five months this year, the number of visitors increased by 133,000 (16 percent) as compared to the same period in 2007. The U.S. remains the leading source of tourists (54 percent), followed by Europe with 17 percent.
More trade with the U.S.
The President of Costa Rica Dr. Oscar Arias received the letters of accreditation of the new U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Peter E. Cianchette. The envoy forecast more trade, investment, and tourism from the U.S. Cianchette, a banker from Maine who has no experience as a diplomat, added that the war against drug trafficking and crime in general will be stepped up.
Digital city
Companies, non-profit organizations, and public institutions agree that San Jose can become the first “digital city” in Central America. This would involve easing life for citizens, explained Microsoft’s Ruben Bravo, by linking the city council and the people via the Internet and cell phones.
BlackBerry
The Costa Rican power and telecommunications institution (ICE in Spanish) announced that the popular BlackBerry intelligent phones will be available starting next August. ICE’s Claudio Bermudez also announced that the institution has contacted Apple in order to distribute here the third generation iPhone.
Arenal Volcano is growing
The material oozing out and solidifying atop Arenal Volcano makes evidence that the landmark is growing in plain view, volcanologist Eliecer Duarte –of the Volcanology and Seismology Observatory (OVSICORI in Spanish)– asserted. He added that this will continue in the coming years. The scientist pointed out that Arenal is a young volcano, since its current activity started 40 years ago, and is now expanding. However, he explained that the crater itself is not growing.
Whale Watching
The protection of dolphins and whales in Costa Rican waters is becoming a profitable business for the country. On the one hand, it confirms the commitment of the nation with the environment and, on the other, it means bread on the table for many people –particularly fishermen turned tour guides—who make a living from whale watching. According to the environmentalist organization PROMAR, that particular type of tourism generated $5.32 million, 42 times the amount recorded in 1990, when the activity began in Costa Rica. Scientists say that this should not come as a surprise, since Costa Rican waters are home to 29 –or 34 percent– of the 85 species of cetaceans known around the world.
Green Hotels and Tours
The Costa Rican Board of Tourism (ICT in Spanish) will promote that more hotels and tour operators certify their activities as friendly with the environment. According to the ICT, only 94 of 3,000 businesses currently boast of a Tourist Sustainability Certificate. Using renewable energy, the treatment of garbage and of waste waters are part of the conditions met by the companies awarded the certificate, explained ICT general manager Allan Flores. He added that the policy also involves that the tourist sector adopt measures leading to lower the impact of climate change.
Half a million $ watch
Within hours, a U.S. lady who lives in Costa Rica recovered a diamond-studded watch, valued at $500,000, which she left at a checkpoint at Juan Santamaria International Airport. Airport Police officers found the watch, but its owner was on flight to Miami by that time. Upon recovering her watch, the lady pointed out the honesty of the officers.
Garabito To Get 27 More Police, Vehicles
| By Britton Jacob-Schram The Beach Times June 13, 2008 |
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Garabito is to get an additional 27 police as the local municipality increases its budget, reinforcing security in highly-touristed areas.
The Municipal Police reinforcements are made up of 18 officers, two secretaries, two official guards, one commissioner, one sub-commissioner, and three supervisors. And while Garabito’s municipality increases their spending on police by 20 to 30 per cent, in the upcoming week officers will also be given seven new vehicles worth about $155,000.
The new police units will allow the municipal force to broaden their coverage for the canton, and reinforce their focus on principle tourist sectors found between the beaches of Jacó and Herradura.
“Today we cemented one of the most important projects for the local government, opening a new chapter in which we will be able to offer support to other police forces and create a secure environment for our people, as well as for those who visit us,” said Garabito’s Mayor Marvin Elizondo.
In a similar endeavor, Tamarindo authorities are attempting to steel security for the popular tourist destination moving forward with a new police station.
The new station is expected to house a minimum of 30 officers. Tamarindo’s police are also looking for the OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial, or Judicial Investigation Police) to become involved in the project — an onsite OIJ representative would allow victims of crimes to forgo a drive to Santa Cruz in order to report a crime.
About $15,000 is needed by the end of the year to keep the police where they are, or else their motorcycles and car will be taken and put somewhere else, warned Federico Amador, the Executive Director of the Asociación de Pro Mejoras de Tamarindo (Tamarindo Association) during a town meeting early last month.
The Association pays for the Tamarindo’s Fuerza Pública officers to remain within town in rented premised.
“There’s some light at the end of the tunnel now, and I think that we have a pretty good chance to get the money for that,” said Mr Amador.
Mr Amador added that police officials, including the regional director, Captain José Domingo Cruz, had been in Tamarindo recently.
“He told me they’re looking into paying the rent where the police are currently staying for the whole year, at least until the new police station is up and running.”
Meanwhile, 33 tourist police in San José are to be given English language classes, courtesy of the British Embassy.
The Embassy’s press attaché, Bruce Callow, said the initiative would cost about $20,000.
“Within eight months, they should be getting up to a pretty decent level of proficiency and then hopefully they will be able to continue to pass this onto other officers,” Mr Callow said.
“We’re trying to get them up to an intermediate level rather than paying for more officers, yet having more at a beginner’s level,” said Mr Callow, adding that on top of the 33 officers attending the Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano (CCCN), the Embassy is also putting three diplomatic police officers through studies at the British Consulate.
“[The Embassy] is really pleased to do this and hope other institutions join us,” said Mr Callow. “The door’s wide open.”
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Costa Rica Involvement in International Tourism Paying Off in Europe |
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ICT News from May 12, 2008
The promotion of Costa Rica in tourism festivals in different countries throughout Europe has led to more and more Europeans choosing it as their preferred vacation destination.
Along with this, the first three months of the year overall have seen 532,000 tourists choose Costa Rica as their destination spot. This figure reflects a 14% increase or 65,000 more tourists, in comparison to the first trimester of the previous year; these numbers represent only those entering the country by plane.
Another way to put it is that during January, February, and March of this year, 2,000 more tourists arrived daily, compared to the same months last year. Tourism continues to be a primary source of the country’s revenue, since it comprises almost a quarter of the country’s national exports.
“We have thought of convenient ways for people who wish to improve their development by offering the opportunity to study without having to travel long distances in order to obtain educational services with class.”
Spanish Firm to Build New Convention Center
The province of Alajuela will be the location for the first large convention center in the country. The grounds will be comprised of 23,000 hectares (56,833 acres) and will be located very close to the international Juan Santamaría airport.
Construction will be done by the Spanish firm, Feria de Valencia and the local group, Alta group.
As part of the project, Banco Nacional (National Bank) announced yesterday the creation of a $250 million trust. The bank group will be in charge of seeking resources to finance the project.
The convention center will include fair and exposition grounds, a large convention center, several offices, and two hotels.
Feria de Valencia is considering the addition of a commercial center
Costa Rica Hosts Meeting of UN’s International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development June 10, 2008 Inside Costa Rica
World leaders and business executives are gathering in San Jose and Arenal to discuss the growing shift towards sustainable tourism practices during the Fourth Meeting of the International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development.
Costa Rica is a leader in sustainable tourism in Latin America.
Led by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Initiative for Social and Economic Development, the meeting will address issues such as protection of natural resources, promotion of sustainable production and consumption patterns in the tourism industry while discussing best regional practices on sustainable tourism development. Additionally, there will be parallel workshops that focus on labels, standards and certification processes for sustainable tourism; case studies from NGOs and the private sector and a guide on tourism and integrated coastal zone management.
Since the creation of the Marrakech Process in 2003, the annual Meetings of the International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development have taken place in France, the home country of the Task Force. It is the first time that the gathering will take place outside of France, bringing the participants and its members to Costa Rica.
Participants joining the event are from France, Germany, United States, Norway, Bahamas, Brazil, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Croatia, Madagascar and Mali, as well as UNEP, the United Nations Foundation, the World Tourism Organization (WTO), The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Rainforest Alliance, Tourism Concern, the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Development of France (MEDAD), Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and representatives of professional and non-governmental organizations.
“It is an honor to host such an important international gathering in our country,” said Carlos Ricardo Benavides, Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica. “We believe that sustainable tourism is the only option for tourism development, and we look forward to sharing our experiences, challenges, goals and our best practices and solidify our commitment to a sustainable model,” added Benavides.
Costa Rica has been at the forefront of sustainable tourism practices and it has been ahead of its time in environmental protection policies and norms. These set of norms and initiatives were first implemented in the 1970s through the establishment of a National Parks and Conservations system, and are now a key pillar of its strategy towards achieving sustainable development.
Carlos Ricardo Benavides, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism mentioned that the tourism policies should be aimed towards achieving a fair distribution of the resources among the population and that the agreement that substitutes the Kyoto Protocol, regarding the reduction of emissions causing the greenhouse effect, should include a mechanism of compensation for countries that protect wooded areas. Hence, Costa Rica is also working to become the first carbon neutral country in the world by the year 2021, just in time to celebrate 200 years of independence.
Government Halts Latest Gas Hike, Details Emergency Plan To Reduce National Fuel Consumption Inside CostaRica June 13, 2008
Due to the rising cost of gasoline in the country, the latest round of increase taking place last Tuesday, the government of Oscar Arias has stepped in with measures to halt the price increases and reduce national consumption.
Rodrigo Arias, ministro de la Presidencia and brother of president Oscar, announced the elimination of taxes on diesel fuel and halted the planned hike of ¢85 colones per litre on diesel fuel that would have been made by the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) to the regulating body today.
The cost of eliminating the increase on diesel fuel will be ¢10 billion colones, the amount that will be paid by the government to Recope (a state agency) so that it will not suffer a loss. Minister Arias said that the money will come from the budget that is before the Comisión de Asuntos Hacendarios de la Asamblea Legislativa.
The move, according to minister Arias, to soften the blow to the poorest, who are being hit hardest by the continuing increases. Arias added that the decision to affect only diesel fuel was due to the fact that 60% of all vehicles in the country run on diesel.
As part of the government's plan, Arias said that the octane of regular gasoline will be increased to 92 from 88, allowing consumers to reduce their consumption of regular gasoline, and plans to reactivate the Heredia train, both for passenger travel and cargo.
The minister said in is announcement that the government will put aside ¢2 billion colones for the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer) - railway - to get the Heredia trains moving as fast as possible. In addition, cargo train service will be revived for Cartago-San José, San José-Caldera and San José-Limón.
Karla González, ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes, said that the Heredia train will take from 5 to 6 months to get rolling and to get the cargo trains moving a loan of us$5 million dollars has to be secured.
González added that the movement of cargo represents 60% of the fuel consumption in the country.
As part of the plan to reduce fuel consumption, minister González said that the restrictions on vehicular circulation in the downtown core will be extended to from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm during weekdays, depending on the last digit of the vehicle's license plate. The current restrictions are from 7am to 8:30am and from 4pm to 5:30pm.
The current system license plates ending 1 & 2 being restricted from the downtown core on Mondays, 3 & 4 on Tuesdays, 5 & 6 on Wednesdays; 7 & 8 on Thursdays and 9 & 0 on Fridays, will continue according to González.
Minister González added that the restrictions will now also include the circunvalación (ring road around San José) to eliminate the number of vehicles during rush hours. The restriction on the circunvalación will begin on Monday.
The transport minister also said that there will be a major "redesign" of the roads in the capital, whose restructuring will take place in September and October. The minister added that there will be major changes in San José in August as well, though she did not explain what the changes would be.
For his part, the Ministro de Ambiente (Environment minister) - Minae, Roberto Dobles, announced a reduction on import tax on vehicles with hybrid motors and high technology, as the country is in need to modernize its vehicles.
Dobles said that the government will soon be issuing an Executive Order (decrees) to limit the importation of used vehicles.
According to Dobles, all public institutions are now under obligation to reduce energy consumption.
Minister Arias also announced that the government will be presenting initiatives to give incentive for people to work at home more, as technology like the internet permits people to work at home and no need to go to the office.
One last item that will need more study, according to minister Arias, is the introduction of daylight savings time.
Minister Arias was clear in his comments at the press conference that the items detailed are only the first steps in what he called a national emergency in the face of rising fuel prices
Report Buyer Publishes New EIU Costa Rica Country Report Inside Costa Rica June 16, 2008
NewswireToday - ReportBuyer.com, the online destination for business intelligence for major industry sectors, added a new report which offers an in-depth overview of recent political and financial developments in Costa Rica.
The report provides a full overview of the current political and economic situation in Costa Rica and gives the reader an up to date summary of the latest developments within the country.
Supplying the reader with an outlook for Costa Rica in year 2008-09, the EIU report targets a range of relevant topics including domestic politics, international relations, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates.
The political issues addressed include the effect of the security crisis caused by the allegations made by Costa Rica’s ex-minister of security that fellow political colleagues had ties with the revolutionary guerrilla organization FARC, as well as the amendments the government is looking to make on legislation in order to protect the country’s industries. It further examines the progress in DR-CAFTA (Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement) implementation laws.
In addition to this, the report includes an analysis of Costa Rica’s economic policy and economic performance which addresses a range of highly relevant issues such as the monetary authority’s control of inflation and the growth of the flourishing import market.
The EIU report includes a full summary which has specific data on the economy as a whole and is broken into annual, quarterly and monthly charts and tables.
The Costa Rica Country Report is available from Report Buyer. For more information, see website.
Costa Rica exports up 10.5%, but down to U.S. market Tico Times May 23, 2008 |
| By Leslie Friday |
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Costa Rican exports hit $3.3 billion in the first quarter of 2008, marking a 10.5 percent increase over the same period last year.
The boost was in large part due to a 400 percent growth in sales of medical implants, which totaled $80 million, according to the Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX).
Costa Rica is now considered the second largest provider of such devices to the United States, behind Ireland.
Total exports to the United States, however, dropped slightly, less than 1 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2007.
“It's apparent that the economic slowdown in the U.S. and the delay in Costa Rica's implementation of CAFTA (the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States) continue to affect our exports to that market,” said COMEX Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz.
Exports to the European Union, meanwhile, grew 19.4 percent.
Besides medical products, other sectors that saw export growth were seafood, 11 percent; agriculture, 11 percent; food, 7.7 percent; and manufacturing, 10.6 percent. |
Central Bank Intervenes As Colon Slides Inside Costa Rica May 24, 2008
Costa Rica's central bank - the Banco Central de Costa Rica - said on Friday it was obliged to pump dollars into the monetary system, intervening to halt the continuing rise in the exchange rate, as the Colon hit an all time low of ¢527.82 to the U.S. dollar.
The end of the high tourism season and a seasonal drop in trade has been the cause for a shortage of dollars in the Costa Rican market, sending the Colon plummeting.
"We are in a period of the year where the amount of dollars in the market tends to fall, and some banks over-reacted (buying up dollars) and we saw it necessary to intervene," central bank economist Jorge Madrigal said.
This is the second time in two weeks that the central bank has intervened in shoring up the Colon, intervening for the first time since the new exchange rate system was brought in.
In 2006, the central bank replaced a fixed reference rate policy that had been used to gradually devalue the Colon over two decades and set a reference band of a high and low for financial institutions to set the exchange rate.
Last November the Central Bank widened the bands, setting the floor at ¢498.39 and the ceiling at ¢562.83.
Until the bank intervened on May 8, the dollar gained on the colon when the Banco Nacional (BN) opened its doors with a ¢5 colones increase in the sell rate. The Banco de Costa RIca (BCR) and private banks followed suit to hit the record set on opening Friday.
The exchange rate dipped slightly during the day on Friday, closing at ¢519.30 for the sell and ¢526.27 for the buy.
Lehman Bros. to Offer Mortgages to Expats |
| U.S. citizens will be the first clients in bank’s foray into C.R. |
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By Leslie Friday
Tico Times Staff | May 23, 2008 |
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Making history on the local real estate front, Lehman Brothers Bank has agreed to finance mortgages for foreigners hoping to call Costa Rica their new home.
Lehman is the first foreign bank to provide home financing to non-residents. The Delaware-based institution struck a deal with Stewart Title, which has an office in San José, to facilitate the process on local soil.
“As we look to expand our mortgage lending opportunities outside of the United States, they (Stewart Title) were a natural fit,” said Eric Hibbert, managing director of Lehman's resort home lending group, based in New York.
However, the bank does not mean for the deal to be exclusive.
“We intend to use all the title companies that are operating in Costa Rica,” Hibbert explained.
Up until three years ago, non-residents were not allowed to take out home mortgages at Costa Rican banks. That did not deter home sales. Instead, potential property owners would come with ready cash or take out a second mortgage in their respective countries.
Local banks have since loosened their lending restrictions, opening up the mortgage market to foreigners.
Stewart Title alone works with seven local banks – ranging from private institutions such as HSBC and Scotiabank to the state-controlled Banco Nacional and Banco de Costa Rica – to help non-residents obtain mortgages.
Lehman has strong name recognition internationally, something that gives a sense of confidence and security to future borrowers, explained Oscar Salas, a commercial manager at Stewart Title.
“In some cases, [clients] do not know the local banks,” he said. “Competition will be better for the local customer.”
Lehman will begin fielding mortgage inquiries as of July 1, the same date as the bank opens a similar agreement in Mexico.
The two Latin American countries are just part of the bank's global expansion plan, which, at least for now, will remain hush-hush.
“At this point, we don't want to talk about expansion,” Hibbert said.
In general, future clients can pick from six different amortization periods, ranging from one- to 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages with 20 percent down on the home purchase price. The mortgages will be secured with the property through a lien filed with the National Registry of property.
Prime creditors need only apply, as Lehman is looking for those with credit scores of 700 or higher.
Lehman will deal solely with U.S. citizens first, planning to expand its operations with time.
“When you look at the demographics of the baby boomer population, we believe that there will be a lot of baby boomers looking for vacation (and living) opportunities outside of the United States,” Hibbert said, while on a business trip to Mexico. “ Costa Rica has built a very nice brand, and people are heading there.”
The official launch of the new Stewart/ Lehman endeavor is scheduled for June 20 at the Hotel Playa Conchal. |
Gasoline Stations To Start Pumping Biofuel Come October Inside Costa Rica May 24, 2008
In just a little over four months all gasoline stations in the country will start selling "biocombustible" - biofuels - extending the pilot program since February 2006 in the Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces.
Julio Matamoros, viceminister de Energía (vice-minister of Energy) said that beginning in October all gasoline sold in the country will be an ethanol and biodiesel mix.
In the case of gasoline - regular or super - it will contain 7.5% ethanol or anhydrous alcohol derived from sugar cane. Diesel will have a 2% to 5% biodiesel mix derived from oil of palm.
For the time being no mention was made of any decision on the price of the biofuel, the Energy minister not saying if the price will be same, be increased or decreased once the biofuel begins to be pumped.
Matamoros did say, however, that the price will depend on international values, even though he recognized that the national production of biodiesel is sufficient for at a least a year.
The move to use biofuels is the country's attempt to become less dependent on fossil fuels and to promote national production of raw materials used in biofuel production, like sugar cane.
The executive order for the change is expected to be signed in July, according to Matamoros, who added that at the same time an extensive public campaign will be launched to explain the use of biofuels to consumers.
Matamoros said that the public will be made aware of the benefits of using biofuels and that it does not damage fuel pumps and engines do not lose power.
The move will force the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) - state monopoly on oil refining and gasoline distribution - to invest more than us$1.1 million dollars in equipment to mix the ethanol into the gasoline.
For more than two years regular gasoline sold in Puntarenas and Guanacaste contained the ethanol mix and sold at the same price of regular gasoline in stations in the other provinces. However, drivers had a choice to fill their tank with super if they chose against the biofuel. But, come October, that won't be the case.
Weekly review from La Nacion, May 23, 2008
President lost his voice
The President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias traveled to the United States in order to receive special treatment on his vocal cords, the Presidential Press Office disclosed. Dr. Arias, 68, has been on sick leave since May 12, when an acute problem made him lose his voice. The official release was very brief and did not provide any details on the President’s ailment. His spokesperson Michelle Mitchell argued that it is a “private” trip in order to get medical treatment and that “out of respect for the President’s privacy,” it was decided not to disclose where he will be treated. However, it was later disclosed that the President was treated in Philadelphia and that he was diagnosed with a benign cyst on his vocal cords. Apparently, he will not undergo surgery, but has to abstain from speaking for four weeks. Vice-President Laura Chinchilla is the acting President of Costa Rica.
Safe surgery
Costa Rica became the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean whose operating rooms incorporate a list of procedures to lower adverse events from surgery, such as infections and bleeding not linked to the patient’s ailment. These procedures are already operative at hospitals in the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Space. Promoted by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, the strategy fits perfectly within the Costa Rican National Program for the Safety of Patients.
Seven million trees
Costa Rica has launched a program to plant 7 million trees this year. A nationwide campaign is aimed at mitigating global warming. The idea is not only that the people join in planting the trees, but that they also care for them. Last year, at least 2 million trees were planted in Costa Rica, according to official sources.
Gourmet coffee
In the international electronic coffee auction known as “The Cup of Excellence”, buyers from Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States paid up to $1,510 per a 100-pound bag of coffee grown in Costa Rica. Even the lowest price paid, $465, surpasses by far the $137 that the product gets at the New York Stock Exchange. The auction is sponsored by the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, a non-profit organization with headquarters in the United States which focuses on improving the quality of coffee around the world.
Spears at Barrigona
Troubled pop star Britney Spears holidayed in Costa Rica. She stayed at actor Mel Gibson’s home in Guanacaste, on the Costa Rican northwest Pacific, near Barrigona Beach, where the singer was photographed while enjoying the sea and the sun. ronically, “barrigona” means “pot-bellied woman”.
Government Negotiating Direct Flights From Europe
| By Ralph Nicholson Friday, May 16, 2008 The Beach Times |
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Guanacaste Chamber Chases Markets, Euros As Dollar Weakens
The Costa Rican government is in direct negotiations with at least four European air carriers, pushing them to offer scheduled, non-stop flights to Costa Rica, and in particular to Guanacaste’s Daniel Oduber International Airport.
The Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, is in talks with British, Spanish, French and German carriers, hoping they will offer direct flights to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
The discussions came to light last week in a meeting between Mr Benavides and the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism, which has been pushing for direct inroads to the European market.
“Europe is a new market for us and the trend of the European currency is obviously attractive,” said the Chamber’s vice president, Ana Saborío after the meeting.
“It will also open a new highly attractive market that will help us be less dependent on one particular market,” she added.
International visitors to Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport are overwhelmingly from North America. But with the Euro Zone currency strengthening against the dollar, tourism industry and other business leaders are looking farther afield.
“It is not only because of the weakness of the US dollar. You shouldn’t have all the eggs in the same basket, and we think that our prospects in European markets are a good opportunity for this country,” Mr Benavides told The Beach Times.
“We have to keep two eyes wide open and looking to Europe always, and it is not only because euros are stronger than dollars at this time. We have to have a plan to bring people from many other countries, regardless of who has the potential, economically speaking.”
The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) is spending $14 million this year promoting Costa Rica internationally. Next year, Mr Benavides said, that figure will rise to $20 million. A significant proportion will be spent in Europe.
“I have been talking to the British and I have talking to the French and I have been talking to the Germans,” Mr Benavides confirmed. “Some of them are interested.”
Mr Benavides is understood to have had extensive talks with British Airways, but the carrier, one of the biggest in the world, has made it clear it would be two to four years before it would commit to direct flights.
“This is a long term thing,” the Minister said. “I am very optimistic. I think maybe two of them will be here within the next two years. But I think the effort could mean at least four years, to have a complete menu in-house.”
It’s a difficult time for the world’s airlines.
All carriers have been hit hard by the sky-rocketing price of oil, which earlier this week topped $127 a barrel. Finding suitable, wide-bodied aircraft for medium-haul flights is difficult, particularly given the world-wide shortage of equipment.
The world’s two main aircraft builders — Airbus Industries and Boeing Co -— are struggling to meet orders for their new aircraft.
On Tuesday, Airbus announced another delay in deliveries of the world’s biggest passenger plane, the A380, a double-decker, 555-seat plane now postponed through 2010.
For its part, delays in getting Boeing’s new 787 jetliner off the ground will push deliveries to some of the plane maker’s customers back by as much as 30 months, according to reports.
“And the other challenge is related to our capacity to have the right combination between pure tourism and business travel flying,” said Mr Benavides. “For them [the airlines] that part, business travel, is very important.”
The Dutch carrier, KLM, already has a direct flight to Panama City, but the onboard configuration includes a healthy business class. It is where the airlines make money.
Costa Rica wants to be able to offer the same.
“It is not easy for a European airline to make the decision to enter a market such as Costa Rica,” said the Chamber’s Saborío. “The economics need to work and it is not an obvious play considering the distance.”
Last Friday’s meeting with the Minister saw the chamber agree to join forces with the ICT to approach the Europeans. For example, the Chamber is understood to be approaching Air France via the French Ambassador in San José. The government would continue to negotiate with Holland’s KLM and Spain’s Iberia Airlines.
Ms Saborío said the Chamber has no preference for a specific airline, although it is understood some board members had wanted British Airways, just because the industry has become accustomed to dealing with both Spanish and English languages.
“We have not taken a position,” said Ms Saborío. “Most Europeans speak either English or Spanish. We already have the resources in place to service that market, at least regarding the language.”
Also at issue is what conditions the European carriers may place on introducing direct flights to Liberia. When Delta first pioneered flights to the Guanacastean capital in December of 2002 they asked for a guarantee of $2.9 million before the first flight arrived.
A handful of Guancastean hotels came up with the money, and the route was quickly profitable. Last year Delta Airlines ferried more than 120,000 passengers between its Atlanta, Georgia hub and Liberia. Continental Airlines, flying out of Houston and Newark, did likewise.
As with the North Americans, the European route is potentially hugely lucrative, particularly for those airlines bold enough to pioneer the route. Given the size of Europe, any scheduled carrier is likely to pull passengers from neighboring countries. Passengers from Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Britain, Italy and Spain, could all reasonably pick up a flight from a single European city.
Any deal with an airline flying wide-bodied aircraft may well include a freight component. Little cargo goes through Liberia to date, in part because of a lack of loading facilities, but products like fruit, fruit juices and aloe vera, all travel by truck to San José for shipment by plane.
“We are only looking for one airline for the moment,” said Hubert Gysemans, who is also on the board of directors of the Chamber of Tourism. “We know we have the passengers and we know we have the cargo.”
Map for tourists La Nacion May 16, 2008
Through a satellite map of Costa Rica, tourists will be able to access the most accurate information of the places they visit, as well as the ways to reach them. This tool was developed by the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (ACOPROT in Spanish) and is available free at www.costaricamaps.com. The information includes products and services for tourists in every region or province.
ICE Monopoly At An End! Inside Costa Rica May 13, 2008
The Legislative Assembly last night voted to break the 60 year old monopoly on telecommunications held by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Thirty five legislators voted in favour of approving the Ley General de Telecomunicaciones in its second and final debate, which now means that private companies can offer cellular and internet service in the country.
The law is part of the laws required for the country to ratify the Tratado de Libre Comercio - free trade agreement with the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic.
Present for the vote were 49 legislators when at 11:46am the approval was given.
In addition to permitting companies other ICE to offer to the public cellular and internet service, the Ley General de Telecomunicaciones also establishes the creation of a Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (telecommunications board), which will be part of the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) and have the authority to regulate competition.
The Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones will determine rates and services that can be offered and will be responsible for creating a Fondo Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (national telecommunications fund), which fund will be used to subsidize telecommunications installations in rural areas which may not be very attractive for telecom investors.
In addition, all telecom operators are required to maintain 911 emergency service operations.
The opening of the telecommunications sector when the TLC if ratified and the United States notifies the Organización de Estados Americanos (Organization of American States - OAS) that Costa Rica, the only holdout, has entered the treaty.
"This will be a day remembered in the political history of the country", said the ministro de la Presidencia, Rodrigo Arias, who added that in Costa Rican style, the important change was made in peace and tranquility.
What is left for legislators to debate is the Ley de Fortalecimiento del ICE, a law that gives the state institution the tools to compete in a free telecommunications marketplace.
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Costa Rica Plants More Trees To Become Carbon Neutral
Inside Costa Rica May 13, 2008
Costa Rica will plant seven million trees in 2008 to soak up as many greenhouse gas emissions as it produces, in a bid to become the world's first carbon neutral nation, a top official said Monday.
"The stated goal is to be the first neutral country as far as greenhouse gas emissions is concerned," said Energy and Environment Minister Roberto Dobles.
"To get there, this administration is betting on halting deforestation and on the 'Plant a Tree' project," he added, referring to an ongoing government initiative to plant as many trees as possible in the country.
The project aims to "plant seven million trees this year, meaning that in our country there would be 1.5 trees for each Costa Rican.
He added that in 2007 the country managed to plant five million trees, spurred by the desire to forestall an impending environmental catastrophe.
"Climate change is the main threat facing humanity and, even so, the world still can't agree to fight this problem," Dobles said.
Every country can help in the struggle, even a small nation like his own, Dobles said.
"We all know developed countries and big developing nations like China, Brazil and India are chiefly responsible for most of the greenhouse gases that destroy the ozone layer.
"That doesn't mean a country like Costa Rica should stand by doing nothing. On the contrary, we're working on a series of initiatives on the national and global levels to lessen the impact" of climate change, the minister said. | | | Costa Rica On U.S. Buses Inside Costa Rica May 11, 2008
Sights of Costa Rica will be enjoyed by people traveling on buses in New York and San Francisco, California, as part of the strategy developed by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - Costa Rican Tourism Board - to attract more visitors.
Also, via their cell phones, New Yorkers will be able to “visit” the rainforest for a few seconds.
ICT marketing director Maria Revelo said that even though the Costa Rican tourist sector has kept on expanding, it must act as if it were amidst a crisis, in order to keep promotion up.
This year’s first quarter, arrivals recorded at international airports were 17 percent more than in the same period in 2007. Also, the promotion of Costa Rica will be reinforced this year in Europe, Latin America, and emerging markets such as Portugal, Russia, Ireland, China, and Japan.
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San José Airport Terminal Could Be Finished In a Year
Inside Costa Rica May 16, 2008
The consortium lead by Houston Airport System Development Company (HASDC) says it will complete the construction of the San José airport terminal if given the nod by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), according to Karla Gonzalez, MOPT minister.
HASDC purchased the shares of Alterra Partners who has been managing and constructing the Juan Santamaría since 2001 and with its partners, ADC Management from Canada and Andrade Gutiérrez Concesiones (AGC) from Brazil, it plans to complete the work within 12 to 14 months and manage the airport more effictively.
HASDC president, Jeffrey Scheferman, said that the company will inject us$25 million dollars of its own money to complete the construction of the terminal, which is to include additional gates, a new office for immigration and customs and more space for shops and offices.
The final decision to give HASDC the contract is up to the Consejo Técnico de Aviación Civil (CTAC) - Civil Aviation - failing which it will have to assume the airport operation.
The completion of the terminal also hinges on the obtaining of a us$48 million dollar loan from the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE). Alfredo Ortuño, BCIE president, said that the bank is "very interested" in the project.
The loan is in addition to the $90 million dollar debt run up by Alterra.
HASDC has come under criticism by the International Air Transport Association, saying that the company is responsible for the high cost of the Quito, Lima, airport it has been managing since 2001. The IATA says that HASDC has converted the Quito airport into one of the most expensive in Latin America.
HASDC is the financial arm fo Houston Airport System that currently runs three airports in Houston with a combined passenger traffic of 58 million people a year.
Once the CTAC has approved the HASDC proposal, all that remains is the review of the contract terms by the Órgano Fiscalizador del contrato de Gestión Interesada (OFGI) and the approval of the Contraloría (Comptroller's office) on the transfer of Alterra's shares to HASDC.
According to Viviana Martín, president of CTAC, the government does no time limit to review the proposal. Notwithstanding, HASDC has already begun looking for builders in Costa Rica. According to Scheferman, the builders will have to be ready to start work "immediately".
Attraction of Investment Inside Costa Rica May 18, 2008
Costa Rica placed seventh in the attraction of foreign investment in 2007 among the Latin American and Caribbean nations, according to a survey by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Commission.
The $1.9 billion that Costa Rica attracted last year was surpassed by Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru, all of them much larger economies.
The chairlady of the Costa Rican Chamber of Exporters (CADEXCO in Spanish) pointed out the good image that the nation has at the international level, but remarked that a large part of it is due to campaigns to promote tourism and some institutional efforts to attract investment. She added that work must continue to preserve the arrival of direct foreign investment.
Arias' Guanacaste building regulations generates confusion
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By Helen Thompson
of A.M. Costa Rica May 5, 2005
Brokers and real estate agents are starting to express confusion about what the presidential decree to regulate all coastal development in the Guanacaste area really means.
Almost all say they are optimistic about the plan to limit the height and density of construction within four kilometers of the mean high tide mark in the Chorotega region, which includes most of the northwest coast of Costa Rica. But on deeper inspection the decree by Óscar Arias Sánchez leaves space for various uncertainties that could deeply affect the zoning plan's efficiency.
Published in La Gaceta April 30, the decree is now official but will not go into force for another six months. The Ordenamiento Territorial de la Región Chorotega forbids construction in the 50 meters inland from mean high tide and states that no building in the following 150 meter concession zone may exceed a height of 16 meters (52.5 feet), about three floors.
Buildings in the next 800 meters inland are capped at 24 meters (nearly 79 feet), about five floors, and the following three kilometers will have no buildings taller than 36 meters (118 feet), about eight floors.
Two articles of the decree in particular have raised questions. Any project approved within the next six months will not have to comply with the rules, and any urban plan conceived and approved for individual coastal communities takes precedence over the decree.
Projects that have their building plans authorized by the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos within the six months after the decree's publication in La Gaceta will not be restricted by the decree.
The process to achieve an authorization for titled land can take anywhere between four months and over a year. Plans are taken to the colegio about half-way through the process, after a ground use approval from the municipality and a water availability letter have been granted. This means that municipalities could technically approve a number of high-density projects within the next few months.
Many residents in the coastal area are unsure whether to expect a sudden influx of applications for concessions and project approvals that exceed the planned height.
“It'll be interesting to see in the next few months how the municipality reacts,” said Steve Broyles of real estate company Bratton, Broyles & Associates, in Tamarindo, who is also on the board of directors for the Associación Pro Mejoras Tamarindo. “There might be a free-for-all of approvals, depending on how much construction companies are willing to pay, or the municipality may realize that there is no inherent benefit to granting last-minute approvals.”
Various projects that outstrip the height limit are already under construction. These include the Pacific Park project, a seven-floor condominium building under construction well within the first kilometer, and Hermosa del Mar, the first seven-story construction in Playa Hemosa, Guanacaste, which boasts three buildings of condominiums.
Even those who are in the process of building high-density developments say they agree with the decree.
“I think it's a fair decree – it will contribute with nature,” said Álvaro Vargas, a sales assistant at the Hermosa del Mar development, which is Costa Rican owned. “Costa Rica is a green country. If you lose that you lose its identity. But I can't lie — I'm quite happy the decree didn't come into effect before this project was approved.”
Tamarindo has a number of high-density projects in construction and planned for the area, which has given rise to the “Save Tamarindo” movement, a community initiative to gather signatures on a petition to block high-rise constructions. Their prospective plan of how Tamarindo could look in five years' time — if the planned projects come to fruition — includes at least 10 new high-rise buildings.
But the economic situation in the United States has taken a toll on at least some of the developments that could change the sky-line of Costa Rica's beaches.
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“There are about 6 or 7 projects that have started construction which would be taller than the decree allows,” said Federico Amador, director of Associación Pro Mejoras de Playa Tamarindo. “However, only one of these, Pacific Park, is still in the construction process. The others have stopped building because they are having trouble selling their condominiums.”
Further confusion has arisen from the clause that states that any plan regulador conceived and approved for individual coastal communities overrides the decree.
Currently, very few plan reguladores are in force in any coastal community, with the notable exception of the Papagayo peninsula. Tamarindo is in the process of putting together its own plan.
“Our plan is more detailed. For example it states that there are to be no six-story buildings in front of the Tamarindo hills, even though in Arias' plan they would be allowed a kilometer inland,” said Amador. “If we had that kind of development so close to the beach, it would destroy the Parque Nacional de Las Baulas, as the lights would put off the turtles who come here to lay their eggs.”
The association is currently in the process of organizing an environmental study as the final stage in approving the plan, and explaining the intricacies to community members. Funds for zoning plans must be found from within the community, and this factor may hinder the development of similar plans in other areas of Guanacaste.
Tamarindo's urban plan appears to be stricter than the government decree, but the wording of the decree does not exclude the possibility that a coastal community may decide to embrace high-density construction in its own zoning plan.
“That question is unchartered ground at the moment,” said Scott MacDougall of Century 21, in Playa Hermosa. Amador, who has been instrumental to the development of Tamarindo's urban plan, said that if everyone compiling the plan agreed, there would be nothing to stop a plan allowing high-rises.
“Each individual community needs its own zoning plan,” said MacDougall. “Anyone who lives here will not want to authorize 15-story developments. Developers don't want their own projects' views blocked and residents don't want to live next to a tower block. But equally, the change to high density has been a function of economics. There is a need to go vertical, because each piece of land now costs much more than it did three or four years ago. Now that the precedent has been set in Playa Hermosa, we will probably be following suit.”
The decree is set to run out in four years, and the document also fails to include any indication of what will happen to the regulation of construction after this time.
The decree sets out further rules for density apart from the height restrictions.
• No development may build on more than 65 percent of the proposed lot.
• Hotels may only put 80 rooms per hectare on the restricted 150 meter zone, 120 rooms per hectare on the next 800 meters, and 160 rooms per hectare thereafter.
• Residencial developments are restricted to 100 people per floor on each hectare in all zones. There is a maximum of 30 houses per hectare in the restricted zone, 20 residential units per floor on each hectare of the 800 meter zone, and 25 residential units per floor per hectare of the three kilometers thereafter |
Inflation Target Inside Costa Rica May 5, 2008
Even though the Central Bank had targeted on 9% as the overall inflation for Costa Rica in 2008, now the increase in the prices of food and recession in the United States has ruined all forecasts.
However, bank chairman Francisco Gutierrez pointed out that the country’s economy is performing well under the circumstances and that in this year’s first quarter it had the fifth lowest inflation in Latin America and the lowest in Central America.
He admitted that, evidently, attaining the earlier goal is going to be tough, but that all efforts will be made to get as close to it as possible. | | | |
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Vindas Foul Hands Brown The Crown Friday, May 02, 2008 The Beach Times
With less than three minutes left in the men’s final heat, Luis Vindas had secured his first national championship. What could possibly go wrong?
After cracking his board on a risky rock outcrop and getting a new one run out to him — clock ticking — the Jacó-native pulled into a decent-sized left, launched himself into the air, grabbed the rails of his replacement board with local aplomb, and landed the thing.
It was a brazen double-grab air. And it was the highest-scoring wave of the entire heat.
The circuit’s point-leader and Vindas’ biggest competition, limonense Gilbert Brown (pictured), tried to answer back with a few hacks — as did Vindas’ brother-in-law Diego Naranjo, the men’s defending champion — but they paled in comparison.
Another strong showing put Vindas well ahead. He had unofficially won the final.
But he clearly wasn’t confident in it; and with three minutes left in the 15-minute heat, he began marking Brown. Hard.
“To remain ahead of Luis was the only mission — to win or lose this tournament didn’t matter — he was my contrincante (opponent) for the title,” said Brown, admittedly marking Vindas in the same manner. The two rallied for position during every incoming set, allowing Naranjo and Jairo Pérez to score rides uncontested.
With a little more than two minutes remaining, Vindas circled Brown, saw the lanky limonense was going for a decent left, and took off on it just the same.
“They were super tight in points and Luis made a huge mistake,” said President of the Costa Rican Surf Federation, José Ureña. “He was just trying to make sure Gilbert didn’t have the wave, and he just went for it.”
Major final faux-pas: Brown had the right of way and he threw up his hands in disgruntled question. An almost deified voice of the head judge in the judges’ podium boomed over the loudspeaker: “Interferencia.”
Gilbert was showered in a sticky-sweet mix of beer and energy drinks at the shoreline. The throng of the country’s surf fans — a showing many were comparing to international competitions — were telling him he’d won, but he insisted nothing was final.
“Really, they’ve yet to release the official results, so it’s just pure speculation,” he said, tempering the surrounding excitement. “But I’m pretty confident because I caught great waves and did my job well and he couldn’t control himself. He caused the interference.
“God will be the final judge. We can only wait to see, right?”
To stay true to the Carribean surfer’s notion, the Almighty was in his corner.
Interference was called on Vindas; and the form-surfing from Naranjo — who, after competing against his brother Juan Carlos in the semis and brother-in-law Vindas during the finals — ended up winning the heat. But he didn’t have enough points to be in the running for a second title.
“Luis was winning that heat,” said Ureña. “If he wouldn’t have made that mistake, he would be the national champion. It’s not a super weird thing, interference. It happens.
“What’s weird was seeing Luis do it,” I don’t know what he was so worried about, especially after that air he completed,” he said, explaining the interference call cost Vindas half the points of his second highest-scoring wave. Surfers are judged on their best two.
“If you ask me who deserved the contest more, it was Gilbert. He’s been super focused the entire year. What he did in Chile — and like his performance in Huntington Beach last year — he’s just been blowing minds. To me Gilbert is one of the most dangerous guys internationally.”
As dangerous as he is, it’s Vindas who Brown cites as one of his favorite surfers.
“Now I can say that I’m champion. This crown cost me more than ever in the moments when it seemed it would most escape me thanks to the pressure Luis put on in the last two events,” said Brown of Playa Carmen and Dominical — the two national circuit events Vindas recently won back-to-back.
“And to carry all that until the last 20 minutes of the circuit’s final was incredible. It was enough of a factor just to fight against the pressure.”
Escaping the somewhat airborne performance anxiety during the finals was another Vindas.
Lisbeth Vindas had widened the gap between defending women’s champion and her closest competitor, Nataly Bernold, to a not-enough-to-rest-easy 800 points. An Argentine-invasion of Laura Pecoraro and Agustina Pellizzarri also made it to the finals, but with only limited competition this year, neither posed any significant threat to Vindas.
After some bad positioning near the rocky outcrop, Vindas (pictured, with trophy in tow), who was being coached from the sand by husband Naranjo, came second to Bernold (below). Yet, it was enough for her sixth national title.
“Nataly and Laura were surfing incredibly and thanks to the great year I had, it allowed me to stay in front of the obstacles with good results,” Vindas later beamed, adding next year might be a bit different due to some new expectations.
“I may keep doing the ALAS (Asociación Latinoamericana de Surfistas Profesionales), Latin Tour and then wait until the Winter Triple Crown,” she said of the national three-event tournament designed to keep the surfing world alive during the rainy season. “I’m hoping to do a couple on the WQS (ASP World Qualifying Series events) — nothing too big cause I don’t have points from last year.”
With Vindas most likely competing sporadically throughout next year’s circuit, Ureña says her absence might shake the women’s circuit up and make room for some new blood.
“She’s got new sponsors and they’re going to be asking her for more international results,” he said of her new sponsorship with MAXX energy drink, which she signed on with in late April.
“Right now I’m pretty motivated because they’re going to help me a lot and they’ve really made me feel like part of the team,” she said.
“If she’s really focused she could easily win internationally, and once Lisbeth starts on, Nataly might follow,” said Ureña, adding recent sponsorship bids coming into the circuit are unlike anything he’s ever seen.
In the end all these brands are doing is just vying between each other by betting on surfers, he continued.
“Those brands, they’ve been looking at our circuit as something as one of the strongest Latin American circuits after Brazil,” said Ureña. “They know the potential in surfing.”
When the surfing youth from developing countries front the money for flights, as well as entry fees for international competitions it gets tough, and most can’t afford it, he explains.
“I think it’s great to see these kids will be getting more money. It will allow them to travel and compete more internationally.”
Weekly review from La Nacion April 18, 2009
Lightly optimistic
According to the most recent UNIMER survey for the daily La Nación, 36 percent of the respondents believe that their family’s economy will improve in 2009, while 26 percent believe that it will worsen. The number of the positive thinkers increased 7 percent as compared to a similar poll done last August. On the other hand, the outlook for the nation is gloomier, since 51 percent of those surveyed think that Costa Rica will be worse off next year. Those thinking the same way in the preceding poll were 52 percent. In addition, 20 percent of Costa Ricans expect that the country will improve, 4 percent more than in August 2007. Regarding basic needs, half of the population said they satisfy them, compared to 33 percent before. The one sector which did not vary was that of those who claim that they are little or not satisfied regarding the meeting of their basic needs, 28 percent.
Slower growth
The International Monetary Fund slightly reduced the estimate for the Costa Rican Gross Domestic Product in 2008 to 4.1 percent. In 2009, economy is expected to grow 4 percent. Regarding consumer prices, the Fund estimates that inflation will reach 9.5 percent this year, but will drop to 7 percent in 2009. Meanwhile, in is monetary program, the Central Bank of Costa Rica set the growth of economy at 3.8 percent and inflation at 8 percent, with a 1 percent error margin, either up or down. The Bank’s projected inflation for next year is 6 percent.
Casino restrictions
The Government ruled that casinos will operate only eight hours a day from now on and that players not be served free drinks. These are part of the restrictions to the 48 casinos operating in Costa Rica. Vice President Laura Chinchilla had no qualms in asserting that this is an activity which the state does not want to encourage, but rather restrict. The measures are aimed in part at fighting the addition to gambling, Ms Chinchilla added. The Minister of Tourism Carlos Benavides explained that, according to the new approach regarding casinos, they are considered as a supplemental activity for hotels and not business in themselves.
Bill Gates here
Microsoft cofounder and one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, 53, came with his family for vacation in Costa Rica. He stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, in Guanacaste, a company in which he owns $1.9 billion in shares (5 percent). When Gates bought the shares, his friend and partner Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal purchased $7.6 billion (22 percent of the hotel chain). Gates arrived aboard a private jet. According to the Immigration Service, Gates had last come to Costa Rica in 2006. This time, with his wife and children, Gates stayed in Guanacaste –in the Costa Rican northwestern Pacific for a week.
Less ozone
The amount of ozone in the atmosphere above Costa Rica is less than was earlier thought, scientist Jessica Valverde from Universidad Nacional (the state National University) reported. According to the researcher, in the troposphere –from the surface of the planet 17 kilometers, or slightly over 10 miles, up–, the most turbulent part of the atmosphere and where weather phenomena take place, different probes have confirmed 50 parts per million, while in developed countries it reaches 250 parts per million. The scientist said that, according to their data, ozone pollution is not a source of worry in Costa Rica. Se further explained that there are two types of ozone, the one close to the surface, which is harmful to plants and people, and the one above the troposphere, the good ozone, that forms the layer responsible for filtering out solar radiation.
German auto firm
Continental AG, a German company, plans to make its first export of auto parts early next year. In a plant located in El Coyol, Alajuela, west of Juan Santamaria International Airport, the firm plans to manufacture high-tech parts, 80 percent of which it sells in the United States, while the balance goes to Europe. The company’s leading customers include Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, BMW, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Renault, and Porsche.
Flamingo Marina
Matapalo Demm Marina Development was awarded the bid to rebuild Flamingo Marina in Papagayo Gulf, in the Costa Rican northwestern Pacific. The company made a commitment to invest $91 million in the first part of the project. Flamingo Marina had stopped operating on June 11, 2004, when the courts found that it did not meet regulations and that it was polluting. The new marina is expected to be fully operational in two years.
Arias Signs Planning Decree For Guanacaste Friday, April 11, 2008 The Beach Times
| By Ralph Nicholson and Zoraida Diaz |
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Law Seeks To Control Building Height, Density
President Óscar Arias signed into law on Wednesday a sweeping decree that will radically restrict development along the Guanacaste coast.
The decree, which sidesteps local municipalities, reins in construction in terms of height, density and minimum easements from the coastline to about four kilometers (2.5 miles) inland.
Beachfront development, up to 150 meters back from the high-tide mark, will be restricted to 16 meters (about 52 feet), which the government says could be three or four stories, depending upon building design.
The new law, known as the Decree of Territorial Organization for the Chorotega Region, is expected to be published in the government’s official newspaper, La Gaceta, within days.
Further, the government now intends to turn its attention to Puntarenas, concentrating on the central Pacific coast and the Osa Peninsula.
Jorge Woodbridge, the Minister of Competitiveness and arguably the chief architect of the proposal, confirmed they were drafting decrees for both the central and south Pacific.
“It will be faster for the other regions,” Mr Woodbridge told The Beach Times after the signing. “The decrees for the central and south Pacific will be ready within 15 to 22 days.”
He warned height restrictions in those areas may be even more stringent.
“It could possibly have less than the 16 meters allowed (in the Guanacaste decree),” he said.
Developers will have a six-month moratorium within which to operate. Any construction, provided it receives all necessary permits within the next six months, can begin under previously existing rules.
The decree has been more than a year in the making, and will stay in effect for four years, a time period that can be extended by the next government. That duration represented something of a stumbling block with the document’s negotiators. The timing had to be short enough to encourage local municipalities to come up with their own regulatory plans, but long enough to overlap a new government.
Further, Mr Woodbridge confirmed he was working with the National Technical Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment (SETENA) to prepare what he called evaluaciones ambientales estratégicas, or strategic environmental evaluations, of the most adversely affected urban centers along the Pacific coast, such as Tamarindo and Jacó.
“These are studies to reflect river basins, mangroves and other environmental fragility indicators,” Mr Woodbridge said. “This is to protect the water resources and the aquifers, which have been adversely affected by unfettered development.”
The government has identified four zones in the plan.
The first is the Maritime Public Zone, 50 meters (about 160 feet) from the high tide mark, upon which nothing can be built. The second, or Restricted Zone allows buildings up to 16 meters from the 50 to the 200-meter mark. The height allows for a three-story building, but the government says with a creative architectural design it could be four stories, provided the maximum height of the structure is 16 meters.
The third zone, is know as the Intermediate Zone, which allows heights of up to 24 meters (78 feet), which the government says can be six stories, up to 800 meters inland.
Finally the Internal Zone, which covers the next four kilometers (2.5 miles) allows for building heights of up to 24 meters (about 120 feet). The government says that can be nine stories high.
In all three building zones, construction cannot exceed 65 per cent of the property area, including car parks, swimming pools, decks and other covered external areas.
“In reality, the actual buildings allowed will have to occupy more like 40 per cent of the total area,” Minister Woodbridge said.
The decree also calls for proven availability of water, access to a public road, and environmental viability studies.
The Minister for Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, a strong proponent of the decree, told journalists Costa Rica had to protect it’s branding as a tourism destination associated with i | | | | | | | |