Tourism institute plans green season blitz of U.S. markets  

June 18, 2009 By the A.M. Costa Rica staff 

The tourism institute says it is embarking on a $500,000 print promotional campaign directed at potential U.S. visitors.

The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo said it was starting the strong campaign with the help of the Cámara Nacional de Turismo.

Basically the promotional campaign, called Costa Rica Plus, directs potential tourists to a page on the institute's Web site where nearly 100 participating merchants offer discounts or other deals.

For example:

• Nature Air will let two kids under 12 fly free with two adults or provide two days free in a rental car with a round-trip air ticket. So far it is the only airline offering deals.

• Solid Car Rental is offering a full week of a rental car for five days' payment.

• Gray Line Costa Rica is offering $5 off on any one-day tour.

Its been reported that some girls at the D.R. and the B.B. are offering 2x1 specials!

The hotel offerings were not available Wednesday night, but one had been giving away a free spa treatment to guests and the institute said that some hotels were giving the fourth night free with three paid nights.

The institute said that ads would appear in The New York Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times and Travel Weekly magazine starting this weekend. The promotion runs through Aug. 31 and the newspaper ads run through Aug. 8, the institute said. Unlike other institute promotions, the number of visits to the special Web page will be able to provide an accurate count of the response from North America. The coding on the CRPlus page shows a link to Google Analytics.

The ads are supposed to be 6 inches wide by 2 inches, according to the institute, but the example provided Wednesday is 5 inches wide by 2.6 inches high. The bulk of the color is pea green with a lot of small print. Because the ads are in a printed newspaper, there is no Web link, but the Web address is written on the ad.

Tourism this year has been hit hard by the world economic situation and swine flu fears. In addition, Costa Rica faces an ambitious campaign by México where tourism died at the height of the flu scare because the malady was discovered there.

Signs of recovery in Costa Rica?
June 12, 2009 Tico Times By Chrissie Long
Costa Rica may be riding above the deep economic flood that's washed over other developing countries. 

Although the World Bank issued a report warning of the lasting effect the crisis will have on poorer countries, Standard & Poor's has maintained the country's credit ratings, saying Costa Rica's financial outlook “remains stable.”

“Recent years of good (gross domestic product) GDP growth and prudent fiscal policy helped reduce the public sector debt burden to less than 40 percent of GDP in 2008, down from more than 50 percent in 2006,” according to the report.

Costa Rica's Central Bank also is reporting positive signs of an economic rebound, including a moderation in the rate of economic contraction and an increase in retail sales for the first time in three months, according to a recent report by the consulting firm Aldesa. In addition, major foreign investors such as Boston Scientific and Firestone recently have undertaken actions to expand their operations in Costa Rica.

Yet, the picture isn't as hopeful on the world stage. The World Bank issued a warning on Thursday of the lasting impact the crisis could have on developing countries.

The Washington D.C.-based organization is preparing to dole out a record amount of money in loans this year and also is monitoring the world GDP, which it expects will shrink by 3 percent (a significant increase from the 1.75 percent anticipated earlier).

“Although growth is expected to revive during the course of 2010, the pace of the recovery is uncertain and the poor in many developing countries will continue to be buffeted by the aftershocks,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick.

He continued, “Waves of economic pain continue to hurt the developing world's poor, who have less cushion to protect themselves. There is much more we need to do in the coming months to mobilize resources to ensure that the poor do not pay for a crisis that is not of their making.”

 New jobs for some, layoffs for others

 June 12, 2009  Tico Times by Daniel Shea

In contrast to news this year of Boston Scientific, Firestone and other businesses bringing new jobs to Costa Rica, more companies will likely cut staff in the third quarter than the same period last year, according to a survey by Manpower Inc.

The survey of more than 620 companies across Costa Rica reveals a drop of 20 percent from the third quarter of 2008 in the number of businesses expecting to hire new workers, while the number of companies expecting to make cuts has risen 8 percent.

“What we see is that employers are already beginning to have intentions to stop contracting new workers and, in some cases, they are looking to fire workers,” said Eric Quesada, the regional manager of Manpower.

It's a demonstration of companies preparing themselves to weather the recession, as many have shifted from a growth-oriented mindset to one of maintaining the status quo, he said.

Of the total 620 businesses, only 12 percent expect to hire and as many as 13 percent expect to fire.

Unfortunately, employment numbers tend to lag behind other indicators such as economic output.

Officially, Costa Rica has 4.7 percent unemployment, but the number is from July 2008. Marta Argüello, an economist with the Labor Ministry, said it has likely risen to around 6 percent.

Vargas said the jobless rate by year's end could beat the 1982 high, when it peaked at 9.4 percent.

Texas A&M To Dedicate The Soltis Center for Research and Education   

  Jun 11, 2009 Reporter: Tamunews   Email Address: news@kbtx.com

Texas A&M University will formally open and dedicate next week its new teaching and research facility in a Costa Rican rain forest – the Soltis Center for Research and Education. The ceremonies also are planned to honor the Soltis family for donating the land and constructing classrooms, laboratories, dormitories and other improvements on the site so that students and faculty can learn about the area’s unique ecological setting and devise ways to preserve the forest for future generations.

The June 18 dedication at the site near San Juan de San Isidro de Peñas Blancas — about a three-hour drive from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose – will include a Texas A&M delegation headed by Ambassador Eric M. Bost (Ret.), the university’s vice president for global initiatives. A key element of the dedicatory ceremonies will be to honor Bill and Wanda Soltis and their family for their gift of the 40-acre facility and for offering a long-term lease on the adjacent 250 acres of rain forest.

Soltis approached university officials in 2005 about the possibility of donating land adjacent to the Monteverde rain forest and building new facilities on it at his own expense to promote research and education. He said his vision was to provide Texas A&M students with international experiences, protect the area’s unique ecological setting and increase awareness that ultimately will protect that rain forest and others like it.

Construction of the facility was completed in December 2008, and The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents formally authorized the university to move forward with plans for operation of the center to support academic, research and service programs.
 

Boston Scientific opens new plant in Costa Rica

June 10, 2009 Tico Times by Daniel Shea

A top-tier producer of medical devices opened its second production facility in Costa Rica Tuesday, with an elaborate ceremony held to commemorate the investment, including a presidential tour of the production lines to top off the event.

With its second building – located in the Propark free-trade zone near Alajuela, northwest of San José – Boston Scientific has close to doubled its original 2004 investment in Costa Rica, with the new facility's price reaching nearly $30 million. The company, which already employs 1,700 workers in its operations here, is also expecting to double the number of employees in the coming two years, said Jorge Perera, the company's vice president of operations in Costa Rica.

The jobs cross the educational spectrum, ranging from highly specialized engineering positions to the trained, technical positions that would involve piecing together the intricate devices for which the company is known worldwide.  

“We picked Costa Rica to build this plant because this country offers a skilled, well-educated population,” he said. “And that is very important for us. We view it as much as an investment in people as in facilities.”  The company has almost 29,000 employees worldwide, with 15,000 different products made in 26 plants across the globe.  

Costa Rica is home to 3.5 percent of  known marine species June 10, 2009 Tico Times By Mike McDonald 
Costa Rica's coastline may be small and less populous in comparison to other Latin American countries, but its waters seem to indicate otherwise.

According to a press release from Casa Presidencial, Costa Rica's coastal waters are home to 6,777 different species of marine life, which makes up 3.5 percent of the world's known marine species.

These numbers are the result of a study by the noted University of Costa Rica (UCR) researcher Jorge Cortés and the German expert Ingo Wehrtmann, who consulted more than 50 marine specialists and published the findings in the recently published book “Marine Biodiversity of Costa Rica, Central America.”

At a press conference on Tuesday, Cortés said an important part of the research was the comparison of Costa Rica's coastline with other Latin American countries.

“The diversity of this country is much higher per square kilometer than other nations such as Brazil, Colombia and Chile,” Cortés noted in the press release.

All three countries far surpass Costa Rica's 1,290 kilometer (801 mile) coastal boundary.

While the study spells good news for Costa Rica's reputation as the world's focal point for biodiversity, Randall Arauz, president of the Marine Turtle and Restoration Program (PRETOMA) said the announcement throws a load of accountability onto the country's shoulders.“It just shows again the (degree of) responsibility that Cost Rica has to have. Political decisions should be oriented towards decisions of saving this biodiversity.”

KfW IPEX-Bank provides financing for 200 MW power project in Garabito /Costa Rica

  09.06.2009

KfW IPEX-Bank together with HSBC Bank  has successfully arranged and signed an Euler-Hermes covered export credit financing of USD 235 million on 8 June 2009 with Fideicomiso Planta Termica Garabito (FPTG) in Costa Rica as borrower.

The signing took place in Frankfurt, Germany. FPTG will use the loan to finance a 200 MW diesel-engine peak-load electricity generation plant delivered by MAN Diesel SE, Augsburg, Germany.

The power plant is located in Garabito on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and will consist of 11 medium speed diesel engines with an installed capacity of 16-20 MW each. Construction has started and commercial operation is expected for January 2011. FPTG is a special purpose company established by the national state-owned energy and telecommunication service provider ICE (Instituto Costaricense de Electricidad) to raise the financing for the Garabito project.

The financing builds on an operating lease structure with ICE making the lease payments to FTPG. Combining structured long-term export credit financing with a leasing structure, the financing structure provides an innovative and unique solution in the energy sector. KfW IPEX-Bank provides the funding through a 13 year fixed interest rate loan on a CIRR basis (Commercial Interest Reference Rate).

The Garabito project is key for ICE's objective to develop new generation capacity in Costa Rica and secure the country's power supply. The demand for electricity in Costa Rica is presently increasing at an annual rate of 6%. The country currently generates approximately 78% of its electric power via hydroelectric power plants. Due to seasonal limitations on the operation of the hydroelectric power plants the diesel-engine backed peak-load electricity generation plant at Garabito is essential to secure and stabilize the power system in Costa Rica.

 May 29, 2009   Central Bank Reference Rate  
BUY colones: ¢571.60 you receive per dollar
SELL colones: you pay ¢581.28 per dollar.

Sustainability’ is Tourism’s New Watchword
 May 29, 2009 Tico Times By Alex Leff  It's a wonder how, in spite of flagging tourist numbers and a grim outlook for the industry as a whole, tourism businesses could be thinking of spending more money. Yet, in effect, that's partly what companies convened to discuss this week at a conference in San José. However, the initial expenditures on which they focused – investments in economically, ecologically and socially sustainable practices – will pay off soon, says Ronald Sanabria, vice president of sustainable tourism with Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation group. 
The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) estimates that first-quarter tourist arrivals dipped about 11 percent below the number of arrivals during the same period in 2008. Last year Costa Rica broke the 2 million mark for total arrivals, but belt-tightening and layoffs have ensued since then.
Meanwhile, hundreds of the sector's employees are undergoing training with Rainforest Alliance in sustainable practices, in the hopes their businesses will one day earn Costa Rica's coveted national tourism certification, already held by approximately 100 hotels and travel sector operators.   

The theme received center-stage attention this week at the first Central American Congress of Sustainable Tourism and Corporate Social Responsibility. The event, organized by Rainforest Alliance, CANATUR and other organizations in the industry, was held at the Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura in Ciudad Cariari, west of San José.

The Tico Times interviewed Sanabria before the conference about where the ecotourism revolution stands in the face of the worst global economic crisis since World War II.

TT: What's your feeling from the industry these days?  

RS: All of us involved with the tourism industry are concerned with the situation. I think that the tourism industry has a great ability to be extremely resilient to changes. This industry has gone through hell. You name it. Wars, terrorist attacks, viruses, tsunamis... and it recuperates quickly. However, there's no precedent regarding the situation now in the world economy, so speculating on what the final consequences will be is risky.

Arrivals are declining, jobs are being lost. How do you convince a business to go green in this climate?

Based on our observations and the studies that we have consulted, the interesting thing is that despite the fact that the slowdown in the economy is eating up specific industries, the trend toward the more environmentally conscientious consumer is still growing. Proof of that is that the number of sustainable goods and services in the marketplace in the U.S. is projected to triple in 2009 (citing an April 20 article in the magazine Advertising Age).

What does this mean for the travel industry?

The mainstream tourism channels are now being permeated by the same principles that once were the special domain of the ecotourist committed to environmental conservation. Let me give you an example. Do you think that (travel Web sites) Expedia and Travelocity would be investing in creating their green directories if there weren't a market out there? And they just launched them a couple of months ago. These companies have good market intelligence. They know where the trends are heading and they invest accordingly.

Precisely because of that, suppliers in countries like ours should bear in mind that this is not the time to (throw in) the towel but actually the time to take advantage of the investments you've already made in your company to make it more sustainable and in line with trends in the marketplace.

But how sustainable can this fast-growing industry be?

The theory behind sustainable travel is all about creating for people an alternative that is less destructive and less extractive than other industries, like unsustainable cattle and unsustainable forestry and slash-and-burn agriculture, for instance.

The reason organizations such as ours have invested in promoting sustainable tourism is that it provides an alternative that is less damaging to the environment and local communities.

Maybe this is an opportunity for the tourism industries in Costa Rica and other countries to rethink and reinvent themselves. I mean, we were growing too fast, and having, in some cases, unplanned tourism development. When you're hit with a crisis like this, you start defining priorities. You use that opportunity to be able to better assess where your investments should go. In a way, I think that this came at the right time for many destinations that were on the verge of becoming unsustainable or destinations that were going to be gone in just a couple of years – from overdevelopment. This is like a reality check for all of us to say, well, let's look at which model is more sustainable

Government streamlines ID process for foreigners with permanent residency   May 20, 2009 Tico Times By Chrissie Long   

Foreigners will have fewer headaches when renewing their national identification cards, under a new program introduced by Costa Rica government officials on Tuesday. 

Those people with permanent resident status can now renew their cédulas –government-issued identification cards – in 32 of the Bank of Costa Rica (BCR) branches throughout the country.  

 To attain a cédula

Call toll-free 1-800-BCR-CITA (800-227-2482)

Length of appointment: Approximately 20 minutes

Cost: $48 for one year Time it takes to receive card: less than 22 days  

“There will be a reduced waiting time for an appointment…a reduction of costs (considering the process only requires one visit)…and it will become more convenient for people living outside of San José,” said Janina Del Vecchio, public security minister, during a news conference on Tuesday. “We now celebrate a better experience for foreigners.” 

To apply for a cédula – which is used for everything from opening a bank account to renting a car – foreigners with permanent status should now be able to call for an appointment, make one trip to the bank and then wait 22 days to receive the card. 

In times past, the process took multiple visits to the Immigration Administration and required a journey to San José for those living in outlying areas of the country, such as San Carlos, Guanacaste, Limón and the Southern Zone. 

“The use of a platform of personal attention from the Bank of Costa Rica allows us to permanently improve the attention given to foreign residents of the country, significantly shortening the waiting time for renewal of identification documents…” Del Vecchio said in a statement. 

Del Vecchio estimates there are 300,000 people living in Costa Rica who could benefit from this new service.
 

 May 19, 2009 Central Bank  Reference Rate  BUY colones ¢567.77 per dollar   SELL colones ¢577.42

Costa Rican economy could make a 2010 comeback May 19, 2009 Tico Times  

Even though things look dire at the moment, as the economy just recorded its sixth month of decline, Costa Rica is poised to grow again in 2010, an International Monetary Fund official told reporters Monday. 

Because of some of the actions taken by the government to ward off the crisis, an IMF study predicted that the Costa Rican economy would see around 0.5 percent growth this year, and 1.5 percent growth in 2010.

Speaking to reporters Monday, the deputy director of the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department, Miguel Savastano, said the government's public spending programs on infrastructure and some of its moves to protect vulnerable sectors have put Costa Rica in a position to move back in a positive direction, reported the business newspaper El Financiero on its Web site Monday.

The study predicted the world economic meltdown would not affect Latin America nearly as much as it has already affected other parts of the world. In addition, it said the crisis would not last as long in this area of the world.

  Costa Rica and Nicaragua are expected to at least log positive growth – both predicted to grow close to 0.5 percent in 2009.

But after two quarters of negative growth, the economy is going to have to make up ground soon to reach that positive growth mark. In March, the Central Bank recorded the highest rate of contraction – 6.2 percent negative growth in March, when compared with March of last year – on its monthly economic activity index since the bank started calculating the index in 1991.

Still, with Latin America's solid financial system and government actions to quickly reduce the amount of damage such as investments in infrastructure and creation of jobs, a recovery could be around the corner, the IMF said.

 Spirit Airlines opens office in Costa Rica 
May 17,2009   Beginning today, Spirit Airlines will have a reservation center outside of San Jose, providing travel services to Spirit and new customers.  The centre is located in the Ultrapark business centre in Heredia (in between San Jose and the Airport SJO.) 
Airline officials said the decision to open an office in the country is for the excellent reputation of Costa Rica as a tourism destination and for the quality of human resources.  
Spirit offers low cost non-stop flights from San Jose to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

 NatureAir of Costa Rica Receives Prestigious Recognition from World Travel & Tourism Council The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has named NatureAir the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award winner for best demonstrating sustainable tourism practices, and commitment to the protection of its natural heritage

  (EMAILWIRE.COM, San Jose, Costa Rica, May 17, 2009 ) The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has named NatureAir the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award winner for best demonstrating sustainable tourism practices, and commitment to the protection of its natural heritage.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards were formed two decades ago to encourage action from all sectors of the tourism industry to protect the environment. NatureAir was selected for its 100% carbon neutral aviation program, that engages customers in a non-voluntary carbon offset scheme, and a commitment to fuel reduction in the air and on the ground. NatureAir has developed Costa Rica’s only bio-diesel fueling station, and formed the non-profit foundation NatureKids, which teaches local communities English and Environmental studies.

“The environment is precious and we are thrilled to receive his wonderful recognition by WTTC for our conservation efforts,” said Alex Khajavi Founder and CEO of NatureAir. “This award is a motivator for all of us at NatureAir to continue searching for ways which add a positive value to the social and environmental challenges we face.”

“In 2004, NatureAir made a highly ambitious pledge to set new standards for sustainable practices in the airline industry, compensating for 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through preservation and reforestation of tropical forests in the Osa Peninsula,” said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC President & CEO following the awards ceremony in Florianópolis, Brazil, at the 9th Global Travel & Tourism Summit. “And it has not only fulfilled this pledge, but has also implemented a whole host of other effective sustainable policies and activities, including community benefit outreach programs,”  
The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have been dubbed as the ‘Oscars’ of the tourism industry.  “For the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), as part of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET), it is of great satisfaction that our programs promote conservation and recovery of forests in a sustainable tourism context, and that they are being recognized at an international level, as in this case for the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), “said Jorge Eduardo Rodríguez Quirós, Minister of MINAET and President of the FONAFIFO Steering Committee.
About NatureAir
NatureAir is the world’s first certified carbon neutral airline, and the fastest growing regional airline in Central America. Since its inception in 2000, NatureAir has grown from flying 18,000 passengers annually to more than 140,000 in 2008. NatureAir is the only twin-engine airline in Costa Rica with both scheduled and chartered flights, and offers 74 daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica, and Panama. NatureAir’s non-voluntary carbon neutrality program ensures that every flights carbon emissions are compensated which guarantee protection and reforestation of the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica. Its commitment to saving energy extends with the use of bio-diesel (cooking oils), which run its entire ground operations equipment and diesel vans.

NatureAir funds 90% of the non-profit educational organization NatureKids, and is a proud sponsor of the Rainforest Alliance, World Heritage Alliance, Climate Neutral Network and Ecotourism Society. The World Travel & Tourism Council, Rainforest Alliance, Conde Nast Traveler and Virgin Holidays have recognized NatureAir for its sustainability and conservation efforts. For more information visit: http://www.natureair.com

About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the forum for business leaders in the Travel Tourism industry, working with governments and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the importance of one of the world's largest generators of wealth and employment. With Chairs and Chief Executives of the world's 100 foremost Travel & Tourism companies as its Members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to Travel & Tourism.

Iberia Airlines Receives Special Award From Costa Rican Government
May 14, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, handed the Spanish airliner, Iberia, a special award “in recognition of the pioneering airline in opening the European tourist market to Costa Rica”, in the words of the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism. Silvia Cairó, the airline’s international sales manager, accepted the award during the opening ceremonies of Costa Rica’s 25th annual Expotur tourism marketing fair.
Iberia has flown to Costa Rica since June, 1973, and in recent years has operated a daily direct flight from Madrid. In 2008 it carried a total of 190,000 passengers on the route, a 21% increase in the year. In 2009 capacity on the route will exceed 215,000 seats."Some 55% of Iberia’s Costa Rica-bound passengers come from European countries other than Spain, reflecting the Spanish airline’s importance in connecting the Central American country to Europe, where Iberia serves 42 destinations," Iberia reports.In order of importance, the countries with the most passengers using the Madrid-San José route were France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. All posted increases in 2008, the largest being in France (54%), Italy (45%) and Germany (42%). The number of Turkish passengers on the route tripled, while those from Russia grew by 155%, those from Austria by 65, and those originating in Portugal by 57%. Iberia was recently chosen as the best airline in the first edition of the annual awards instituted by the prestigious magazine Condé Nast Traveler, and visitors to the travel website muchoviaje.com voted it the best airline of 2007.

Growth In Eco-tourism Expected In Costa Rica
May 13, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Costa Rica has been affected by the global economic downturn, but it has not been as badly hit as many other countries and its prospects remain attractive. The country still remains popular for second home property investors, particularly those from the US. These investors are attracted by the low cost of living and attractive property taxes. 
The country has successfully branded itself as a premiere eco-tourism destination and the tourism sector is expected to continue growing.
The local construction industry has fallen victim to the financial crisis but continues to grow, albeit at a much slower rate. In 2007, the industry experienced an incredible 18 percent growth but that reduced to a still impressive 5 percent for 2008.

A recent article in Nuwire Investor confirmed that "long term prospects for Costa Rica remain attractive. The government is stable and has instituted good health care and educational systems.  The country is has a wealth of natural resources, from beautiful beaches to pristine jungles and volcanic mountains, that attract a wide range of travellers.

More importantly, it knows how to take care of its environment.
‘Costa Rica was ranked 5th in the world by the Environmental Performance Index developed by YaleUniversity and ColumbiaUniversity.

No doubt tourism and related developments will continue to boom. To avoid being a victim of its own success, Costa Rica will need to perfect the fine art of balancing development against preservation in order to protect its eco-friendly brand.’

 Costa Rica Holds At Only 8 Confirmed Cases of Swine Flu 
May 13, 2009 Inside Costa Rica  
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of infections of the AH1N1 flu has risen in several countries, including Spain, Britain, Panama, Guatemala and Colombia, the number of confirmed cases in Costa Rica has held at 8. 

Costa Rican health officials say that since the outbreak on April 24 there have been more than 800 reports of suspected cases, of which the majority have been discarded. Last Saturday, Costa Rica reported the first death resulting from the flu, after a 53 year old infected man could not fight off complications from pneumonia and diabetes. 

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has raised the flu alert level to 5 out of 6 as a result of its spread beyond the disease epicenter Mexico, signaling that a pandemic is imminent.

She is looking for evidence the hybrid strain is spreading in sustained way in communities outside of the Americas before raising that alert to 6 and declaring a pandemic is under way. According to the latest WHO count, Spain has 98 confirmed cases and Britain has 68.  While most of those infections have been deemed "imported" cases as a result of people traveling to Mexico, or being in close contact with those who had, WHO experts are watching both countries closely for signs the virus has taken hold in Europe. 

North America continues to have the largest number of confirmed H1N1 infections worldwide.Mexico has 2,059 cases confirmed in WHO labs, the United States has 3,009 and Canada has 358. 

Other countries have the following number of WHO-confirmed flu cases without deaths:

Argentina 1 Australia 1 Austria 1 Brazil 8 Britain 68 China 3 Colombia 6 Cuba 1 Denmark 1 El Salvador 4 Finland 2 France 13 Germany 12 Guatemala 3 Ireland 1

Israel 7 Italy 9 Japan 4 Netherlands 3 New Zealand 7 Norway 2 Panama 29

Poland 1 Portugal 1  South Korea 3 Spain 98 Sweden 2  Switzerland 1 Thailand 2. 

 Costa Rican Nuts Help In Living Longer
May 13, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 
Do you want to learn how to live to be 90, 100 or even older? Researcher Dan Buettner scoured the world for blue zones, areas where abnormally high numbers of people 100 years of age or older live. 

Spending time in these blue zones with centenarians, Buettner identified the Power 9 - nine principles that have allowed people born 100 years ago to live a longer, healthier life.

Buettner describes the nine principles practiced by blue-zone centenarians in his book, "The Blue Zones." Here is a summary so you can incorporate the Power 9 into your life.

* Stop eating when you are 80 percent full. Okinawan blue-zone residents use 9-inch plates when eating. People who use smaller plates often eat 20 to 30 percent less food.

* Eat more plants and cut back on processed foods. One common food consumed by centenarians, especially in Costa Rica, is nuts. Tofu is another popular food among those who live long lives; it has a plant estrogen that makes skin look younger. You can find it in a grocery store, or look for foods made from tofu at a health store.

* Drink moderate amounts of red wine. Buettner recommends Sardinian canonau wine. This vintage has the highest concentration of antioxidants of all red wines, and Sardinian centenarians consume it daily.

* Find your purpose in life and live it. Buettner's blue-zone Web site says that practicing your life's purpose can add an extra decade to your lifespan. A good start here is to write down your mission in life: What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning, ready to face a new day? And think about your purpose in life when making daily choices: What choice will help you achieve your purpose? 

* Have a spiritual practice and belong to a religious community. Those who regularly participate in faith groups have lower mortality rates. 

* Slow down, work less and rest more often. Buettner recommends taking an "hour of power" each day, a period to do something slow such as nap, meditate , pray or take a walk. 
* Move your body, walk more and give up the remote. An excellent way to move is playing with your grandchildren. Play provides low-intensity exercise and strengthens families. Walking, especially when walking with others, can give you exercise as well as a chance to keep connected. * Develop meaningful social relationships. Socializing fights depression and may preserve your memory.   * Make family a priority. Family members are important for support, and having people to love and care for increases your chances of living longer.

 Blue Zones’ Could Be The Secret To Guanacastecans’ Longevity

May 7, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

(InfoWebPress) – In the last issue of The Guanacaste Journal, we reported about a study stating that Nicoyans are among the people who reach the highest lifespan in the world. To follow up on this topic, several theories have been proposed to try to explain this phenomenon; one of them is the so-called “Blue Zones.”

A Blue Zone is a particular place in the world that has special conditions for people to live many years, even beyond 100; that is, good health conditions that are passed from parents to their children. So far, four hot spots of longevity have been identified: the mountainous Barbagia region of Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy; the Japanese island of Okinawa; a community of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, Calif., about 60 miles east of L. A; and the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, in Central America.

Last November Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz spoke with Dan Buettner, a National Geographic independent writer who has been researching these special regions of the world for seven years, and who wrote about them in his book Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. He appeared on the Ophra Winfrey show to talk about his research.

Buettner said one of the secrets of Nicoyans' lifespan can be found in the water that flows through the hills. Their water is among the hardest in Costa Rica—which means it's chock-full of minerals. "Hard water means stronger bones. It also means your muscles are probably working better, especially when you get old," he said. Dr. Oz said hard water has proven benefits. "Calcium, magnesium and water—it relaxes your arteries, it builds bone strength and it has a huge benefit across the board in how your body functions."  

Having strong bones is actually one of the most important ways to live a long life. "One of the biggest killers of older people in this country is simply falling down and breaking a bone," Buettner said. "If you take calcium and couple it with vitamin D, your bones don't deteriorate as quickly."

Families stay together in Nicoya, which is another important key to living a long life, Buettner and Dr. Oz explained. During their visit to Guanacaste, both corroborated first hand the customs of Nicoyans, such as preparing tortillas after having processed corn on stone metates like their Mesoamerican ancestors used to do.

Buettner and Dr. Oz featured the 65-year-old daughter of a centenarian. For lunch, she made them corn tortillas from scratch. First, she soaked the corn in ash and lime to break it down. Then, she smashed it in the metate. Then, she cooked the corn patties without oil. "It's a lot of hard work, and there's no electricity, so she can't do it any other way," Dr. Oz said. "And it's a good workout."  This daily process of cooking tortillas is like an automatic workout. "You know, most Americans don't really exercise. A very small proportion," Buettner said. "But in Nicoya, they'll be making lunch and it's like doing 25 reps with the free weights."

Another crucial factor to Nicoyan longevity is diet. On his land, another centenarian, Jose, has 14 different kinds of trees that produce ripe fruit all year long.

But the real secret may be in what Buettner calls the "Mesoamerican trifecta" that is the predominant diet in much of Central America — and has been for 3,500 years. The diet consists of lightly salted corn tortillas, beans and squash. "It's arguably the best longevity food ever invented," Buettner said.

Another important aspect of the Nicoyan diet is that they tend to eat their larger meals in the morning, with progressively smaller meals throughout the day. This not only leaves Nicoyans craving fewer calories during the day, it also lets them transition into sleep much more easily when darkness falls.

"A hundred years ago, when the sun went down, the brain would start making more melatonin. And with more melatonin, you'd get tired, you'd get drowsy," Dr. Oz said. "Today, the reason half of us don't sleep normally is because the last thing we see is a computer screen or the tube. That actually does the opposite to your brain—it stimulates it. So of course you can't fall asleep. You've got to glide to sleep."

During their visit to Guanacaste, both Buettner and Dr. Oz had the chance to meet several Nicoyans, such as Pachita (102 years old), Felipa (86), Serillo (95), Patron (107), and Jose (99), who exemplified the lifestyle of the Blue Zones.

Process for creating new businesses to be streamlined

May 8, 2009 Tico Times    

In light of the current economic difficulties, President Oscar Arias unveiled a new electronic program to streamline the system for processing a new business, eventually dropping the waiting period from 39 days to only two.

Instead of requiring an entrepreneur to visit and obtain permits from each of the separate agencies that regulate businesses, Arias plans to offer a one-stop online process, according to a statement released to the press on Tuesday.

“The simplification of formal steps, and the construction of a more competitive state are vital right now to the recovery of our economy,” Arias said.

The President wants to dispel the notion that the government is a slow-moving organism, his statement said.

“The idea is to give someone who wants to start a business an easier, electronic form, so they only have to go to one place,” said Isabel Araya, the regulation improvement director with the Ministry of Competitiveness.

The pilot plan will start in San José's eastern suburb of Curridabat, and will incorporate business that present the least risk to the public's health, or those businesses that require little oversight from the Health Ministry, said Araya. This would include mostly retail stores, and anything that produces little organic waste.

From there, the program is expected to expand to include districts throughout the country and other types of businesses, the president's statement said. It is an “embarrassment” that the government did not make this move earlier, Arias said.
 

First Case of Swine Flu in Costa Rica Confirmed By CDC
May 2, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
The U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Saturday the first case of influenza A/H1N1 flu in Costa Rica, Costa Rican ministra de Salud, Maria Luisa Avila, said last night and added two new "probable" cases to the list.
 "Today (yesterday) I got a phone call from the CDC to confirm that one of the possible cases we sent to analyze is of H1N1 flu virus, but due to professional reasons I can not said which one of the cases", said  Avila.
Costa Rican health officials had been anxiously waiting the results from the CDC on the first two probable cases confirmed on Monday. The CDC report was to have been received on Thursday.Health officials denied to comment if the confirmed case was of the man or woman, saying only that the person is out of danger and everyone who has been in contact has been examined, while the results on the second patient are imminent.
According to the ministra de Salud, Maria Luisa Avila, two new patients - a 53 year old and 21 year old man - are on the "probables" list, waiting for results from the CDC.Avila said the 21 year old man is at home, while the 53 year old man is in a San Jose hospital due to his diabetes and pulmonary condition. The minister would not disclose the name of the hospital, although the Calderon Guardia has been the medical centre for the other "probable" and "confirmed" cases.The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is expected to send to Costa Rica, today or tomorrow, 10.000 treatments now that the country has one confirmed case. The 10.000 units are in addition to the 7.000 units on stock already in the country.The PAHO will also be delivering test kits for the a/H1N1 so that testing can be done locally and there will be no waiting around for results to confirm cases.Ministra Avila assures that Costa Rica is prepared for an emergency and won't let its guard down.Of the 180 "suspected" cases in Costa Rica, the majority are men and between the ages of 20 and 29. Of the 180, only 55 remain on the "suspected" list.

Arias Delivers Third and Final Annual Report 
May 2, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 
"In my administration no one has began packing, we will continue to work until the last day, to reach our goals and to the needs of the Costa Rican people", were the words spoken by Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, at his address to the legislators, as part of the May Day activities.

 The president's message, carried live on national television, was the third and final annual report to the nation.

"Today I hand you the third volume of the book we are writing together. It is a book of the new times in Costa Rica. In its pages are writings of transformation, the story of a people who dared to think big and had no fear of change", said Arias. The thirty five minute speech by Arias, which began at 6:20pm, was one of the shortest presidential addresses on record and in time for the 7 o'clock evening news report. 

Arias touched on many subjects that included education, the swine flu, internal production and foreign markets, the "plan escudo" - the government's plan to face the economic crisis - the need for a proper and working infrastructure, his view of no oil exploration off the coast of Costa Rica and national security issues. 

In education, Arias reminded of the achievements of his government over the last three years, with the opening of new schools and the bilingual program to teach the young to read, write and converse in English.

The president lauded his government's achievements in recuperating the infrastructure, especially the nation's road network and the reforms to the Ley de Tránsito which has saved lives and the introduction of the commuter train. Arias spoke proudly of turning around the shame of the condition of the roads, the worst in Central America.

Speaking on national security, Arias said there are no fast and easy answers and vowed to fight to the end against crime. 

President Arias feels confident that the government's plan, the Plan Escudo, to combat the effects of the world economic crisis, is the right direction for the country as it faces tough economic times. 

Arias will be in power until next May, when the new president to be elected in February 2010, will take over.

 El Angel Food Co. Reopens After Quake & Sets an Example! 

May 1, 2009 By Chrissie Long Tico Times  

A Costa Rica food products company has rebounded after the Jan. 8 earthquake flattened its facilities, which were located in Cinchona near Poás Volcano, very close to the epicenter of the quake. 

El Angel – which produces salsas, syrups and juices – resumed operations on Thursday in a new 2,000-square-meter plant in Cinchona. 

“The company's return to operation symbolizes the reactivation of the region's economy, which benefits not just the direct workers of the company, but also other producers in the area,” said Marco Vargas, minister of institutional coordination, in a statement. The Jan. 8 earthquake, that rattled the region east of Poás Volcano, killed 23 and left hundreds homeless. The Costa Rican gov't has since been criticized for not doing more for the region. 

Although all 300 employees were at the plant at the time of the quake, only three were injured (TT, Jan. 23). 

The company's recovery isn't the only accomplishment celebrated by local leaders, employees and residents. El Angel was also recognized on Thursday for retaining each one of its 300 employees and paying their salary following the earthquake, even when operations were suspended.

“Without a doubt, the most important (accomplishment) is its great (relationship) with its employees…during the months the plant was inactive. Despite not producing a single product in four months, it used money from its reserves (so as) not to abandon hundreds of families. That is the spirit of solidarity that we must promote”, said Vargas, a day before the country celebrated its Labor Day. (Editors note: they make great choc. syrup! )

 Firestone Opens New Plant in Turrialba, Costa Rica
May 1, 2009 Inside Costa Rica  

Amidst the announcement over the last several months of plants closing down and reducing their staff in Costa Rica, one company, the Firestone tire manufacturer, has opened a new plant. Located in Turrialba, southeast of San Jose, the tire manufacturer raises hopes for the Costa Rican economy.

The new plant 124.000 square feet plant, costing the company some $8 million dollars, adds some 100 jobs to the area.

Firestone's total investment in the area will be us$14 million, according to Alvaro Murillo, the plant manager, at the plant's inauguration which was attended by the Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias and Foreign Trade minister, Marco Vinicio Ruiz. The Firestone move may be the tip of the wave of many US businesses looking south to cut their operating costs.

Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, Inc, which already operates a tire manufacturing plant located in La Ribera de Belén, minutes east of the San Jose airport. 

 Costa Rican cities begin recycling plans
May 1, 2009 Tico Times Staff By Mike McDonald
Directly across the street from the Escazú Municipality building is a wide, five-foot-tall, yellow container. Attached to the top of the bin is a blue sign with pictures of plastic bottles, newspapers, aluminum cans and paper cartons. It reads, “Reciclemos” (Let's recycle). The container is a sign of one of Costa Rica's healthier waste management plans.

In January 2002 municipal officials in Escazú, a suburb west of San José, developed Recicle Escazú (Escazú Recycle), a community collection service for recyclable material. Now in its ninth year, the plan is the oldest of its kind in Costa Rica and one of 10 municipal recycling plans being implemented in the country. 

The collection service has recorded improvements in the amount of recycled material every year since its initiation. The municipality collected 169 tons of domestic recyclable material in 2002, a number that has climbed steadily to 726 tons in 2008. 

Recyclable material is taken by the municipality to the privately owned Escazú Collection Center, where items are sorted and redistributed to private companies, where they are made into new products. 

Collection trucks follow 10 different routes throughout Escazú. Trucks arrive every 15 days along each route. To facilitate the process, the municipality hands out calendars marking the dates to citizens interested in participating.

Toll Booths for San Jose Caldera Highway Begin on May 9
April 28, 2009 Inside Costa Rica    

Beginning May 9 the new toll booths on the first phase of the San Jose - Caldera highway will begin operations. The toll booths at Escazú and Piedades de santa Ana and the Pozón de Orotina will be charging drivers.

That date, however, is subject to change, said the ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes, Karla González. The minister explained that the road has to first pass inspection. 

Beginning next Thursday the highway will be completely open between the Gimnasio Nacional (Sabana) and Piedades de Santa Ana, at which time a complete inspection of the highway will begin and results of incompletion reported to the concessionare and builder of the highway, Autopistas del Sol. 

If the new highway fails the evaluation, the collection of tolls will be suspended, according to the transport minister.

Part of the completion requirements and before any tolls can be charged, the highway must be fully marked, have guardrails installed and the pedestrian overpass at the Sabana be completed. 

The cost of the toll at Escazú is ¢310 colones for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, ¢630 for buses and up to ¢1.990 for trucks of up to five axles. The toll at Piedades is ¢160 for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, ¢310 for buses and increasing for trucks, depending on the number of axles. At Pozón the toll is ¢480 for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, ¢950 for buses and up to ¢3.010 for trucks.

The New Caldera Highway To Be Inaugurated Next Week     April 25, 2009      
After some 30 years in the making, the road to Caldera that will take minutes to travel between San José and the Pacific port, is finally taking shape and the first phase of the highway will be inaugurated by the current ministra de Transportes, Karla González.
The new road starts at the Gimnasio Nacional at the east end of the Sabana, passing through Escazu and Santa Ana and then winds through the mountains, and ending up at the port of Caldera. Travelling to Caldera from San José today takes about 2 hours on the Interamericana Norte.
On the new San José - Caldera route travel will be only 45 minutes.
That means that travel to beach towns like Jaco and Quepos-Manuel Antonio is also reduced greatly,
45 minutes to Jaco and less than 2 hours to Quepos.
The first phase of the highway to be inaugurated next week runs between the Sabana and Santa Ana, known as the autopista Prospero Fernandez, which has been resurfaced, bridges widened and the illegal accesses along the highway closed off. Also, several pedestrian overpasses have been added along the route, as well as bus bays at bus stops.
The second phase that is expected to be finished by December weaves through the mountains connecting towns like La Guacima, Turrucares, Siquiares and Orotina. The second phase is really the only brand new portion of the San José - Caldera highway. Machinery and work crews have been busy, on and off, for years moving earth and building the 14 bridges along that section of the route.The section will also have a "Centro de Control de Operaciones" (Operations Centre) located in the area of the Rio Grande, which will house ambulance, tow trucks, fire fighting equipment and a new Policía de Transito (traffic police) station. The new highway will also include a rest stop & emergency telephones, a new concept in C.R.
The third phase is between Orotina and Caldera, which route is being rebuild to accommodate the new highway. Work on that section is being completed, as the route becomes a four lane road from two and the bridges being widened and reinforced. The third phase is expected to be finished by early 2010. Once finished, the San José - Caldera road will be a marvel for tourism and locals. At Escazu there will be 29 toll booths (14 each way). Toll booths are also located in Santa Ana (Piedades) as well as several other points on the way to and from Caldera. 

First Hotel Indigo opens in San Jose, Costa Rica April 20 2009  
Continuing the boutique brand’s global rollout, Hotel Indigo today announced the opening of its first property in Central America. The 100-room Hotel Indigo is located in San Jose’s upscale neighbourhood of Santa Ana, one of the city’s fastest developing areas and an excellent starting point to visit some of the world’s most compelling eco-tourism destinations. Hotel Indigo San Jose Forum is located at the Forum Dos, the  city's latest and most prominent commercial office development, which provides business and leisure travellers easy access to shopping, coffee houses, and gourmet restaurants. In addition, the three-story boutique hotel is just 15 minutes from the Juan Santamaria Airport and adjacent to a major thoroughfare that connects to Escazu, the prominent residential and business district of the city. 

 (No) Drill, Baby, Drill in Costa Rica 
 April 12//20, 2009 New York Times Op-Ed Article: Costa Rica has recently been in the New York Times spotlight, and Easter Sunday that light shone on us again. In an Op-Ed Column titled “(No) Drill, Baby, Drill” columnist Thomas L. Friedman highlights some of the many ways in which the Costa Rican government has prioritized the environment with their legislation. Most poignantly, he is incredulous that Costa Rica only recently discovered oil, and once it had it decided to ban off-shore drilling. “Costa Rica discovered its own oil five years ago but decided to ban drilling — so as not to pollute its politics or environment! What country bans oil drilling?”  It’s not surprising that Costa Rica has received main stream attention in the past few months. As environmental concerns become more widely discussed, and as the general population becomes more aware of the dangers of their current lifestyle, attention will shift to people and communities who have already thought through these issues. Costa Rica has been a leader in green thinking since the early nineties. And since many green practices and initiatives can take time to show results, we are well ahead of the curve is demonstrating how seamless and powerful the transition can be.
Sailing down Costa Rica’s Tempisque River on an eco-tour, I watched a crocodile devour a brown bass with one gulp. It took only a few seconds. The croc’s head emerged from the muddy waters near the bank with the footlong fish writhing in its jaws. He crunched it a couple of times with razor-sharp teeth and then, with just the slightest flip of his snout, swallowed the fish whole. Never saw that before. These days, visitors can still see amazing biodiversity all over Costa Rica — more than 25 percent of the country is protected area — thanks to a unique system it set up to preserve its cornucopia of plants and animals. Many countries could learn a lot from this system. 

More than any nation I’ve ever visited, Costa Rica is insisting that economic growth and environmentalism work together. It has created a holistic strategy to think about growth, one that demands that everything gets counted. So if a chemical factory sells tons of fertilizer but pollutes a river — or a farm sells bananas but destroys a carbon-absorbing and species-preserving forest — this is not honest growth. You have to pay for using nature. It is called “payment for environmental services” — nobody gets to treat climate, water, coral, fish and forests as free anymore.  

The process began in the 1990s when Costa Rica, which sits at the intersection of two continents and two oceans, came to fully appreciate its incredible bounty of biodiversity — and that its economic future lay in protecting it. So it did something no country has ever done: It put energy, environment, mines and water all under one minister.  

“In Costa Rica, the minister of environment sets the policy for energy, mines, water and natural resources,” explained Carlos M. Rodríguez, who served in that post from 2002 to 2006. In most countries, he noted, “ministers of environment are marginalized.” They are viewed as people who try to lock things away, not as people who create value. Their job is to fight energy ministers who just want to drill for cheap oil.  

But when Costa Rica put one minister in charge of energy and environment, “it created a very different way of thinking about how to solve problems,” said Rodríguez, now a regional vice president for Conservation International. “The environment sector was able to influence the energy choices by saying: ‘Look, if you want cheap energy, the cheapest energy in the long-run is renewable energy. So let’s not think just about the next six months; let’s think out 25 years.’ ” 

As a result, Costa Rica hugely invested in hydro-electric power, wind and geo-thermal, and today it gets more than 95 percent of its energy from these renewables. In 1985, it was 50 percent hydro, 50 percent oil. More interesting, Costa Rica discovered its own oil five years ago but decided to ban drilling — so as not to pollute its politics or environment! What country bans oil drilling? 

Rodríguez also helped to pioneer the idea that in a country like Costa Rica, dependent on tourism and agriculture, the services provided by ecosystems were important drivers of growth and had to be paid for. Right now, most countries fail to account for the “externalities” of various economic activities. So when a factory, farmer or power plant pollutes the air or the river, destroys a wetland, depletes a fish stock or silts a river — making the water no longer usable — that cost is never added to your electric bill or to the price of your shoes. 

Costa Rica took the view that landowners who keep their forests intact and their rivers clean should be paid, because the forests maintained the watersheds and kept the rivers free of silt — and that benefited dam owners, fishermen, farmers and eco-tour companies downstream. The forests also absorbed carbon. 

To pay for these environmental services, in 1997 Costa Rica imposed a tax on carbon emissions — 3.5 percent of the market value of fossil fuels — which goes into a national forest fund to pay indigenous communities for protecting the forests around them. And the country imposed a water tax whereby major water users — hydro-electric dams, farmers and drinking water providers — had to pay villagers upstream to keep their rivers pristine. “We now have 7,000 beneficiaries of water and carbon taxes,” said Rodríguez. “It has become a major source of income for poor people. It has also enabled Costa Rica to actually reverse deforestation. We now have twice the amount of forest as 20 years ago.” 

As we debate a new energy future, we need to remember that nature provides this incredible range of economic services — from carbon-fixation to water filtration to natural beauty for tourism. If government policies don’t recognize those services and pay the people who sustain nature’s ability to provide them, things go haywire. We end up impoverishing both nature and people. Worse, we start racking up a bill in the form of climate-changing greenhouse gases, petro-dictatorships and bio-diversity loss that gets charged on our kids’ Visa cards to be paid by them later. Later is over. Later is when it will be too late.

Environment

The World's Cleanest Countries  Costa Rica 5th!

04.15.09, Forbes Magazine, Andy Stone
Forbes Magazine Names Costa Rica 5th “Cleanest” Country in the World   
April 15, 2009      

Costa Rica continues its recent streak of winning high praise for its environmentalism.

An April 15th article in Forbes magazine named The World’s Cleanest Countries, using measurements such as:

EPI’s environmental health ranking, which measures the effects of pollution on human health. A second broad measure, ecosystem vitality, measures the health of fisheries, the amount of green house gases a country pumps into the air and how well it preserves the diversity of its plants and animals.  

Costa Rica is mentioned in the article. A few developing nations break into the top 10 of the rankings. Costa Rica has a per-capita gross domestic product of $11,600, but ranks fifth overall as it protects its forests and rich biodiversity, both lures for ecotourists.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Environmental Performance Index (EPI), ColumbiaUniversity’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network, and YaleUniversity’s Center for Environmental Law and Policy. http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/15/worlds-cleanest-countries-business-energy-clean-countries.html and is printed below:

The declining health of Mother Earth has drawn growing attention over the last two decades, with countries coming together to fight a range of environmental threats, from declining fishing stocks to global warming.

 Witness the Kyoto Protocol, the first widely adopted set of environmental protection guidelines, which emerged during the 1990s and took effect in 2005. 

 Kyoto led to the development of the first large-scale emissions trading market, Europe's Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme, which puts caps on carbon dioxide pollution. A similar carbon market, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, began operating at the start of this year in 10 Eastern U.S. states.  

In spite of nearly universal support for a cleaner globe (the  

U.S. was one of only a few countries that failed to adopt Kyoto), it's mainly the rich nations that enjoy pristine environments, according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network and Yale University's Center for Environmental Law and Policy developed the index to highlight the cleanest countries, and give laggards the opportunity to benchmark efforts to improve their own environments and the health of their citizens.

 Switzerland tops the list with an overall EPI score of 95.5 out of 100, while European countries account for 14 of the top 20 environmental performers. Europe has the infrastructure to provide clean drinking water and treat waste water, lowering the likelihood that Europeans will suffer from waterborne disease. Europe scores consistently well in EPI's environmental health ranking, which measures the effects of pollution on human health.  A second broad measure, ecosystem vitality, measures the health of fisheries, the amount of greenhouse gases a country pumps into the air and how well it preserves the diversity of its plants and animals. On this measure, the performance of developed countries diverges.   Improved science has led to a better understanding of the linkage between pollution and human health. "The science that's come out has shown that the harder you look for air-pollution-related health problems, the more you find," says Levy. "Scientists have recommended that environmental regulations be tightened. Europe has done that, but the then-President George H. W. Bush signed the last significant American air quality legislation in 1990, an amendment to the Clean Air Act. The U.S. scores a meager 63.5 on the ecosystem vitality scale, vs. an average score of 74.2 for the world's richest nations. The U.S.' overall EPI score is 81, putting it in 39th place on the list.

 The U.S., once a leader in environmental protection, has failed to keep pace. "Starting 25 years ago, the United States started to fall behind in relative terms. Before that time, Europe always had dirtier air and drinking water," says Mark Levy, associate director of Columbia University's earth science center.

 Nudist Resort Bares Niche in Tourism Market  
May 15, 2009 The Tico Times, San Jose, Costa Rica  Tourism outlets in Costa Rica have responded to the global economic crisis in different ways. Some have offered discounts and package deals, while others have worked to establish a niche as ecotourism destinations. For Cindy Booker, the answer was simple: go au naturel.

Booker, 58, originally from the U.S. state of Florida, bought the Rio Palmas Hotel and Restaurant last year and immediately faced a decision. While the restaurant was well known among travelers on the highway between San Jose and the Caribbean port city of Limon, the hotel was not.

"I needed to come up with a niche," Booker said. "People came to Rio Palmas over and over and didn't know there was a hotel here. Yes, I have a beautiful hotel, but so does everyone in Costa Rica." So Booker stripped the hotel down to the basics and relaunched as Club Mi Amor, an "alternative lifestyle-friendly" and "clothing-optional" hotel that she said is the first and only nudist resort in Costa Rica. Despite reservations about opening such a resort in a Catholic country such as Costa Rica, the response, she said, has been "amazing."

While Booker said several upcoming weekends are booked with "swinger parties," no one was baring it all during a recent Tico Times visit. Booker and her 10-person staff -- the rule is that all employees must wear clothes -- were putting the final touches together in anticipation of a swinger party over the weekend.

"It's not what everybody thinks," Booker said about the groups, which she said are often made up mostly of Costa Ricans. "It's not a sex fest. It's very respectful. They are very nice people." Still, it was hard to let go of preconceptions when, after we passed a sign prohibiting the entry of minors, the first room Booker showed us was the "orgy room." Under construction and scheduled to be complete this month, the room will feature mirrored walls, a tiki bar and sound system and a custom-made, seven-by-16-foot mattress that can fit between 20 and 30 people, Booker said.

Mi Amor has 25 rooms, most of which -- aside from the orgy room -- have double beds and air conditioning. In a few weeks, Booker plans to have air conditioning and televisions in every room. A themed "jungle room" boasts a Jacuzzi and doubles as Mi Amor's massage parlor, with one side opening onto a nearby creek.

We next passed the centrally located pool to reach the bar, complete with dance floor and stripper pole. "Our pole isn't just for women," Booker said, as Joey Fernandez, a member of Mi Amor's staff, launched into a running jump and took a twirl around the pole. "The guys have just as much fun as the girls." Behind the bar is a second, waist-deep pool specially outfitted as a water volleyball court, as well as two outdoor beds. The resort also has a trail running through 10 acres of jungle, where visitors often spot wildlife, including sloths, armadillos and Booker's pet parrot, Lolita.        

Booker has been sure to leave the Rio Palmas restaurant, which she called "an institution," alone and separate from Mi Amor. Clothes are required at the restaurant. Both the hotel and restaurant can be rented out for groups, which, along with nudists, have included religious and yoga groups in recent weeks, as well as a gathering of government officials.  
Booker, a grandmother of eight whose husband is in Florida managing the family business, seems an unlikely candidate to be overseeing orgies and swinger parties. "My world's a little different now," she deadpanned. Did she ever imagine herself in this position? "Not in my wildest dreams," she said. "But it's been great."

Though Costa Rica has no law against nudist resorts, Booker has been "careful" in spreading word about Mi Amor so far. She put the "no minors" sign up as a precaution against sex trafficking of minors and puts condoms in every room, following Costa Rican regulations.

Still, she plans to forge ahead. Within the next six months, Booker hopes to build a 60-by-120-foot clubhouse behind the volleyball court. She has longer-term aspirations as well: a series of townhouses to create the first gated nudist community in Costa Rica. But she stressed that Mi Amor is not only about swingers and nudism. There's so much here that you are really at ease if you want to stay dressed," she said. "And if you want to get naked, it's your own choice. You do your own thing." Nevertheless, nudity is helping keep Mi Amor afloat. "It's like the hottest thing out there right now," Booker said. "With the economy now, if I just had a (standard) hotel, I'd be closing."

The first establishment, the 150-room Barceló Amapola JacóBeach, near the beach in Jaco along the Central Pacific coast, is scheduled to open in 2010 after a remodeling of the Amapola Hotel costing an estimated €49 million ($65 million).

The second establishment, the Barceló Playa Azul, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste with 248 rooms, will cost an estimated €178 million ($236 million) and is set to open in 2011.

With these new establishments, Barceló Hotels & Resorts will have a total of six hotels in Costa Rica: Barceló San José Palacio, Palma Real, TamborBeach, Langosta, JacóBeach and Playa Azul, with a total of 1,319 rooms.Barceló currently has 187 hotels in 16 countries.

IMF Approves $735 Million Dollar Loan To Costa Rica
April 15, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Monday it had approved a us$735 million dollar standby loan for Costa Rica to help it weather the global financial and economic crisis. The Washington-based IMF said the turmoil "entails risks to Costa Rica's outlook in 2009 and 2010" but added that it was not facing immediate balance of payments pressures.

The 15-month stand-by arrangement, approved by the IMF executive board on Friday, was designed to bolster confidence in the Central American country's policy framework, it said. "The Costa Rican authorities intend to treat the arrangement as precautionary, meaning that they do not intend to draw on the Fund's resources unless a need arises," the IMF said in a statement.

The IMF said that access to its financial support would "increase considerably the country's external financial defenses to help absorb any larger-than-anticipated balance of payments shocks and safeguard the ongoing gradual transition to greater exchange rate flexibility." Murilo Portugal, IMF deputy managing director, said while Costa Rica's economic fundamentals were "solid," the global financial and economic turmoil "entails risks" to its outlook this year and in 2010.

Portugal said that Costa Rica's economic strategy would involve a gradual increase in exchange-rate flexibility supported by monetary restraint, a moderate fiscal expansion, a further strengthening of the financial sector, and the mobilization of substantial precautionary financing, including from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

"This financing will boost the economy's foreign currency liquidity buffers, and provide protection against any larger-than-anticipated shocks to the balance of payments," Portugal said.

The IMF also said that Costa Rica's banking system was "generally strong" with banks "not exposed to structured financial products."

The global financial crisis was triggered by a US home mortgage meltdown that led to securities linked to the mortgage market going sour.

Access to IMF financing will boost Costa Rica's foreign currency buffers and protect the economy from possibly larger-than-expected balance of payments shocks.

 "The accord backs the (government's) economic policy strategy to face the unfavorable effects of the global crisis," said Costa Rica's Central Bank President Francisco de Paula Gutierrez. It will also help safeguard the transition to greater exchange rate flexibility, the IMF said in a statement.

“The authorities' economic program seeks to preserve macroeconomic and financial stability, while supporting growth and protecting the most vulnerable segments of the population," the IMF statement said.

 
Costa Rica to collect taxes on businesses that dump sewage into rivers April 13, 2009 Tico Times

The Costa Rican government plans on collecting taxes from 388 businesses that pollute rivers with sewage water this year and will use the money to improve water treatment systems throughout the country.  

The tax will vary depending on the level of pollution and is different for businesses and homes, according to the daily La Nación newspaper.

The Costa Rican government hopes to collect roughly $8 million at the end of this year with the tax, much of which will be used to construct sewage and waste water treatment systems.

Close to 60 percent of the money made will go to improving waste water systems, roughly 20 percent will go toward monitoring existing points of pollution, around 15 percent will go the promotion of environmentally-friendly systems and 5 percent will go to environmental education.

According to José Miguel Zeledón, the director of the water department of the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry, this plan will benefit towns that don't have a suitable system for their liquid waste.

More Than 900 Costa Ricans Today Over The Age of 100
April 11, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
From only 231 in 2000 to 931 this year are the number of Costa Ricans over the age of 100, according to the demographics report by the Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP).

The report indicates a tremendous growth in those aged over 100 since the CCP began keeping track of the Centenarians in Costa Rica.

And if the growth continues at the same rate, the CCP estimates that there will be some 8.000 Centenarians by the year 2050.

One reason for the increase in the number of Centenarians is associated with life expectancy at birth. A Tico a born today can expect to live 77 years, if male, and 82 years, if female.

In addition, 68% of those reaching the age fo 65 today, are expected to live well into their 80's. Just 40 years ago, only 49% of Costa Ricans who celebrated their 65th birthday could aspire to reach 80.

According to the Primer Informe sobre el Estado de Situación de la Persona Adulta Mayor (2008) report, the population of older adults is in an accelerated growth.

The report indicates that the population of 65 years of age or more could double in the next 15 years, the largest growth being in those over the age of 80, the group that will required more social services for which the country is ill prepared to handle.

The demographer and director of the CCP, Luis Rosero Bixby, considers it vital that the country should take measures providing for these changes.

According to the director of the Hospital de Geriatría y Gerontología Dr. Raúl Blanco Cervantes, Dr. Fernando Morales Martínez warns categorically that Costa Rica has made little progress in this area.

UPS survey: Costa Rica execs see bright side
April 7, 2009 Tico Times
More than half of Costa Rican small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain optimistic about growth in spite of the global economic downturn and reports of slow recovery, a new survey suggests.   

According to U.S. delivery company UPS's Business Monitor Latin America (BMLA) released this week in Miami, more than half (51 percent) of Tico executives surveyed projected economic progress for their companies over the course of the next 12 months. The region's overall percentage was 47 percent – a considerable drop from last year's 84 percent. 

Higher still were expectations of SME leaders in countries such as Colombia (62 percent), Brazil (54 percent) and the Dominican Republic (54 percent).

Fifty-one percent predict an uptick in global trade.

“The results from the latest BMLA study demonstrate that although Latin American SMEs are enduring a difficult business climate, they are looking forward to continued growth down the line,” said Stephen Flowers, UPS Americas President, according to newswire EFE. 

The BMLA surveyed more than 900 leading SME executives in eight Latin American countries. However, a more sober projection came about in relation to the impact of the United States' volatile economy: 69 percent said trouble up north will have a negative impact on their business this year, while 61 percent don't foresee the U.S. economy improving before 2010.    -Wire reports

Costa Rica Taken Off Blacklist Of Haven For Tax Evaders
April 7, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Costa Rica, along with Uruguay, Malaysia and the Phillipines, have pledged to commit to an exchange of information with the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD).  

The four countries had been placed on the OECD blacklist for non-compliance.

"The four jurisdictions have now made full commitment to exchange information," said OECD chief, Angel Gurria, at a press conference in Paris.

Costa Rica, Uruguay, the Philippines and Malaysia are now off the OECD's black list of "jurisdictions that have not committed to the internationally agreed tax standards," Gurria said.  

"This very important move by so many jurisdictions...is one of the first deliverables of the G20 meeting", added Gurria, referring to the G20 summit of world leaders which last week asked the OECD to publish the blacklist in a renewed move to crack down on tax fraud across the globe. on the blacklist as part of efforts agreed at the Group of 20 leaders summit to crack down on tax evasion.

Last Thursday the OECD placed the four countries that included Costa Rica on the blacklist as part of efforts agreed at the Group of 20 leaders summit to crack down on tax evasion.

The OECD published three lists -- black, grey and white -- which respectively identify the worst offenders, those that are somewhere in-between, and those who are considered as fully committed to internationally acceptable standards.

As a result , none of the 84 countries and territories that the OECD monitors were on the blacklist any more, according to Gurria.

Wall Street legend Kaufman eyes investment market here  
April 3, Special to A.M. Costa Rica  
The latest entrant to the Costa Rican real estate market is Wall Street's Henry Kaufman, famous since 1957 when he took over the largest bond specialist unit of the New York Stock Exchange.Kaufman is known among the insiders in the financial community as a genius at contrarian investing.
He follows such famous names as Mel Gibson, Steve Case of AOL, Madonna, Danny Devito; one of the famous princes of Saudi Arabia; the Chinese premier who is investing $300 million; plus Amazon, Proctor & Gamble and Intel, which combined have invested $900 million in its manufacturing operations. 
Associates say that Kaufman believes that Costa Rica will become a huge market for retirees who want a lifestyle in this country where the weather in the major market of the Central Valley is always springtime, similar to Southern California.
He also is said to believe the cost of living and medical care, which is up to world standards in the private hospitals, is a fraction of the costs in the U. S. and Europe and that the 55-and-older senior retirement communities with assisted living and even nursing care will propel the growth of Costa Rica to double digit gross national product during the next 20 years.
Kaufman wants in, while the crisis has opened opportunities that have never existed in the last 10 years, into one of the hottest real estate markets in the world, associates say.
Costa Rica is his latest interest, and major news is expected.   Angela Jimenez, a well-known appraiser with Orbit Costa Rica, said she is now in discussions with Alberto Rampoldi of the Avalon development about one of Kaufman's latest ideas. 

 Costa Rica Q1 inflation slows to 0.83 percent
April 3, 2009 Tico Times By Alex Leff
The increasing price of basic goods nearly ground to a halt in March, rounding off Costa Rica's first-quarter inflation at just 0.83 percent, less than half the 2.25 percent price rise of the first three months of 2008.  Tugging at average price tags were markdowns in transportation, clothing, food and beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic.

The sluggish price increases – March's was just 0.01 percent – come after a year of record inflation of 13.9 percent. 

Some economists, however, warn that prices could rise again with governments pouring in cash to juice up their economies.

“The heavy injection of liquidity carried out by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other international monetary institutions could translate into increases in price levels, generating a rise in the price of goods we send abroad,” an analysis by financial consulting firm Aldesa stated. The firm added that “the price of goods could rise even more if the colón continues to fall against the dollar.”
 

Reduction in Gas and Diesel Prices Proposed
 April 3, 2009 By Vanessa I. Garnica  Tico Times 

The local press created a controversy this past week when various media outlets inquired about the purpose of remaining “utilities” funds on the National Oil Refinery's (RECOPE) 2008 financial statement, released earlier this year. Assuming that this figure represented profits made by RECOPE, a state-owned company, many questioned whether this money should be returned to consumers.  

The prices of gasoline and diesel fuel promise to drop as part of President Arias' Shield Plan, a package of measures intended to blunt the impact of the global economic slowdown.  

The issue was confused by the fact that on March 20 the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) formally requested that RECOPE offer a refund to fuel consumers in the amount of ¢79 billion ($141 million) through reductions in the price of fuel, starting sometime between the end of April and beginning of May.

RECOPE addressed the media's concerns on March 27 in a statement that said the refinery does not have or make any profits from fuel sales. Rather, the amount listed under “utilities” on the institution's 2008 financial statement, released in January, are allocated for maintaining a fuel reserve in order to avoid a lack of fuel supply for gas stations nationwide. RECOPE must have a 30-day security reserve at all times.

Arias requested the revision on Jan. 30, in order justify a possible fuel price reduction as an economic stimulus measure.

  In its study, ARESEP also took into consideration international market conditions in order to justify its request for a price cut. ARESEP observed that during the month of February fuel price reductions in the international market were reflected in national fuel prices at the same rate.

ARESEP estimated that the implementation of the price reduction will mean that the price of gasoline super will be reduced by ¢35 ($0.06) per liter, gasoline plus will have a ¢38 ($0.07) per liter decrease, and diesel fuel will drop ¢59 ($0.11) per liter.  

ARESEP will hold a public hearing on April 23 at 5 p.m., regarding the fuel price reduction proposal.  After the hearing, ARESEP's general regulator will have a month to make a final decision on the price reduction, which will be binding on RECOPE and its distributors throughout the country. The international price of the barrel of crude oil fell to just under $50 this week for the first time since March 19, dropping by $3 on Monday (March 30), newswire Reuters reported. (Yesterday however it did rise to $52 and then down and then up and then.....!) 

Breaking News: Costa Rica Joins U.S. as 51st State! 
CNN April 1, 2009
In a stunning announcement in front of the U.S. and world press representatives, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden presents Dr. Oscar Arias as the Governor of Costa Rica, the newest state to join the United States of America.  Arias proclaimed this a proud day for all Costa Ricans and U.S. residents as now Costa Rica will receive all the benefits as the other 50 states and U.S. territories.  "Puerto Rico has served as the shining example of what can be achieved by this collaboration of two great countries. We have been working on this for the past 10 years and suddenly we reached an agreement in the past few hours," said Biden. Arias immediately corrected the Vice President with a throat clearing whispered "Costa Rica, Sir". Biden then continued, "Uh, I meant Costa Rica, and this will lead to a greater presence for the U.S. in Central America, where the untapped oil reserves are expected to be greater than those found in the Middle East," Biden stated glowingly.    MORE LATER... 

Costa Rica president slams Latin American Govt's for Arms spending
April 1, 2009 Tico Times
Costa Rica President Oscar Arias lambasted other Latin American leaders Tuesday for starting what he called an “arms race” when their population's basic needs are not being met.
“If there aren't resources to attend basic needs, why the devil does Latin America need to buy planes, attack helicopters, more tanks and more missiles?” President Arias asked in an interview on Radio Monumental. Arias said he raised this issue during his meeting Monday with Central American leaders and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Region’s Tour Operators form Federation

 April 1, 2009 The Journal CR 

(InfoWebPress – Central America’s tour operators now have an umbrella organization that brings them together and supports them. It is the Federation of Central American Tour Operators Associations (FACOT), which has filed papers that legally accredit it as the entity representing all tour operators from the region.

The official constitution of the federation took place at an event held during the group’s third regular meeting, March 20 at the Costa Rican Tourism Institute’s (ICT) auditorium. Attending the activity were representatives of the seven countries that make up FACOT and sponsored by the Costa Rican Tour Operators Association (ACOT).

“The importance of this new accreditation is that it has international economic support for training, forums, meetings and other efforts that will benefit the Central American tour operator sector, so that it can provide a standard of quality to those who visit us,” said FACOT’s president, Alejandro Villalobos. “In this way, with our seven countries united, we will be able to provide the market a package of services that would invite tourists to see the marvels that each of these countries offers.” The federation’s goal is to bring regional tourism to the international market featuring the Colonial and Volcanoes Route, a project being developed by all seven nations in Central America, which includes 53 destinations (26 volcanoes and 27 colonial cities in 91 municipalities) and seeks to promote tourism, generate employment, improve the region’s quality of life, protect the environment, and preserve cultural heritage sites.
 

Thursday and Friday of Semana Santa Will Be "Dry"
Mar. 31, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
As in the past, on Good Thursday (April 9) and Good Friday (April 10), Costa Rica will be dry. No liquor, no wine, no beer, no alcohol will be allowed to be sold anywhere. The "ley seca" continues and businesses, liquor stores, restaurants and supermarkets, for instance, who violate the law, will be fined.
The "“ Ley de regulación de horario de funcionamiento en expendios de bebidas alcohólicas”, commonly known as Ley 7.633, prohibits the sale for the 48 hours from the start of Good Thursday to the end of Good Friday.

The responsibility falls on the municipalities to enforce the law, which customarily means an inspection by a municipal official and/or the municipal police to place a "sello" (seal) on the merchandise. Supermarkets have to close off their liquor section or remove it entirely from the shelves, restaurants have to lock up the liquor cabinets and beer coolers and liquor stores, for the major part, close entirely. The Ministra de Seguridad, Jannian Del Vecchio, said that where the municipality cannot complete its functions, members of the Fuerza Pública (national police) will be on hand to enforce the law.

1.5 Million Expected To Travel To Beaches and Resorts During Semana Santa    March 30, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
Some 1.5 million people are expected to take to the roads beginning this week to visit the beaches and mountain resorts for Semana Santa. The subdirector of Tránsito, Huanelgue Gutiérrez, says his police unit is ready for the massive movement that although officially begins on Saturday, April 4, the massive exodus begins of Wednesday the 8th.
San Jose typically becomes a ghost town during Semana Santa. However, this year Gutiérrez is predicting that many will stay closer to home and the movement of traffic during Semana Santa in San Jose and the Central Valley will be different that in the past years, mainly due to the economic situation. Like many bus operators, Alfaro will not provide service on Good Friday.
Travel to Jaco, perhaps the most favourite destination because of its proximity to San Jose, will be made easier as the bus operator of the route will add more buses and additional times. Buses will be leaving San Jose at 6am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm, twice the number of departures. The cost is ¢1.830.

Biden says U.S. economy key to Central American recovery 
Patrick Fitzgerald Tico Times March 30, 2009
U.S Vice President Joe Biden promised to listen to the region's concerns, but did not budge on two issues of importance to Central America – immigration and Cuba – in a meeting with President Oscar Arias and other Central American leaders in San José on Monday. Speaking to the press after what he called a refreshingly honest, “worthwhile” discussion at the Casa Presidencial with Costa Rica President Oscar Arias, Biden said the United States would support initiatives to bolster the staggering economies of the region but stressed that the biggest hurdle would be to get the U.S economy back on track.“It cannot work for Latin America unless our economy begins to grow,” Biden said, asking for “patience and forbearance” from Central American leaders. The economy overshadowed many of the other issues that the leaders discussed, including immigration and drug trafficking.Still, Biden promised an increase in funding for Central American nations under the anti-drug Merida Initiative from $65 million to $110 million, but said immediate action on immigration would be politically difficult under current economic conditions. On Cuba, the vice president stopped short of condoning an end to the U.S.'s 47-year-old trade embargo on the island nation, but said the United States would enter “a period of transition” in its relations with Cuba. “We take responsibility for our own future,” said the former chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, continuing, “We take responsibility for knowing that our own actions drastically impact – disproportionably impact, sometimes – what happens in Central America.” 

Arias, who opened the press conference by saying that the Obama administration appeared to be putting together a “Good Friend Policy” toward Latin America – a hallmark to former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's regional “Good Neighbor Policy” – smiled when a reporter from the business daily La República asked Biden if the Costa Rican president was becoming something of a spokesman between Central America and the United States. But Biden, who said his government was “in listening mode,” said the United States was seeking strong bilateral ties with every country in the region.“We don't need any interlocutor,” Biden said. “We want direct, immediate and personal contact with each of the leaders, each of the countries in the region.”

 Costa Rica Seduces The Big Apple
March 29, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 
The article appeared the New York Times travel section last Sunday (March 22) after a visit by freelance writer ETHAN TODRAS-WHITEHILL to Costa Rica for a vacation. Whitehill, in the story relates in detail his trip to Costa Rica and his experiences, sharing them with the millions of readers of the New York Times publication, in print and online.  

"Think of Costa Rica as a Rorschach test for travelers. Outlined on a map, it has no recognizable shape. But enclosed in tropical lines of latitude, with appropriate squiggles for mountains, coasts and interior borders, it's an inkblot for projecting travel fantasies. Beach lovers trace the craggy coasts and see hammocks swinging in the sunset breeze. The eyes of the nature-minded glaze when they note all the national parks. And adrenaline fanatics fixate on the mountains and rivers", writes Whitehill.
 

The end result of the article is free publicity for a country where the number of visitors has dropped 11% over the same period last year and is highly dependent on American tourists. 

"It is a cost free promotion, with credibility and very valuable in these times of crisis", said Carlos Benavides, ministro de Turismo - Costa Rica's tourism minister. 

According to Benavides, New York is a very important market for Costa Rican tourism, where, along with places like San Francisco, lie the majority of Costa Rica's potential tourism customers.

Figures by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - Costa Rican tourism institute - half of all tourists come from the United States and one third of the visits are with family. 

To boost Costa Rica's image even further in the United States, the ICT is planning a series of ads in the National Geographic Traveler magazine. The ads begin in June and run until November. NATGEO prints 19 million copies of the special edition. Benavides said that the cost of advertising in NATGEO is about us$2 million dollars.In addition, Costa Rica has been advertising on phone booths and had warmers during the New York winter months with the slogan "Warm Up in Costa Rica".

To promote Costa Rica to the US market, the ICT has a deal with an advertising agency to inspire other publications and reporters to follow the New York Times lead.  The tourism minister also said that Costa Rica will be participating in some 45 international tourism fairs this year, a record for the ministry, attracting visitors from countries like Switzerland, Russia and South America.

In the article, Whitehills talks about Eco-Tourism, Adventure tourism and Luxury tourism, telling readers of his experiences in places like Manuel Antonio, Monteverde and Turrialba. "How many Costa Ricas could we sample in just eight days? I settled on three: the rich primordial forest, the adventurer's playground and the beachfront paradise", Whitehill temps his readers. 

JetBlue lands its first Central America flight in Costa Rica

By Vanessa I. Garnica Tico Times Mar. 27, 2009  
 U.S. budget airline JetBlue made its first nonstop flight from Orlando, Florida to Alajuela's Juan Santamaría International Airport amid much fanfare Thursday, an event imbued by the local tourism sector with great hope amid a tourism slump driven by the U.S. recession. Juan Santamaría, west of San José, and Daniel Oduber International Airport, in Liberia, in the northwestern Guanacaste province, both reported a 13 percent drop in tourists during the first two months of 2009, the daily La República reported Thursday.As if to spite the gloomy numbers, JetBlue launched its San José route with a celebration including balloons and children dancing traditional Tico dances such as El Punto Guanacasteco.  To attract customers, JetBlue is holding a two-week sale offering $73 tickets each way from San José to Orlando, Florida. To receive the rate, trips must be taken between April 14 and June 17. The sale started Thursday and it ends on April 8, 2009. The average price for this route is $139 each way. 

“In a time when airlines are moving away or closing down operations, Costa Rica is keeping airlines, increasing flights and routes… That's a good sign for us,” said Costa Rican Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides, in December, a sentiment he shared this week as well.

Hermosa-Jaco Blue Flag league of Clean Beaches
Tico Times, Mar. 25, 2009
 

The beaches of Hermosa de Jacó, Sámara Sur, Curú and Quesera were awarded the coveted Ecological Blue Flag for the first time on Tuesday March 24, 2009. 

Meanwhile, four others – Hermosa de Carrillo, Coco Norte, Punta Uvita and Piñuela – failed to meet the standards of the Water and Sewage Institute (AyA), which cost them the honor of recognition at the awards ceremony. The awards were based on evaluations conducted by AyA in 2008. 

The beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park regained a place on the list after the popular park's reputation was soiled by polluted water last month. 

Also re-capturing the flag were Arenilla, Manzanillo, Ocotal and Pelada beaches, which were defrocked last year along with three others when AyA discovered that their waters were too contaminated for swimming. 

Tamarindo, a popular hotspot in the northwestern Guanacaste province, remained off the list despite its residents' efforts – including public recycling campaigns and anti-dengue sweeps – to clean up. The Costa Rica Blue Flag program was initiated in 1996, and is not directly related to the internationally recognized Blue Flag eco-label. 

$40 million theme park in the works for Parrita
March 26, 2009 By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
A development firm said Wednesday it had finished a concept project to advance plans for a 302-hectare adventure theme park near Parrita on the Central Pacific coast. 

The firm, DCL Property Developers, said that the park will include more than 15 amenities, tours and rides for the visitors, and make of this project the most ambitious and complete adventure attraction in the Central American region. The park will be called La Chonta Costa Rica, Natural & EcoAdventurePark.

Javier Segura, general manager of DLC, said that this is about a $40 million project that will provide more than 100 direct jobs and as many as 500 indirect jobs.

Parallel to the delivery of the concept, DLC's sister company, DCL Realty Consultants, has received the first set of offers for the $24 million financing that La Chonta Adventure Park will need for its preoperative and construction stage. Those offers came from the firm's own financial sources in the United States, he said.  Segura explained that the concept includes all the feasibility and other studies that move the project closer to construction.

He said that the park will feature an aerial tram, a 500-meter (1,640-foot) zip line, electric buggies and accommodations, including a luxury camping area.

He said that the park will bring to one location many of the adventure experiences that are typical of Costa Rica. However, there also will be walkways for those who prefer not to become involved with the adventure experiences.  One goal is to keep the finished part environmentally friendly, he said.

The area in Parrita is 302 hectares, about 746 acres. 

Segura said that his firms were able to secure financing despite the lending situation in the United States, although he did agree that for several months financing was on hold. The name of the firm that will own the park is being kept confidential until more progress is made, Segura said.

Costa Rica President says no to oil exploration

By Patrick Fitzgerald Tico Times March 25, 2009

President Oscar Arias this week has affirmed his commitment against oil exploration in Costa Rica. Speaking in front of the Legislative Assembly Monday afternoon to promote a bill regarding rural aqueducts, the president took the opportunity to quell speculation that Costa Rica would open its land and sea up for oil exploration. 

“We have to make a colossal effort to replace thermal energy with renewable sources,” Arias told lawmakers. “That is why we have stimulated investment in solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy, and that is also why we will continue with our commitment to not permit oil exploration in our territory.” 

The statement comes after years of speculation regarding Arias' intentions toward oil exploration in the country. In 2007, Costa Rica signed an agreement with the Chinese National Oil & Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC) to expand the state-owned refinery in Moín, north of the Caribbean port city of Limón, an agreement that left the door open for CNODC to explore for oil off Costa Rica's Caribbean coast (TT, Dec. 14, 2007). The year before, Arias announced that the Brazilian oil company Petrobras might study the possibility of petroleum exploration off the country's coasts (TT, June 2, 2006). Neither proposal moved very far, and Arias said yesterday that he never made any final agreement to explore with either group, according to the daily La Republica.

Oil exploration has been on hold in Costa Rica since 2002, when then-President Abel Pacheco issued an executive decree banning oil exploration and certain kinds of mining. Upon taking office in 2006, however, Arias acknowledged to The Tico Times that he intended to ignore the decree, reopening the possibility of oil exploration in Costa Rican waters. 

Costa Rica railway to go Electric

By Vanessa I. Garnica Tico Times Mar. 25, 2009

In less than five years, San José residents could be riding an express-electric train to Heredia, the provincial capital north of San José, in 22 minutes flat thanks to a Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) project whose characteristics were disclosed Tuesday.

The project, dubbed TREM, for Electric Metropolitan Train, will transport approximately 47 million passengers over a one-year-period and carry an estimated price tag of $345 million. “We are finally talking about the modernization of public transport in Costa Rica,” said Karla González, minister of the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT). The electric train initiative is distinct from the project to rehabilitate the existing San José-Heredia railway for diesel-fuelled trains recently purchased from Spain, which could be up and running in a few weeks (TT, March 20).  

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is providing $100 million for the future electric project, González said. Accordingly, the company responsible for the concession will have to invest around $245 million in private funds over a period of 35 years. “The donation from IDB will make this project more attractive to those companies interested in bidding for this project,” González said on Tuesday.

 The first phase of the study also concluded that the country will save around $88.7 million a year. In addition, the research estimated a train fare of ¢400 (U.S. $0.75) for the San José-Heredia route. The tender process will take place during the second half of 2009, and MOPT hopes to award the project during the first six months of 2010. This Friday at 10 a.m. at least six interested companies, hailing from countries including Canada, China and Czech Republic will attend the first informational meeting regarding the concession at the Hotel Crown Coribicí, located in La Sabana. 

 Flamingo Marina Decision on Hold Again

March 13, 2009 By Zoraida Diaz The Beach Times 

The Comptroller General’s Office has annulled a decision awarding the concession for the Flamingo Marina to an international consortium of developers, turning back the process almost two years.

Nineteen months after one group, Desarrollo de Marinas Matapalo Demm S.A., had been awarded the concession, the Comptroller General’s Office has ruled the process did not conform to the laws that govern administrative contracting.  

All six of the eight groups, which passed a rigorous first phase, pre-selection process in their quest to build and operate the Flamingo Marina, have been asked to re-submit their tenders.

Ruling upon the first of two appeals filed by losing bidders the Comptroller General concluded the Municipality of Santa Cruz had chosen the bidder without evaluation parameters or methodology, and that “any position assumed would be based on subjective analysis, unknown to the participants.”

At $91 million, Matapalo DEMM was the biggest and most ambitious project among the bidders. The company’s plans call for a new breakwater plus 442 boat slips, some capable of handling mega-yachts of up to 45 meters (150 feet). There will be coastguard, immigration, police and refueling facilities, a 20,000-square-meter hotel, a commercial center and an unspecified number of condominiums. The facility was also to have included an extended pier for cruise liners.  

However, the Comptroller General ruled that unlike the first phase where points were assigned to each requirement, the tender published for the second phase “did not assign a percentage to each of the requirements, nor did it offer a methodology tied with the requirements to be evaluated that would allow an objective selection of the most convenient offer…”

The vagueness of the criteria ensured that the final decision would be “a discretionary act,” said the Comptroller General, citing as supporting evidence the Municipality’s own admission of subjective criteria, during an audience before the Comptroller.  

“What was promoted here was a public tender divided in two phases, during which, in the first instance a points system was used, whereas in the final phase, the value system used was solely based on the public interest a and greater benefits to the community of Santa Cruz…” Municipal representatives said during that meeting.

When the Municipality chose Matapalo Demm, it was done on the advice of the Marina Commission assigned to evaluate the contestants. In announcing the decision last April, the Municipality said “the works to be built by this bidder [Matapalo Demm] are of the largest size and scope…and it’s the company that offers the best annual canon to Santa Cruz…”

However, the Comptroller General says size, scope, and canon were never assigned a specific value and therefore, the decision could only be a subjective one.  

The Government insists it is not questioning the discretionary powers of the Municipalities, rather, it is encouraging the Municipal body establishes an evaluation system that is “complete, proportional, pertinent, transcendental, applicable and obligatory…”  

The Comptroller General’s decision is another blow to what has been a chaotic five-year process mired in setbacks and controversy.

Ademar Morales, President of the Municipal Council of Santa Cruz, confirmed this week the six groups that had first qualified back in May 2007, were still willing to continue with the process.

“We are greatly interested that the process continues,” Mr Morales said, adding the criteria would not vary greatly.  

“It would be practically the same,” he admitted, “our fault was to not have assigned points to each requirement.  

“Of course we are tremendously disappointed,” said Mr Morales, vowing to hire more experienced legal counsel.   “We are considering that if the companies are not interested in continuing with the marina process, we would find other interested companies and would consider awarding the concession directly,” he added.  

It is not the first time the council has suggested awarding the concession directly, doing away with the more rigorous selection process.  

After the process stalled last year, Councilor Braulio Moreno, who at one point, voted to suspend the adjudication, while the Constitutional Chamber or Sala IV ruled on appeals filed by the losing bidders, said a “direct concession” may in the end be the best option.

 Costa Rican Government Reviews Casino Opening Rules
25 Mar, 2009 / GamblingCompliance Ltd. / James Kilsby 

The Costa Rican government has suspended the implementation of new regulations to limit casino opening hours to just 12 hours per day pending a full review of the policy’s wider economic implications currently being undertaken by Costa Rica’s ministry of work.

Confirmation that the Costa Rican government will allow casinos to remain open on a 24-hour basis until at least May 1 represents a victory for the lobbying efforts of Costa Rica’s casino operators since a decree issued in June of last year signaled the government’s intention to dramatically curb casino opening hours in the Central American country.

That June decree was to formally limit casino opening hours to between 6pm at night and 6am as of December 2008, but was predictably met with stiff resistance from local casino operators.

Operators grouped together in the Costa Rican Casino Association (Asociación Costaricense de Casinos) and met with the government in the aftermath of the decree’s enactment to argue that up to a third of the 6,000 Costa Ricans currently employed in the sector could lose their jobs were the opening restrictions to take effect as planned. In July, the association’s president Rafael Vargas told local media that operators had decided not to shed the jobs immediately as they “had faith” they would reach an understanding with the government’s tourism and work ministries.

The Costa Rican government agreed to suspend implementation of the restrictions one week before they were due to take effect on December 27 of last year. An executive decree signed by President Oscar Arias acknowledged that the 6pm-6am limit could directly lead to around 2,000 job losses in the “labour intensive” casino sector, with “indirect consequences for thousands of Costa Rican families”.

The decree states: “Faced with this problematic situation and the risk of provoking a larger level of unemployment in the tourism sector, the Costa Rican Casino Association asked the Government to provide an evaluation of what effects the entry into force of the new regulation’s provisions on the permitted opening times of [casino] venues would have in order to reduce future negative impact on employment rates.

“The [Government] is aware of the current threats to productive sectors [of the economy] and services [industries], and affirms this compromise to adopt the necessary, legitimate measures to protect the integrity and security of Costa Rican workers and to guarantee their rights to obtain dignified, paid employment.”  

The decree authorises casinos to remain open round-the-clock until May 1, 2009, pending completion of a study to be conducted by the ministry of work. That study should assess the full impact casino opening restrictions would have on the Costa Rican economy and suggest an alternative proposal as appropriate, the decree says.

According to comments made to the local press by the casino association’s Vargas, operators are willing to accept some mandatory restrictions on opening hours but they are hoping to see last June’s decree amended to permit them to open for at least 16 hours per day.

Further casino regulations passed last June remain unaffected by last December’s decree, however. Among other measures: imposing limits on slot machine and table numbers, and the legislation from last year ensures that casinos can only be built in minimum three-star, 60-room hotels.

Casinos Can Now Operate 24 Hours 
Mar.15, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 

The Arias government has issued a "decreto" (executive order) that allows casinos to operate on a 24 hour basis, at least until May 1, to avoid the possible layoff of some 2.000 or more casino employees. The decreto overrides an order issued last June that would have limited casino operating to only 8 hours daily, between 6pm and 2am, which should have been in effect last December 27. The shortened hours never went into effect after representatives of the Asociación de Casinos objected to the short hours, asking that casinos be allowed to operate at least 16 hours daily or some 2.000 employees would have to be cut. The government agreed to the extended hours, for now.

Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, who has carried the baton on the issue of decrees related to casinos, said the final hours of operation will be determined by a study of the ministry of labour. Benavides denied that the work day will be 24 hours, but rather range between 8 and 16 hours. There are 408 registered casinos in Costa Rica, most working 16 hours, while several like the Horseshoe in San José operates on a 24 hour basis. 

Benavides pointed out that, other than the hours of operation, the regulations emitted in the June 2008 decreto are still in place, like the regulation that casinos operating in a hotel must be belong to the same corporation that owns the hotel property and that gaming addiction is an public health problem. 

Hotels that operate casinos that do not comply with the June 2008 decreto can lose their "tourism" declaration, said Benavides.

China to invest in new technology park in Costa Rica

 Tico Times Staff  Mar 18, 2009

The global economy may be grinding to a halt, but investment from China continues to pour into Costa Rica. 

Days after President Oscar Arias laid the first stone of the new, $83 million, China-financed National Stadium, the eastern power announced this week it would help finance a new science and technology park in Costa Rica. The park, the location of which has yet to be determined, will be modeled after a similar technology and development hub in Shanghai, China, which Arias visited in October 2007.

The project aims to “improve the level of competitiveness in the country,” especially in areas of innovation and productivity, Woodbridge said.

While some reports have estimated the project will cost $65 million, the minister said such projections were premature.  The project will also be a collaborative effort with the country's four public universities, the Technology Institute of Costa Rica, National University, University of Costa Rica and State University at a Distance.

Pfizer Announces Increasing Forces In Costa Rica Mar.16, 2009  

The good performance of Pfizer Central America within the corporation encouraged the decision to concentrate the administration of 33 countries from Costa Rica. “After more than 50 years, Pfizer remains committed to Costa Rica and will continue to strengthen our business operations here. I am pleased to announce that Pfizer Costa Rica will now be the Hub for all of our Central America Divisions and the Caribbean,” said Jean-Michel Halfon, President of Pfizer for the Emerging Markets.  

“In spite of the global financial crisis that affects us without exception, Costa Rica continues being an attractive place for large-scale companies to establish in, in virtue of the country investment striving to offer qualified human resource and by virtue of the political stability that distinguishes us, just like Pfizer did reinforcing their business in Costa Rica”, added Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica.   As part of the official visit, Pfizer representatives were pleased with the alliance carried out jointly with the Ministry of Health and IAFA () in the Advertising Campaign “I killed”, which informs the population of the harmful effects of tobacco in health. Health authority reports indicate that cigarette smoke damages almost all body organs, being cause of 90% of all lung tumors, 75% of emphysema cases and chronic bronchitis, and 25% of ischemic cardiac disease cases.    

 
2009-21 Public Power Investment To Reach US $9.23 Billion

 Mar.12, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Costa Rican public power sector investment projects through 2021, total $9.23 billion according to a presentation by outgoing ministro de Ambiente, Energia y Telecommunicaciones (MINAET), Roberto Dobles. 

Of the total, US$6.99 billion is planned for electrical generation,

US$1.61 billion for transmission, US$611 million for distribution and US$16.9 million for public lighting. 

Generation last year reached 9.42TWh, with renewables accounting for 92.6% (8.72TWh) and fossil fuels 7.43% (699GWh).

Annual demand is expected to grow 5.3% through 2021.  

Residential clients used 40% of the power produced in 2008, while industry, commerce and services, public agencies, agriculture and others used 24%, 20%, 11%, 4% and 1%, respectively.

Transmission and distribution lines at the end of last year totaled 1,810km and 55,397km, respectively, according to a presentation by Greivin Mayorga of state power utility ICE.  

The country's installed capacity at end-2008 reached 2.38GW, the bulk of which comes from hydro (64%) followed by thermo (25%), geothermal (7%), wind (3%) and biomass (1%). 

Not taking into account installed capacities, Costa Rica's real energy potential from hydro, geothermal, wind and biomass stands at 5.13GW, 94MW, 200MW and 71MW, respectively. Electrification coverage stands at 98.6%.  

What Crisis? Car Shows Expect To Attract Thousands  & To See New Electric Car  Mar. 14, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 

If Costa Rica is in an economic crisis it was not seen at the annual car show, ExpoMovil 2009, that began yesterday and will run all week, on the fair grounds west of the Plaza Real Cariari. 

On hand are all the major car dealers in Costa Rica, representing all the major automobile manufactures, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedez Benz, Mitsubishi, Ford, Chevrolet, etc., as well as a host of aftermarket suppliers to spiff your vehicle.    

The concept of the ExpoMovil is for car buyers to shop around for the best vehicle and the best financing. 

Both Scotiabank and BAC San Jose have set up booths for customers to obtain instant financing on rates as low as 4.5% and terms up to 62 months. All that is required is that the buyer come up with a 10% down payment. 

In Costa Rica there are some 700.000 passenger vehicles and Costa Ricans, according to industry experts, change their cars every five years.

One company, Electric Cars of Costa Rica has launched the first 100% electric car for use in Costa Rica, which completely eliminates gas emissions and a trip to the gasoline station. 

The vehicle known as the e-Zone EV is completely pollution free, running up to 50 kilometres on a single charge and just plugs into any household electrical socket to charge its batteries.

James Milldebrooks, president of Electric Cars of Costa Rica, says the two door vehicle costs us$17.500, but has a $15.500 special ExpoMovil (car show) price.

The maker of e-Zone EV, CT&T, the leading electric vehicle manufacturer in Korea, says the vehicle is built with advanced safety technology that makes it comfortable to drive on regular roads. The interior has lots of leg and headroom, comfortable sports seats and comes complete with an MP3 CD player. The two-seat e-Zone EV features a fiberglass body over a rigid aluminum frame that’s designed to protect driver and passenger in case of a collision. The NEV has been successfully crash tested to 30 mph and meets U.S. FMVSS301 as well as European safety standards.   The e-Zone EV has a four-wheel independent McPherson suspension system using four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes and electromagnetic regenerative braking. Power comes from a 72-volt AC motor. The lead-acid batteries provide a range of 50 kilometres, while new versions of lithium-polymer batteries are also available that provide a driving range of up to 100 kilometres.

To promote the use of electric vehicles and other pollution free vehicles, the government had planned to sign a Decreto Ejecutivo (Executive Order) to promote clean energy and remove import duties on hybrid, electric and energy efficient vehicles.  The Decreto was scheduled to be signed at the INBIOParque Friday morning. However, due to the changes in the Ambiente (Environment) ministry portfolio, the signing ceremony was postponed. Jorge Rodríguez, the current vice-minister of the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (Minaet) is in temporary charge of the portfolio, after Roberto Dobles was forced to resign the post following accusations of handing out mining concessions to relatives.
 

Costa Ricans Live Longer   Mar. 13, 2009 Inside Costa Rica  

Although the United States is considered one of the most developed countries in the world, Costa Rica beats out the US in one of the most important health indicator, life expectancy. Women in Costa Rica can live to the age of 81 and men to 76, for an average life span of 79 years, while in the US the life expectancy is 75.  

The INEC also reports that the infant mortality rate is down, where in 2008 there only 9 deaths per 1000 infants under the age of 1 year, while in 2007 the rate was 10 per 1000. 

The figures are from the latest report by the demographic indicators evaluated by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) - national statistics and census institute.  

 There are great variations in life expectancy worldwide, mostly caused by differences in public health, medical care and diet from country to country. Climate may also have an effect, and the way data is collected may also be an important influence. There are also variations between groups within single countries.   

Life expectancy is the average number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is the average expected lifespan of an individual. Life expectancy is heavily dependent on the criteria used to select the group. In countries with high infant mortality rates, the life expectancy at birth is highly sensitive to the rate of death in the first few years of life. In these cases, another measure such as life expectancy at age 5 can be used to exclude the effects of infant mortality to reveal the effects of causes of death other than early childhood causes.  

 Humans live on average 31.99 years in Swaziland and on average 82 years in Japan (2008). The oldest confirmed recorded age for any human is 129 years, though some people are reported to have lived longer. Although there are several longevity myths, mostly in different stories that were spread in some cultures, there is no scientific evidence of a human living for hundreds of years.Public health measures are credited with much of the recent increase in life expectancy. During 20th century, the average lifespan in the United States increased by more than 30 years; 25 years of which can be attributed to advances in public health. 

100.000 Visitors Expected For "Medical Tourism"    Mar. 13, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Medical tourism in Costa Rica is a growing trend as more and more foreigners come to the country for a medical procedure offered by private hospitals. Americans are the majority of "medical tourist". 

The estimate is that some 100.000 visitors will be coming to Costa Rica over the next 5 years (20.000 per year) solely for the benefit of medical services, being it plastic surgery or heart surgery.

The reason is simple. The cost of a medical procedure in Costa Rica is a lot cheaper than in the United States, even when you take account the costs of travel and accommodations.

This is also good news for the traditional tourism industry as tourism experts predict that many of the medical tourists will stay longer and visit the resorts and beaches once they are cleared by their doctors and are ordered to rest. 

Direct revenue from medical tourism is estimated at us$60 million dollars or an average spending of us$3.000 for each person. 

To help facilitate the industry, the government has declared medical tourism a "public interest". 

According to the ministro de Competitividad, Jorge Woodbridge, medical services in Costa Rica cost about 1/3 of that in the US and that up to 40 million Americans do not have medical insurance, making Costa Rica even more attractive.

Medical tourism began with plastic surgery. Breast implants, for example can cost in the US up to $10.000. The same procedure in Costa Rica can cost about $3.000. Other areas of interest to man Americans is dentistry, ophthalmology, orthopedics, obesity surgery, urology and post operative care. One of the major players in the medical tourism industry is the Clínica Bíblica, a private hospital in downtown San Jose. Other private centres like CIMA and Clínica Catolica also offer medical tourism services.
 

Beachtown movement challenges Maritime Zone law

 March 9, 2009  A.M. Costa Rica staff 

Residents of beach towns are organizing and plan to present a proposed law to legislators that will trump the existing maritime restrictions.

The organization grew out of a meeting of community representatives in Nicoya Feb. 27. That was the same day that A.M. Costa Rica reported that the Sala IV constitutional court had invalidated a law that would protect Cauhita and Puerto Viejo homeowners who are within the 50-meter section of the maritime zone. 

As a manifesto issued by this new group of representatives from 32 beach towns said, they and their ancestors have lived in and used what is now the maritime zone for years and that the government and other institutions have taken advantage of their poverty and lack of knowledge and resources to make their situation illegal.

The maritime law went into effect in 1977. In the case of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo residents lived on that land for nearly 100 years, but they had no documents to prove it.

Very little of Costa Rica's coastal land is under private ownership even though most of it supported dwellings and homes long before the maritime zone law. The law specifies that property from mean high tideline to 50 meters inland is public and cannot be developed except for very few uses, like marinas. The next 150 meters inland is controlled by the state and the local municipality. Private ownership is not allowed, but the municipal officials in conjunction with the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo can grant concessions for use. 

The beach town group calls itself the Frente Nacional de Comunidades en Peligro de Extinsion. Representatives plan another meeting this week.  

The manifesto said that residents of the communities know that the hidden agenda is to evict them from their lands and homes in favor of powerful economic interests who want to exploit the zone.

In fact, the courts have ordered municipalities to destroy many structures in the maritime zone even though some predated the maritime law. The law favoring Cahuita and Puerto Viejo provided those communities with city status and exempted the land from maritime zone rules. Now that the Sala IV has stripped the communities of city status, whole sections of beachside homes could be demolished. 

The organization includes communities in the provinces of Limón, Guanacaste and Puntarenas. The group said it wanted to meet with lawmakers Friday in Nicoya to demand a halt to demolitions in Ostional, Montezuma, Tambor, Puerto Soley, Peñas Blancas, Manzanillo, Cahuita and Pochote.

The manifesto promises a general strike in the beach towns and in the nation's border zones if some legislative action is not taken by July 25. That is the Día de Anexación de Guanacaste, which is always a festive time in that province. 

In addition to finding that the law declaring the two communities cities violated the maritime zone principle, the court also said that it violated another constitutional principle by creating a special privilege for one segment of the population. The court meant those persons who were given the right to title their property. 

It is not constitutionally possible to have acquired any valid rights in the maritime zone of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo after 1977, the year in which the maritime zone law went into effect, the court said. Many inhabitants of the area came later than 1977, and many who were there earlier will have trouble proving that. 

Residents of that area have developed a legal process to prove and acquire title to their land. Even in today's market some ramshackle homes are sitting on million dollar beach properties.

HSBC Begins Selling QuickPass For San Jose -Caldera Highway  
March 8, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Travelling on the autopista Próspero Fernández between Escazú and Santa Ana and to Caldera will go high tech as the Ministerio Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) announced a new electronic pay toll system that will be in place once the expansion of the highway is complete in May. 

The ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes, Karla González, announced yesterday that there will be 14 toll booths at Escazú, where an electronic devices mounted to a vehicle's windshield will detect the movement and charge the driver. 

The system called QuickPass is similar to a garage door remote control, sending out a signal that is identified and picked up by the toll control box at each toll booth. 

The charge is automatic when a vehicle passes through the specially marked toll booths. Minister González said that the there will also be manual toll booths were drivers can stop and pay the toll the old fashioned way. 

The automatic toll system is a joint project between the MOPT and the developer and concessionaire of the San Jose - Caldera highway, Autopista del Sol.

The HSBC bank has the exclusive on the sale of the devices which are already on sale. On its website, the HSBC points out the benefits of the device that can save time and fuel and is giving away 50 passes in a draw. 

HSBC customers can purchase the device for us$15, plus us$1 a month for maintenance, that automatically debits once a month the customers bank account for the toll charges. 

For non HSBC customers - the general public - the cost of purchasing the device is $30 dollars, plus $1 monthly maintenance and a required deposit of a minimum of ¢5.000 colones into the account. 

The bank has a full explanation of the regulations governing the QuickPass. For instance, the device cannot be transferred or used on another vehicle than that which it is registered and any changes must be by notifying the bank's customer service. As such, drivers with multiple vehicles are required to buy multiple passes. 

Costa Rica Leads Tourism in Region and Latin America
March 5, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 

Switzerland, Austria and Germany have the most attractive environments for developing the travel and tourism industry, according to the third annual Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report, published by the World Economic Forum. Costa Rica ranked 42nd, the highest ranking of any Latin American country in the report.

Costa Rica scored ranked 44th last year.

For 2009, Costa Rica earned a score of 4.42 putting it ahead of Mexico (51) in tourism infrastructure, education and training within the travel and tourism industry.

Costa Rica is ranked 4th in the region, ahead of its neighbours Panama (55) Guatemala (70), Honduras (83), El Salvador (94) and Nicaragua (103).

The country gets excellent marks for its natural resources (ranked 6th), with several World Heritage sites, a high percentage of nationally protected areas, and its very diverse fauna.

Given the importance of the natural environment for the county’s tourism industry, it is notable that it ranks a high 27th overall for environmental sustainability, an area of measurable improvement since last year.

However, safety and security remains a concern (72nd). Further, although its tourism infrastructure is well developed (33rd), with a strong presence of major car rental companies and abundant hotel rooms, ground transport infrastructure requires significant upgrading (103rd), particularly roads and ports, making travel in the country somewhat difficult.

 Among the top ten, France, Canada, Sweden, and Singapore, post improvements in the report released this week. 

The rankings are based on the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which measures the different regulatory and business-related issues that have been identified as levers for improving travel and tourism competitiveness in countries around the world.

This year’s report, published under the theme “Managing in a Time of Turbulence”, reflects the difficulties the industry currently faces, which must be overcome to ensure strong sectorial growth in the future.  

This is particularly captured by the topics covered in the analytical chapters, exploring issues such as the impact of oil prices on the tourism industry, the importance of price competitiveness for attracting tourists and the extent to which the Index explains differences in travel intensity between countries.

China to Strengthen Friendly Ties with Costa Rica March 5, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

 China is willing to continuously push forward its friendly relations with Costa Rica, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Thursday. Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

The two countries reached broad consensuses on a number of key issues when Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Costa Rica last year, said Wang, adding Hu's visit pointed out the way for further development of bilateral friendly ties.

 China and Costa Rica have carried out fruitful cooperation in politics, economy, education, culture and finance since they forged diplomatic ties in 2007. Bilateral cooperation brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, said Wang.

 The Chinese side also expressed appreciation to Costa Rica for its understanding and support over issues relating to Taiwan and Tibet.  They also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concerns such as global financial crisis.Wang started his good-will visit to Costa Rica on Wednesday .

 JetBlue To Begin Service To Costa Rica March 26 

March 4, 2009 Inside Costa Rica 

JetBlue has announced regular service to Costa Rica from Florida, beginning on March 26. The airline says it will begin flying regular daily round trips between Orlando and San Jose.

 The airline will be using its 100 sear Embraer E190 jets on the route and will offer connecting service to San Jose from 14 cities, including New York, Boston, Washington and Austin, Texas. 

Costa Rica will be the ninth country served by JetBlue, continuing the airline's push into Latin America. JetBlue also says the new route bolsters its Orlando focus city.  

San Jose will be JetBlue’s 22nd nonstop route from Orlando.  

JetBlue notes that it still must get the OK from the Costa Rican government operating authority before it can begin the service, but Costa Rican officials sounded supportive of the new route. "The United States is still our biggest market, and the arrival of JetBlue and its new Orlando route opens new possibilities for Americans to visit us and for Costa Ricans to have more options to visit the U.S.," Costa Rica Tourist Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides said.

Costa Rica inflation continues to slow in February 
March 4, 2009 Tico Times  

Prices of basic goods and services during January and February combined rose by 0.82 percent, slowing by 1.85 percent from the same period last year, according to the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC).

 Inflation in February alone was 0.44 percent, below the 1.11 percent registered the same month in 2008, the institute said in its latest Consumer Price Index (IPC). The index details price changes in different areas from services to products to entertainment. 

Last month, the groups that increased the most included food and beverages consumed outside the home (0.76 percent), clothing and footwear (0.75 percent) and house rental fees and services (4.68 percent). 

The IPC tracks the basic consumer basket, which includes more than 292 essential or commonly used products and services. 

From that basket, 65 percent registered a hike in their prices when compared to January's prices, while only 28 percent showed a decrease. The remaining 7 percent of products and services showed no variation. 

In a statement released on Tuesday regarding the INEC monthly report, the consulting firm Aldesa said the moderation of economic activity worldwide along with the drop of prices of commodities and the increase of interest rates on a local level would continue to temper inflation.

 
Nature Air Gets Green Light to Sell Biofuel     March 3, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Costa Rica's regional airline NatureAir has entered talks with the government for permission to sell biodiesel fuel to other companies. Despite the fact that its fleet of six de Havilland Canada Twin Otter turboprops runs on jet-A, serving 17 destinations in Costa Rica and Panama, NatureAir calls itself the world’s first carbon-neutral airline. The company did, however, open the country’s first alternative fueling station last June to fuel its own diesel-powered ground equipment. 

Its wholly owned fueling company, called Aerotica, produces biodiesel from a mixture of recycled vegetable and cooking oils, most of it collected from the airline’s employees.  

The company claims to be the first airline in Central America to run its entire ground operations equipment and fleet of diesel vehicles on the biodegradable fuel. It estimates that use of the biofuel cuts its annual consumption of fossil fuels by 49,256 gallons. According to NatureAir, every gallon of cooking oil flushed down drains pollutes nearly a million gallons of Costa Rican river water.  

NatureAir has operated under its current name and ownership since 2000. It flies scheduled service and on-demand charter operations.

  Costa Rica Seeks IMF Credit Line to Shield Economy
By Jose Enrique Arrioja and Andrew J. Barden    Feb 27, 2009
(Bloomberg) - Costa Rica is seeking a credit line of as much as us$750 million from the International Monetary Fund to shore up confidence in the country’s economy, Francisco de Paula Gutierrez, president of the central bank, said.

As part of a recovery plan announced last month, Costa Rica is moving to borrow more from multilateral lenders such as the Inter-American Development Bank, while raising pensions 15 percent and building schools and roads to create jobs. The government is negotiating with the IMF for a stand-by credit of $500 million to $750 million, he said.
“We are trying to bulletproof the economy,” Gutierrez said.
Costa Rica’s economic growth may come to a standstill this year as foreign direct investment plummets and demand for its exports wanes, President Oscar Arias said in a Feb. 24 interview. He forecasts growth will be zero to 1 percent.  Be Prepared’
The country’s international reserves stand at about us$4 billion, Gutierrez said. “We feel comfortable with this level, but we would like to be prepared in case the economy turns more negative,” he said.
The central bank’s current forecast is for growth of 2.2 percent in the $30 billion economy. Gutierrez said yesterday the bank will review its projection because of deterioration in the global economy. He, too, said growth may now be zero to 1 percent.

Costa Rica’s exports dropped 19 percent in January from the year-ago month, according to the trade ministry. Exports to the U.S., Costa Rica’s largest trading partner, were down 17.6 percent during that time, the ministry said.
 Exports from Intel Corp.’s Costa Rican unit fell 32 percent to $485 million in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, company figures show. Exports will likely drop through the first quarter of this year, San Jose-based spokeswoman Karla Blanco said in a Feb. 23 interview. The plant accounts for about a fifth of Costa Rica’s exports.

The government will ask Congress next week for approval to borrow $500 million from the Inter-American Development Bank, a multilateral lender to the Caribbean and the Latin America. The funds will be used to help banks increase financing for exporters.
“There hasn’t been any financial institution that failed, and there hasn’t been any financial institution with major problems,” Gutierrez said. Regarding lines of credit, “the financial system is feeling some sort of restriction,” he said.

 Costa Rica and France team up against climate change By Leland Baxter-Neal Tico Times  Feb 25, 2009

France's Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Brice Lalonde, is in Costa Rica this week discussing ways France and Costa Rica can cooperate in the fight against climate change. 

Lalonde has been accompanying Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Minister Roberto Dobles, and met with President Oscar Arias Monday afternoon. 

He was then scheduled to sign an agreement for France to cooperate with Costa Rica in combating climate change, as well as receive help from Costa Rica on French initiatives. Both countries also agree to work together on international climate change projects and in negotiating a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol, under which nations agreed to a series of measures to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses, expires in 2012.

“France is a world leader in the area of climate change. We want to see what their experience has been and share our experience in what we have been doing, and see how to move into implementation,” said Lidieth Carballo, who oversees the National Climate Change Strategy at the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET). 

“What we need to do is go from paper to action,” she said.

Lalonde met Monday morning with representatives of businesses in Costa Rica that have acted to lessen their environmental impacts. 

Rudy Amador, the director for environmental and food safety affairs for Dole Fresh Fruit International, said that Dole, one of the world's largest producers of bananas, pineapples and other fruits and vegetables, has launched a series of initiatives to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions. 

These programs include training thousands of employees in energy efficient practices, improving refrigerated containers to use less energy and working to reduce the use of fertilizers. 

Ivan Hernández, the director of human resources at Tabacón, a resort and spa based around hot springs at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, in northwestern Costa Rica, said his company has compiled an inventory of all the greenhouse gasses emitted from its operations, including the transportation of tourists and company trips.

The company is now working to reduce what emissions it can, and compensating the rest through reforestation and conservation of existing forests, Hernández said. 

Like Hernández, many companies in Costa Rica are measuring their emissions with help from MINAET, and trying to balance out their emissions by paying to reforest land or conserve existing forest. 

Trees capture and store carbon dioxide, one of the prime culprits believed to be causing global climate change. 

“We help (businesses) do it. We offer a lot of things, such as aid in developing a (greenhouse gas emissions) measurement system so those systems are measurable, reportable and internationally recognizable,” said Environment Minister Roberto Dobles. 

Costa Rica Economy May Slow to Standstill, Arias Says

 Feb 25, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s economy may slow to a standstill this year as foreign direct investment drops “severely” and demand for exports wanes, Costa Rican president Oscar Arias says. 

Arias is forecasting that the rate of growth this year will be as much as 1%, less than half of the 2.2% forecast by the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) - Central Bank. 

The Arias plan "Plan Escudo" includes the government borrowing more, raising pensions and building more roads and schools to create jobs. Arias says that the government is analyzing the possibility of inject more capital into the state banks, in addition the us$117 million dollars the state banks received at the beginning of the year.

One of Costa Rica's main exporters, the US chip manufacturer, Intel, reports that exports from the Costa Rican unit fell 32% to us$485 million dollars in the fourth quarter of 2008, over the same period the year before.Intel represents about 20% of Costa Rica's exports. 

President Arias, "the country's banking system is sound", telling Bloomberg.com that "we don't have a financial crisis here". 

Arias commented to Bloomberg.com that, unlike other countries, "Costa Rica does not have to go through that long and sad process of socializing losses and privatizing profit as most countries in the industrialized world have had to do".

However, the financial situation up north is worrisome for the president of the Central Bank, Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, who earlier this month said publicly that export markets are deteriorating faster than expected. 

Overall exports in Costa Rica dropped 19% in January 2009 over January 2008, according to the Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (COMEX), exports to the US, Costa Rica's main trading partner, dropped 17.6% during the period.

As such Costa Rica is look diversify, looking to sign trade deals with China, Singapore and the European Union to expand its trade markets.  

Trade Minister, Marco Vinicio Ruiz, says that Costa Rica has a diversified economy and more relations with Asia is part of the government's strategy.

Ruiz is confident that trade negotiations with the European Union will be completed by the end of July this year. The talks with China and Singapore are in their early stages, however, Ruiz is confident that there will be an agreement place by 2010. Notwithstanding the minister's confidence any agreement has to be approved by the Legislative Assembly that took more than four years to approve the trade deal with the United States and Central America. 

Currently more than 60% of the country's exports are to countries other than the US, down from the almost 100% back in the early 1980's.  Minister Ruis says that the government's goal is to have 90% of the country's trade protected by trade deals, up from the 25% when Arias took office three years ago.  

 First Leg Of Caldera Highway To Be Ready in Two Weeks  Feb. 23, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

The traffic jams on the autopista Próspero Fernández between La Sabana and Santa Ana due to construction through the areas may soon be over. Or at least partially, as the the La Sabana and Escazú section of the "vía a Caldera" will be ready in two weeks.
The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) is optomistic that the two week schedule will be met, as the paving from the Gimnasio Nacional in La Sabana to the Trejos Montealegre intersection in Escazú has commenced.

However, it does not mean the completion of the project when the highway will be six lanes from La Sabana to Santa Ana and then four lanes to Caldera, Puntarenas.
For the time being and to alleviate congestion, the MOPT has decided to open four lanes from La Sabana to Escazú, especially helpful during rush hour when when a 10 minute trip between La Sabana and Escazú can take almost an hour or more. In either direction.

The portion between La Sabana and Multiplaza and Santa Ana should be fully completed by May, say MOPT officials, at which time the toll booths will also be operating.
MOPT minister Karla González, explained that the work between La Sabana and Escazú has been hard as the original highway was built of concrete and required the process of "rubbirizing" for it to be paved with asphalt. González added that the new road is being built of recycled material, using 100% of the old material for the new.

The MOPT is also incorporating into the new road overhead passes for pedestrians to cross the highway and bus bays. The pedestrian overpasses are being planned for the area of the Contraloría General de la República and Multiplaza, and bus bays along the route, especially necessary at the Santa Ana and Rio Oro intersections.
People dashing across heavy traffic of the now four lane highway has been a problem for drivers, worse when it is expanded to six lanes. Thus the MOPT says it will be adding security provisions.
The major stumbling block to the widening of the highway has been the expansion of the Tiribí river bridge. Construction on the bridge is moving at a good rhythm, say MOPT officials and is expected to be finished for the May deadlines.

   
720 Miles of Roads To Be Marked
Feb. 23, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Driving in Costa Rica, especially at night and in remote areas, is a trecharous endeavour, especially when there are no lines marking the centre of the road, nor the shoulders. The situation is made even worse during the rainy season.

The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) says it will be embarking in an ambitious plan in two weeks to mark 1.200 kilometres of highways.

The focus will be on the Circunvalación, Paseo Colón, Cambronero, San Isidro de El General, Liberia-Santa Cruz, Guápiles-Campo Cinco and the streets and avenues of San Jose.
Other roads that will get markings will be La Irma-Peñas Blancas, Barrio El Mango-Puerto Cortés, autopista Florencio del Castillo-San Isidro de El General and the La Uruca-San Mateo de Alajuela. However, that plan still requires the approval of the Contraloría General de la República (Comptroller's office).
MOPT officials say that the roads will be continue to be open while the road markings take place.

The MOPT minister, Karla González, said the road marking project is part of a plan to make the roads safer. The minister added that last year some 800 kilometres of roads were marked.

 Rural Tourism to Get Boost from Arias Bill

  Feb. 22, 2009 By Patrick Fitzgerald Tico Times  

With the economic downturn taking its toll on the tourism sector, President Oscar Arias sent two bills to the legislature Monday aimed at helping one of Costa Rica's hallmark industries rally.  

 The first, the General Tourism Law, would organize the country's tourism regulations under a single law and create incentives for domestic tourism among citizens and residents of Costa Rica. The second, the Rural Community Tourism Promotion Law, would declare rural tourism to be of public interest and work to organize and promote sustainable community tourism practices.  

Since then, tourism regulation has been in the hands of ICT. With the proposed General Tourism Law, according Casa Presidencial spokeswoman Lisbeth Barboza, the legislature would have the power to regulate the ICT and streamline tourism policy. “This would create a law for the entire country,” Barboza said. “Right now, we don't have a tourism law.”

Along with creating a standard tourism code for Costa Rica, the General Tourism Law would further organize the industry by forming a national registry for tourism-related businesses, establishing a list of tourist rights and responsibilities, and creating special tourism “zones of interest,” to which ICT could direct local and foreign investment in certain, high-priority regions.  

Finally, the law would create incentives to stimulate tourism among citizens and residents already in Costa Rica, a market that officials said was currently an untapped resource. “National tourism has great potential,” Vargas said. “It is a sector nearly as important as foreign tourism.”  

The second bill is more specific, targeting the myriad small, rural tourism businesses that operate informally and would set up procedures for ICT to work with local governments, ensuring that such tourism is sustainable and beneficial for rural communities.  

Nine Telecoms Expected To Compete For Telephone Service in Costa Rica  Feb. 22, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
Telecommunications companies looking to compete with the state telecom ICE will get their permits in May or June and then have a year to set up shop in Costa Rica.

A total of nine companies are interested in offering telephone and internet services in an open market in Costa Rica, among them are Worldcomm, Amnet, Ticom, R&H international telecom and Intertel worldwide. All have applied to the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sutel), the newly created telecommunications regulator. 
Currently there are 1.7 million cellular lines in operation by the Instituto Costarricence de Electricidad (ICE), which although it no longer holds the monopoly, is currently the only cellular service provider in the country.

The question on the minds of the companies and Costa Ricans are, what about the rates?
Costa Rica offers one of the lowest telephone rates in Central and North America. A fixed line residential phone has a minimum monthly cost of ¢2.155 colones, plus the per minute for local and international calling. Cellular service has a minimum monthly cost of ¢3.900 colones, that includes 60 minutes of local call time.
The Sutel is adamant that it will only fix the ceiling rate and leave it up to the operators to offer lower prices.

Walter Herrera, a member of the Sutel board, said that the Sutel will monitor the operators to ensure that their low rates do not negatively affect the financial position of the operator, affecting service and possibly leaving customers hanging if the company fails.The rates are expected to be set in a meeting of the Sutel board next week.
 

U.S. Company Starting Up Operations in Costa Rica Inside Costa Rica, Feb. 20,. 2009
While some foreign companies in Costa Rica like Sylvania and Merck Sharp & Dome, are scaling down their operations here, others like Arcus is setting up shop, who yesterday announce the opening of a Near-Shore Solutions Centre in San José.
The company says it is investing more than $2 million dollars to begin its operations in Costa Rica.

 Arcus is one of the 27 companies attending the bilingual job fair this weekend with its eyes on hiring a staff of 70 in areas of research specialist/recruiting assistant, recruiters, desktop support specialist, administrative assistant, call centre agents, sales representatives and project managers.
“I am extremely excited to be relocating to Latin America and play a role in the Arcus expansion plans as we seek to truly build and develop a team of professionals devoted to our near shore operations,” commented Steven S. Wolfe, General Manager. “I look forward to building a team that together, can play a significant role in the company’s overall success.”

 Canada and Costa Rica Conclude Air Transport Agreement Feb. 18, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

A newly reached Open Skies-type air transport agreement with Costa Rica is good news for travellers and Canadian businesses, announced Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird, and Minister of International Trade, Stockwell Day.

"This new agreement is a win-win for Canada's air travel industry and consumers," said Minister Baird. "This announcement is another example of our Government's commitment to forming partnerships with other countries, offering competitive airline prices to travellers and boosting our economy."

This agreement will bring Canada and Costa Rica to a new level of economic co-operation," said Minister Day. "It will help create new jobs for our economy, expand market potential for our businesses and build connections for our citizens. This agreement is another demonstration of our government's commitment to further engagement with the Americas."

The Canada-Costa Rica air transport agreement allows airlines to operate own-aircraft and code-sharing scheduled air services between any bilateral city-pairs. Code-sharing is a type of air service, which allows an airline to sell seats in its name on the flights of another airline. This agreement also allows airlines greater flexibility in scheduling and pricing of flights. In conjunction with these services, airlines will also be permitted to sell services between each other's country and third countries.

The Canada-Costa Rican air travel market has grown and is now of interest to many Canadian stakeholders. The rights contained in the new agreement are not immediately available, giving airlines of both countries time to consider opportunities and plan accordingly. The governments of both countries have committed to completing the agreement's implementation requirements to allow the new rights to become available as early as possible.

 Costa Rica Named First BioGem Country by NRDC Feb 17, 2009 
(InfoWebPress) – For the first time, the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) has designated a country as a BioGem, Costa Rica, as a recognition of its efforts to become the world’s first carbon-neutral nation.

"These BioGems are some of the last wild and unspoiled places left in the Western Hemisphere,” said Robert Kennedy, Jr., senior attorney at NRDC. “By naming these places as BioGems, NRDC is empowering hundreds of thousands of concerned individuals to take effective action to save these natural treasures for generations to come."

Since 2001, NRDC has campaigned to save more than 30 special natural places that offer sanctuary for endangered wildlife, curb global warming and provide livelihoods for local communities. NRDC redesigned its “Save BioGems” Web site with new features in order to more effectively mobilize online activists to protect these areas.

In Costa Rica, NRDC is working with the Energy and Environment Ministry to identify measures to help the country meet its commitment of becoming the world's first carbon-neutral nation by 2021.

Additionally, NRDC also just signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. In partnership with one of Latin America’s leading ecological facilities — the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), located in Costa Rica — NRDC has launched a rainforest rejuvenation project to plant 30,000 trees to restore a natural rainforest. These actions will help Costa Rica reaffirm its position as a global environmental leader and reduce pressure on its biodiversity and other natural areas.

Costa Rica priests to forgive Abortion

 Feb. 18, 2009 Tico Times 

Starting next week, it will be easier for women who have had abortions to seek forgiveness from the Catholic Church.

From Feb. 25 to April 19, one week after Easter, the 300 priests in the archdiocese of San José will have the power to forgive women who confess to having had abortions, as well as doctors and family members who assisted them. Normally, only the country's eight bishops have that authority.

The policy aims to accommodate an annual spike in the number of people who confess during these months, as they prepare to celebrate the death and the resurrection of Christ.“We invite all believers to reestablish their relationship with the Lord, who wants all of us to achieve salvation,” said Mario Segura Bonilla, spokesman for the San José archdiocese. 

The other eight dioceses throughout the country will likely implement a similar policy, as they have in previous years, said archdiocese press officer Germán Salas.

Abortion is illegal in Costa Rica except when the mother's life is seriously at risk. About 27,000 illegal abortions are performed here every year, according to the Costa Rican Demographic Association.

U.S. Dollar Continues Climbing Feb. 17, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

The exchange rate between the US dollar the Costa Rican colon reached an all time high yesterday, the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) setting the sell at ¢567.94 and the buy at ¢558.18. The exchange rate a little over two weeks ago, on January 31, was ¢558.18 for the buy and ¢555.51 for the sell.

Yesterday afternoon the state and private banks were trading in the currency at between ¢567 and ¢569 for the sell and ¢557 and ¢562 for the buy.

Although the president of the Central Bank, Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, says that the bank does not forecast the trading of the dollar, economists feel that the dollar will continue to rise in the exchange of the colon.

One economist, Roxana Morales, of the Universidad Nacional (UNA) says that the trend will continue, due to a decrease in exports and a decrease of tourists visiting Costa Rica.
However, no one will predict how high it will get or if the Central Bank will, as it has in the past, intervene.

One year ago, February 17, 2008, the Central Bank sell was ¢493.45 and the buy ¢499.12. A decade  ago - February 17, 1999 - the BCCR the exchange rate was ¢275.52 for the sell and ¢274.95 for the buy. 

Continental Airlines increases routes to Costa Rica 19 February 2009  the Jaco Blog

 With the high prices of oil in the last year and the crash of the US economy the airline industry is having a terrible time making ends meet. Even in the doom and gloom atmospehere there is still hope for the tourism market in Costa Rica. While Continental Airlines has cut 3000 jobs and reduced their routes by 11% worldwide, Costa Rica will receive increased services.

Continental plans additional flights because it believes Costa Rica is a solid tourist destination market and that its maturity will propel continued increases in tourism. According to Carlos Granada, Sales Manager for Costa Rica, by March a third flight will be added to the Newark-SJO route and a third flight will be added to the Liberia-Houston route. Which means a total of 11 flights daily to Costa Rica on Saturday and Sunday.

Continental Airlines has been one of the leading airlines utilizing the Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia. They started with one daily flight 5 years ago and shortly they will have 4 daily flights serving this high growth region. Also, because this airport is so new, it was much easier for Continental to install Costa Rica first E-Ticket system, which North American travelers are used too. While there are plans to install such a system in San Jose the logistics are different and the previous managing company Alterra has made the process much more complicated. Mr. Granada had no comment on the new management of the airport but said that Continental Airlines always supports the Costa Rican governments decision regarding airport administration.
 

Fitch Rates Costa Rica’s BCR AA+

17 February 2009   the Jaco blog

Fitch Central America the economic ratings company regional division has come out with the newest ratings for Costa Rica. In the highly politized environment of bond ratings for entire countries that are small like Costa Rica, what the ratings company says could very well spell fortune or misfortune for the country. But the independent company reaffirmed its rating for Costa Rica’s government backed bank Banco de Costa Rica as AA+ for Long Term and F1+ for Short Term. Apparantly, the low risk portfolio of the banks outstanding credit is its greatest asset and offer the needed strength to weather the current financial crisis.   Last years delinquencies on loans were .07% of total outstanding debt. This year it will account for no more than .09% which is great in light of the current economic conditions.  Fitch did note in the ratings release that the explicit backing of the Costa Rican government played heavily on its decision.
 

China buys more Costa Rican debt

 Feb. 18, 2009 Tico Times   

China recently bought $150 million in Costa Rican bonds, making good on a promise that enticed Costa Rica to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2007.

In exchange for diplomatic recognition, China pledged to buy $300 million in Costa Rican bonds, to be repaid over 12 years at 2 percent interest. China purchased the first $150 million in January 2008. By borrowing at such a low interest rate, Costa Rica saves ¢50 billion ($90.9 million) over 12 years, according to Finance Minister Guillermo Zúñiga.

Last year, when the Supreme Court forced Zúñiga to make the bonds purchase public against China's wishes, Zúñiga suggested that China might not make the second purchase.

ICT On The Hunt For More Tourists Feb. 16, 2009 Inside Costa Rica
The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - tourism board - is no the make for more tourists and as such will be attending a total of 45 international tourism fairs this year. At least that is the word from the ministro de Turismo, Carlos Ricardo Benavides.

The number of fairs will be a record for Costa Rica, as it makes its pitch for tourists in places like London and Berlin and beef up its presence in American and Canadian markets, where the majority of the tourists come from now.

Other countries like Switzerland and Russia and South American are also on the ICT radar.Benavides said that countries like Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have been identified as potential markets for Costa Rican tourism, calling them "emerging markets".

The challenge is to equal or top the 2 million visitors that came to Costa Rica in 2008, which left behind an estimate $2.2 billion dollars, a number equivalent to 7% of the Gross Domestic Product.
Assisting the ICT in the trade fairs will be private tourism companies.

Intel Is At Home in Costa Rica
Foreign Business analysis By Alex Leff , GlobalPost Inside Costa Rica Feb 15, 2009
Computer chipmaking giant Intel started the year off like several other big-name companies: taking stock, crunching numbers and, ultimately, scheduling painful cutbacks to cope with the global downturn. In January, amid plummeting computer demand, California-based Intel announced as many as 6,000 layoffs and five plant closures by year's end.
That made some Costa Ricans gasp — but so far, the 10-year-old Intel plant here has been spared. According to Karla Blanco, Intel Costa Rica's corporate affairs manager, "there has been no notice about reducing (staff here)."
But the spate of downsizing has raised questions about what would happen if Intel were to pull the plug in Costa Rica. When Intel arrived in 1998, the economy went from relying on cash crops such as coffee and bananas to relying on cash chips made by a leading manufacturer. Now, Intel's processors make up a whopping 20 percent of Costa Rican exports.

"Hopefully, that won't happen," said Julio Acosta, senior advisor of business consulting firm Infinitum and former managing director of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), contemplating a possible closure of the Intel plant.

In addition to vanishing export revenue and gross domestic product contributions of between 3 percent and 5 percent, he stressed the importance of the company's specialized personnel, which according to Blanco is at least 95 percent Tico (Costa Rican). The 3,200-staff, 52-hectare assembly and test operation are located in the northwestern outskirts of the capital. The plant has endured some recent belt-tightening — including a freeze on salary increases, restrictions on trips abroad and limited electricity use in the office — but has so far escaped layoffs.

Acosta said the plant's staff make up about 0.3 percent of the nation's workforce. "It may not seem that much as a percentage, but it becomes very important when you look at the quality of employment. Most are either professionals or technicians, in a very sophisticated line of work, with credit cards, a car or home loan to pay for," he said. "Having unemployment at that level is something no country wants to afford."
Acosta's verdict: "The effect on a small economy like Costa Rica would be devastating."
Luis Mesalles, president of the economic think tank Academia de Centroamerica, agreed. "If Intel leaves, exports drop dramatically, the economy stops receiving its contribution to gross domestic product, and more than 3,000 people with higher-than-average salaries, and all the indirect employees, are left unemployed," he said.

But Mesalles is also concerned about how Intel's hypothetical flight would scar Costa Rica's image. "Thanks to the image Intel has, other companies have come to invest in this country," he said. "They have invested in quality, high technology, not just chips, but medical equipment too, and it's come partly because Intel put us on the map."
Procter & Gamble entered Costa Rica one year after Intel opened shop here. Other businesses that have outsourced or relocated operations here include Amazon, Firestone and the medical group St. Jude.

Costa Rica ranked 59th on the latest Global Competitive Index, a widely-watched list compiled by the World Economic Forum, placing the country among the top seven Latin American and Caribbean economies. The ranking places Costa Rica four slots ahead of where it was last year.

And if foreign investment figures are any indication, little Costa Rica has shown beauty queen potential. Foreign direct investment here surged to $2 billion last year from $861 million in 2005. Given the global economic crisis, some of that investment may fade: Last month the Central Bank predicted 2009 foreign inflow will be $1.33 billion, a 33 percent drop from 2008 and back below investment levels of three years ago.
Intel has been the cause of much of that increase, providing "probably the largest investment in Costa Rica so far," according to Acosta, the 2000 CINDE chief.

When the Santa Clara, Calif.-based corporation announced plans for a Costa Rica plant in November 1996, the initial investment was set at $115 million, Blanco said. "Today we're investing more than $800 million," she said.
The plant's importance to the Tico economy is undeniable, but how valuable is Costa Rica to Intel? Blanco says the company asks a similar question when evaluating any plant site. "The process of selecting a plant (site) or expanding a plant is continuous, because (the corporate heads) are continuously evaluating us," she said, listing such factors as production and electricity costs.

But free zone tax incentives matter too, she said, explaining that Costa Rica stood out in Latin America for that reason, and now the country receives 75 percent of the company's global invoices. Blanco believes it's "vital" for Costa Rica to upgrade its free zone law to keep a competitive edge.
With sales thinning — Intel Costa Rica's exports dropped from $2.46 billion in 2007 to $2.07 billion in 2008 — a tightening of the belt usually follows. But the corporate affairs manager is optimistic for a rebound by the second half of the year.

Acosta, who took over as director of the investment promotion agency just two years after the chip-maker came, seemed as though he couldn't bare to entertain the thought of Intel going. He reminisced, "It was a real surprise for everyone that a big company like Intel would set eyes on a little country like Costa Rica."
The country could be in for a real shock if the company should ever turn its gaze away....

  Extreme Sports Attracting More Tourists To Costa Rica
Feb. 12, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

(InfoWebPress) - The practice of extreme sports in Costa Rica attracts thousands of tourists every year who seek an additional dose of adrenaline.

Thanks to the country’s topography and its variety of landscapes, the opportunities for extreme sports are many: including bungee dumping, rafting, canopy riding, rappelling, windsurfing, diving, mountain biking, kayaking and many more. Whether on land, in the ocean or in the air, visitors can enjoy these outdoor activities all throughout Costa Rica.
According to Costa Rican Tourism Institute Statistics (ICT), while North American tourists are more interested in visiting Pacific coast beaches, Europeans have a preference for extreme sports.

“This is a destination where nature can be enjoyed in comfort, that is, we as a country have kept a balance between the comfort that tourists demand and the ruggedness of ecological and adventure tourism — and that is our strength, which visitors from North America, Europe and the rest of the world want to come and see,” said Tourism Minister Carlos Ricardo Benavides

 Arias seals deal for $65 million in emergency relief  
A.M. Costa Rica  Feb. 12, 2009  The government assumed more debt Wednesday with executive approval of a $65 million loan from the Banco Internacional de Reconstrucción y Fomento.Although the funds were supposed to be used to eliminate potential problems that might arise during natural disasters, most of the money will go to earthquake relief and flood relief on the Caribbean coast. President Óscar Arias Sánchez approved the resolution that went through the Asamblea Legislativa and noted that all that is required now is publication in the La Gaceta official newspaper. The loan provides a line of credit good for 15 years, and once money is released, the loan will be paid back over 30 years with a five-year grace period. Officials are expected to seek an immediate release of the funds.Meanwhile, Óscar Arias had another visitor Wednesday who came to talk about money. She was Pamela Cox, a vice president of the World Bank. Officials said that the World Bank was extending a $500 million line of credit to Costa Rica.

Recent Local Tourism Numbers & Expectations
Feb. 6, 2009   (InfoWebPress)  
The survey  found that 38 percent of Costa Ricans go on vacation 3-4 days, 20 percent do it 7-8 days, and that 64 percent go on vacation along with 2-4 family members. Of the survey participants, 60 percent responded that they would stay in cabins, hotels or villas (in that order of preference) while 20 percent said they would stay in a relative’s home or a borrowed home.

Regarding transportation, most Costa Ricans said they prefer to use their own vehicles (65.9 percent), while 25 percent said they would get to their destinations by public transportation or in private excursion buses. Eight percent said they would be renting a car this summer.

Another poll was conducted by the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) between Dec. 2-9, 2008, regarding the “Perception of tourism businesses about the effects of the current economic recession on the national tourism sector.” Some 86 businesses — including tour operators, hotels, travel agencies and rent-a-cars — participated in the survey, which yielded important data about the expected behavior of the tourism industry in 2009.

“The survey’s goal was to learn about the effects of the current economic crisis on the employment, reservation levels and occupancy for the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009,” said Gonzalo Vargas, president of CANATUR.

Regarding reservations for the first quarter of 2009, more than half of the respondents (57 percent) said they fell by more 24. 5 percent, compared to the same quarter in 2008. Meanwhile, 9 percent of business owners said their reservations are actually greater (by 26.5 percent) compared with the first quarter of last year.

Responding about their expectations for 2009, almost half of the businesses (47 percent) said tourism activity would be higher by approximately 23.8 percent this year.

Regarding sales to the national tourism market in the last trimester of 2008 (compared with the same period in 2007) responses were mixed. Some 33 percent of the respondents said their sales declined, 32 percent said they were the same, and 22 percent said they increased. Three out of 10 business owners who said their sales went down saw a decline of about 28.3 percent, while those who said their sales actually grew reported an increase of 17.8 percent.

“We know that this year will present many challenges to the sector. It will a year or rearrangements that will require concrete action and will force this industry to continue to work together to maintain the health of this economic activity,” Vargas concluded. 

Bancos Nacional & Popular Lower Interest Rates Feb.6, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

Both the Banco Nacional (BN) and the Banco Popular, following the lead of the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) this week, announced a drop of 2% points in their interest rates. The move is in line with the call by Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, last week as part of his "Plan Escudo" to face the economic crisis.

The rate drop will be effective as of February 15 at the Nacional and in March at the Popular. Both financial insitutions say the lower rate will be held for the next 24 months.

At the Nacional the lower rate is only applied to mortgage loans less that ¢50 million colones (about $90,000)and to all loans under the BN Desarrollo.

At Popular, the lower rate is applied to all mortgages no matter of their value. In the case of small and medium sized business loans, each loan will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The bank says that extensions and grace periods may be applied to business loans in addition to the lower rate.

Reno wind-turbine maker expands to Costa Rica

By Stephanie Tavares Feb 6, 2009

Windspire: Reno-based wind turbine manufacturer Mariah Power recently installed one of its small-scale turbines, the Windspire, at a museum outside San Jose, Costa Rica.

Reno-based wind turbine manufacturer Mariah Power has expanded onto the international stage with its first Windspire installation in Latin America.

ASI Power & Telemetry, a Mariah Power dealer based in northwestern Costa Rica, has installed one of the company’s propeller-free vertical axis wind turbines, called a Windspire, in a biodiversity-educational park near Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose.

Mariah Power specializes in low-cost urban, suburban and rural vertical axis wind turbines for small business, residential and commercial applications. It has turbines installed across the United States.The spires are designed and built in Reno, although the company plans to devote the Nevada plant to research and development when it opens a larger manufacturing plant in Michigan later this year.

The Windspire in Costa Rica is the first the Nevada company has installed in what is expected to be a fast-growing market for small to midscale renewable energy technology.

Costa Rica has already been ranked as the “greenest country” in the Americas by YaleUniversity and has plans to further its environmental reputation by becoming the first carbon neutral country in the world.

In June 2007 Costa Rica set a goal of attaining net zero carbon emissions by the nation’s 200th anniversary in 2021.

The country hopes to achieve this by installing cleaning technology at its few fossil-fuel power plants, promoting a switch to hybrid vehicles and increasing reforestation projects. Ninety-eight percent of Costa Rica’s electricity already comes from renewable energy, but as its tourist economy and American and European retirement communities grow, increased renewable energy installations will be needed for the country’s electric needs.

“Costa Rica is probably the most extreme example, but a lot of the strain on the grid is coming from growth and a lot of that growth is coming from foreigners who are establishing themselves there,” Mariah Power spokeswoman Tracey Trist said. “But the interest in renewable energy is often also coming from foreigners.”  

The country also has hopes of becoming a net exporter of renewable energy.

The Costa Rica Renewable Energy Export Program bundles electricity from a growing field of geothermal, hydro, biomass and wind energy installations to sell to neighboring countries. “We think Latin America has incredible potential for our product,” Trist said. “Much of Latin America is fairly windy, particularly Central America because it’s on a narrow strip between two oceans with mountainous volcanic regions. Those factors improve wind quality. Conditions are great in Central America.”

Increased sustainability in Costa Rica is expected to further boost the nation’s already robust eco-tourism industry.  

 The off-grid turbine could boost electricity availability at rural ranger stations, eco lodges, residences and ranches across Latin America.“We expect that to be popular in Latin America because many countries there have a limited electrical grid, particularly in rural areas,” Trist said. “This will provide reliable power.”For more information on Mariah Power, log on to www.mariahpower.com.

January With Lowest Inflation in Ten Years Feb. 4, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

The Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) reports that last month saw the lowest inflation rate in the last decade.
The INEC reports that the cost of goods and services increased only 0.38% in January. The inflatoin rate in January 2008 was almost double at 0.76%.
INEC officials warn that, although the inflation rate was low last month, the annual inflation between February 2008 and March 2009 is expected to be 13.5%.
The items that contributed the most to the rise in the cost of living last month were electricity, education, potatoes, dentistry and domestic help.

On the other hand, items like gasoline and housing rent dropped.
The INEC adds that of the 292 items that make up the basic food basket, 63% of the items increased in prices, while only 31% dropped and the rest stayed the same.

In contrast to the INEC inflaction forecast, the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) - Central Bank - is forecasting a 9% inflation rate for 2009.
In 2009, the Central Bank forecast an 8% inflation rate at the beginning of the year and revising upwards during the year. The inflation rate for 2008 closed at 13.9

 Costa Rican Hotels Improved Sustainability with the Rainforest Alliance Rainforest Alliance  February 4, 2009

New York — Hotels that signed on with the Rainforest Alliance to execute sustainable tourism practices in environmental, social and managerial processes improved their compliance with baseline criteria set by the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas, according to a new study released by the Rainforest Alliance.

In a period of 18 months, five hotels in the Sarapiquí region in northern Costa Rica increased overall compliance to 7.8 from 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being non-compliance and 10 being full compliance. Criteria cover environmental aspects such as wastewater treatment and wildlife protection, social aspects such as worker safety and community interaction, and business aspects such as profitability and quality of services.

Collectively, hotels increased compliance in all criteria categories, showing their dedication to advancing sustainability, even if they were only able to afford small improvements at first. Areas with the highest level of improvement were “Sociocultural Activities,”? which could be supporting local artisans, or hiring local people, “Monitoring and Corrective Action”? (e.g. monitoring water consumption, or writing hotel management policies) and “Solid Waste.”

“These hotels improved interactions with their environment, communities, guests and staff and set themselves apart in a competitive global marketplace,”? said Ronald Sanabria, director of Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism program. “As a result, the Sarapiquí region is seen as a major destination for sustainable tourism.”  

The Rainforest Alliance’s Best Management Practices (BMP) program provides tourism operations with dynamic workshops and seminars, training materials, technical assistance and diagnostic evaluations.

The Rainforest Alliance recently partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Foundation and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to establish the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, which are universal guidelines for sustainable tourism. 

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org. Contact Info: Abby Ray,  aray@ra.org 

Costa Rica On The "Hunt" For European Tourists Jan 27, 2009 Inside Costa Rica

To face the effects of the world economic crisis on tourism in the country, tourism officials say they have their eyes on Europeans, especially Spanish tourists and as such will be on the hunt for them as a replacement to the dwindling number of American tourists.

The Cámara Nacional de Turismo de Costa Rica (Canatur) announced yesterday that it will take part in the Feria Internacional de Turismo Fitur 2009 being held in Madrid, Spain, beginning today and runs until February 1.

The recession in the United States has forced Costa Rican tourism officials to promote the country in other markets.

"In these times we cannot anymore trust the North American market, less be dependent on, for such we have strengthen our presence in the European market", said Gonzalo Vargas, president of the Canatur.Costa Rica will be sharing a spot in the Central American booth at the Fair. Each Central American country will have enough space to promote themselves separately from the others.

Joining Canatur at the Fitur 2009 fair will also be the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - Costa Rican tourism ministry - as well as a number of private tourism operators, promoting tours, hotel and car rental services and travel agencies.This is the 19th edition of Fitur and includes some 1.500 exhibitors from 170 countries.

FITUR is the leading tourism tradeshow for Spanish speaking world, it's the key to doing business with Spain, Mediterranean Europe and well represented with buyers from Latin America.

Comptroller Wants More Controls Over Protected Coastal Strips jan 27, 2009 Inside C.R.

(InfoWebPress) – The Comptroller General’s Office has reprimanded the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) after it detected weaknesses in internal controls over the Land Maritime Zone (ZMT) — a portion of coastal land where development is restricted or prohibited altogether.

The Comptroller’s study consisted of evaluating the surveillance function of ICT on topics related to the ZMT, which have taken on greater relevance due to the impact increased tourism and real estate development on the country’s coast could have on those fragile areas and increased scrutiny from the local media.

The study focused on three main areas. The first included a legal analysis of ICT’s role, according to what has been established in the Land Maritime Zone Law and applicable guidelines.

Some procedures, however, were identified by the Comptroller’s Office as needing improvement. One of them is the process for defining and obtain guarantees from those who request concessions to carry out tourism-related activities within the ZMT, as officials found some inconsistencies in the way the amount of the guarantee is defined and the submission of profiles for the project to be developed.

The third area of the study concentrated on the technical review process for approving concessions within the ZMT. The Comptroller’s Office found inconsistencies regarding the data contained in the concession request files, evidence of the technical and legal reviews conducted on concession requests, the amount of time during which concession requests were processed, the appraisals conducted by the Taxation Division of the Ministry of the Treasury, and certifications related to possible impact on the state’s natural heritage.

In general, the outcome of the study signaled weaknesses in ICT’s internal control system, its processes and macro-processes, as well as with municipalities in their role as providers of key documents. There is also a need to strengthen relations between the players in the concession of development rights within the ZMT and to establish effective communication channels between institutions that would allow for better coordination.

The Comptroller General’s Office issued these recommendations to ICT’s board or directors and manager’s office and to the Ministry of the Environment. 

Costa Rica leads Latin Nations in Freedom
AM Costa Rica Jan 13/29, 2009

The status of freedom in nearby countries is exactly what one would expect. A survey released Monday by Freedom House gave a failing grade to Cuba and so-so evaluations for Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Colombia.

Costa Rica continued its top evaluation as a electoral democracy.

Freedom House is the U.S.-based democracy monitoring group. Its report said that global freedom is on the retreat around the world for a third consecutive year. The group's annual survey covered the state of political rights and civil liberties in 193 countries.The annual Freedom House survey assigns each country one of three grades: "free," "partly free" or "not free".   

Costa Rica got a top score, 1's for both in political rights and civil liberties.  

 Cuba got the lowest grade, a 7, in political rights and a 6 in civil liberties. It was judged not free, the only Western Hemisphere country to attain that low ranking.   Guatemala (4 and 3) was judged partly free, as were Honduras (3 and 3), Nicaragua (4 and 3), Venezuela (4 and 4) and Colombia (3 and 4). Even Haiti (4 and 5) was judged partly free.

Freedom House, using its numerical rankings, found that the number of countries measured as "free" in 2008 stands at 89, one fewer than last year. Setbacks for freedom were numerous and across the board. The regions with the largest decline were sub-Saharan Africa and the non-Baltic countries of the former Soviet Union.In Africa, 12 countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Congo and Zimbabwe, suffered setbacks amid ethnic conflicts, increasingly authoritarian presidents and military coups. Several areas in the former Soviet Union ranked even lower, notably Russia and Georgia. Freedom House Director of Research Arch Puddington says the former Soviet Union is the only region that has shown a steady decline during the past decade.

30 multinational firms set up shop in Costa Rica  

2008 Jan 21, 2009, Tico Times

 Thirty multinational firms set up new offices in Costa Rica in 2008, bringing $428 million in investment, according to a report issued Monday by the Costa Rican Investment Board (CINDE).

That's an 11 percent increase from money brought in by the 27 firms that opened up shop last year, although slightly more jobs were created in 2007 than in 2008: 6,352 to 6,291.

Over two-thirds, or 21, of the newly installed companies were in the service sector, and five in the medical devices sector.

New North American businesses in the service sector include: Amazon, Lux Red, SP Data, City Business Service, Digital Arbor, Critical Mass, Aniden Interactive, Project Resources Group CR, Resources, Astra Zeneca and Experian. The medical group St. Jude and medical manufacturers Astrolab, Firestone Industrial and Products also came to town.

According to Social Security System (the Caja) records, 6,000 jobs were lost between July and November 2008 alone, including 4,800 in the industrial sector and 1,200 in construction.

But it is unclear if new jobs those offered by the international companies will be filled by those who lost their jobs this year since, said CINDE Director Gabriela Llobet, many companies on the list of newcomers belong to industry subsectors and require “highly specialized” personnel

Government seeks to borrow up to $1.5 billion for projects

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Jan 21, 2009

The nation is assuming nearly $1.5 billion in new debt under plans from the Arias administration.

One loan is for $500 million to benefit the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad. The lender would be the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. The terms are for 20 years at 5 percent. The loan is supposed to keep the electrical generating plants functioning.

Another loan is from the World Bank for $72.5 million to refurbish the city of Limón. The government will invest $7.5 million in this.

Then there is the $850 million loan from the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo to finance improvement in the nation's infrastructure, including the area affected by the Jan. 8 earthquake.

 Lawmakers approved Tuesday a $65 million loan from the Banco Internacional de Reconstrucción y Fomento to pay for emergency relief from the earthquake. The other loads still are in the hopper at the legislature, but the Arias administration is pushing for approval. Óscar Arias Sánchez has little more than 15 months left in office.

Workers there strongly oppose the measure, but the Caldera docks in the Pacific have been put out on concession, and the Arias administration is planning the same for the port on the Caribbean. The hope is that the firm that wins the concession will pay for major improvements in the handling of freight.

Where to help Costa Rica earthquake victims

Jan 13, 2009 Tico Times

The Ombudswoman's Office (2248-2374), the Christian charity organization Asociación Obras del Espíritu Santo (2286-5252), the Costa Rican Red Cross (2542-5000) and the National Emergency Commission (2210-2828) are coordinating all donations to assist those affected by Thursday's earthquake. They can direct anyone wishing to donate to the nearest drop-off or bank account.

CNE is receiving donations in the following bank accounts:

Banco de Costa Rica: 91100-3 (colones) and 118281-1 (dollars).

Banco Nacional: 911-8.

Banco de Costa Rica has also set up an account to help victims and said it will match up to ¢250 million ($454,545) of the donated money. The account number, if you are a BCR client, is 001-250-0. For non-clients, the account number, or número de cuenta cliente is: 15201001000025008, and the bank's identification number, or c édula institución autónoma, is:   4-000-000019.

Donations can also be made quickly and easily by text message from any Costa Rican cell phone within the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) network. By texting the word “DONAR” to one of the following numbers, you will automatically be charged the corresponding donation on your next bill: 1423 – ¢1,000 (about $1.80), 2423 – ¢2,000 ($3.60), 5423 - ¢5,000 ($9), and 9423 – ¢9,000 ($16.35).

The Costa-Rica American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) is receiving donations at its offices 300 meters north of ICE in Sabana Norte, and to its accounts with the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica. Donations in colones can be sent to #100 01 000 043517-2, dollars to #100 02 000 616147-5. For more information, contact AMCHAM's offices at (+506) 2220-2800.

The Red Cross has also designated Confecciones Borkar, S.A., the Alajuela-based business of AMCHAM President Michael Borg, as a donation site, located 800 meters west of the Catholic Church in San Poás. They can be reached at (+506) 2448-5575.

The Escazú Rotary Club has set up operations in the Hotel San Gildar in San Rafel de Escazú, and is seeking supplies including sleeping bags, milk, non-perishable food, candles and personal hygiene items. Contact the group at (+506) 2289-8843. They didn't collect anything today. The club will meet tonight and after that, we'll know if they'll continue collecting donations.

Other aid organizations have posted information on a group on the online social networking site Facebook, called Terremoto Costa Rica: ayuda a victimas (Costa Rica Earthquake. Further, the Red Cross can be contacted at 2542-5000 (operations) or 2528-0000 (administration), and the National Emergency Commission's call center is 2210-2725, 2210-2723, 2210-2763 and 2210-2764.

National Association for the Protection of Animals (ANPA) is also collecting donations for animals displaced by the disaster, and can be reached at (+506) 2255-3757 and 2255-7722.

Architects Head South to Weather the Economic Storm
By C. J. Hughes Inside Costa Rica Nov. 27, 2008

In recent years, as many major U.S. architecture firms expanded internationally, they often bypassed Latin America in favor of Europe, China, and the Middle East. Gradually, though, that may be starting to change, as architects open offices and enlist for projects in Central and South American countries, where population and economic growth have been strong in recent years.

Even as financial troubles mount around the world, and increasingly put some Latin nations at risk, there’s a sense that much of the region, which has b