Although, according to the official sources, the number of tourists has not dropped significantly over the last year, the amount of money tourists leave behind has dropped drastically.
According to the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), in 2008 each tourist left behind an average of $1.040 during an average of a 10 day stay, but in 2009, the average stay was only 9 and half days and the amount left behind dropped to $855. Read more »
Millions of locals are getting ready for the “mid-year vacations”: schools in Costa Rica will be on vacation between July 4 and July 19.
This week ads for deals at hotels and resorts have been in all the local print newspapers, deals for rooms for only $30 a night in places like Manuel Antonio or $65 for a La Fortuna (Arenal) hotel, which also includes three meals with the room. Read more »
Ruta (highway) 245 that runs along the east side of the Osa Peninsula just got a $30 million face lift. 8 bridges were constructed from scratch to make an all-weather road of the 21-mile stretch between Puerto Jimenez and Rincon south.
The improved highway is good for tourism. Now motorists can use it to reach roads that go to Parque Nacional Corcovado in dry or wet weather conditions.
Autopista del Sol was authorized by the Consejo Nacional de Concesiones to begin collecting tolls on a newly renovated stretch of the Autopista Próspero Fernández between Parque La Sabana and Ciudad Colón. This is the first section of the highway that will go all the way to Caldera on the Pacific coast. Read more »
Year after year heavy rains hit the Provincia de Limon causing severe flooding.
Last week emergency officials have released a $5.25 million plan to tame the Sixaola, Chirripo, and Banano and rivers, that do most of the damage.
Retaining Chirripo will protect the important Ruta 32, which frequently is flooded, causing millions of dollars in damages to the tourist industry each and every year. Read more »
The projects, which will cost about $13.5 million, includes new firefighting equipment, radar, and approach lights to help guide pilots to the runway when visibility is low. Currently lingering clouds pose a problem for landing. On some occasions pilots divert flights to Panama or Liberia airport, creating delays and headaches for travelers.
The lights will be provided by Siemens at a cost of $2.6million. The new radar system will be provided by the Central American Arial Navigation Corporation (COCESNA) at a cost of $5.4 million. The 7 specially equipped fire-fighting vehicles will cost $5.4 million.
Guayabo Ceremonial Center, Costa Rica was built between 300 B.C. and 1400 A.D.. It is considered the main pre-Columbian archaeological site in Costa Rica. It is believed to reflect a bridge between the Mayans and the Incas.
The Guayabo historic site is situated in the province of Cartago.
The location was nominated by the Costa Rican Engineer and Architects College for its fascinating and still functional aqueducts and cobblestone roads.
This is only the second pre-Columbian site in the Americas to receive such a designation. The first one is Machu Picchu in Peru.
Source: asce.org (American Society of Civil Engineers)
Expotur is the country’s largest tourism advertising event. This year more then 250 foreign tourism wholesalers are expected in San Jose to negotiate some of the best tourism contracts that include lodging, all-inclusive deals, and adventure tours to mention a few.
President of Costa Rica, Óscar Arias Sánchez, is speaking tonight in the Teatro Nacional at the inauguration.
Source: www.amcostarica.com
Subscribe: 
October 26, 2009 7:35 pm
Tourism
Comments (1)
