Travelers Can Pre-Pay Exit Tax

TOURISTS departing Costa Rica byair can pay their departure tax in advanceand avoid long lines at the airports.Travelers leaving Juan SantamaríaInternational Airport northwest of SanJosé may find themselves in line for upto half an hour during peak hours, from 7a.m. to 3 p.m., to pay the $26 exit fee,according to the daily La Nación.Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago(Bancrédito) assistant manager GerardoSanabría said travelers can pay the exittax at any branch of Bancrédito or Bancode Costa Rica (BCR) before heading tothe airport.It is also possible to pre-pay the exittax upon entering Costa Rica, at the cashdesk in the Immigration section for arrivingpassengers, according to La Nación.Sanabría added that Bancrédito is inthe process of negotiating an agreementwith hotels and airlines for the departuretax to be paid electronically to helpeliminate congestion at the airport. Apilot plan is under way in the FourSeasons Hotel in the northwesternGuanacaste province.Travelers flying with Grupo TACAairline can pre-pay the tax in its servicecenters.