No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveAlajuela Aims to Attract More Investment, Tourism

Alajuela Aims to Attract More Investment, Tourism

NOT content to sit back and wait for opportunity to knock, municipal leaders in Alajuela, northwest of San José, have launched a new strategy designed to encourage tourists and potential investors to choose Alajuela over other Costa Rican cities as their destination for travel or business.

 

According to the daily La Nación, the local government has already conducted a study of Alajuela’s competitive benefits as a tourism or business destination; now, they are presenting those results, as well as a video about Alajuela, during meetings with business executives.

 

The municipality also has plans to speed up the process of obtaining construction and operation permits for would be investors, with a mid-year “exclusive window” of opportunity; during this period, investors will be able to present all the necessary documents to municipal officials, who will take care of the necessary paperwork with the Public Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, National Insurance Institute (INS) and Social Security System (Caja), or other institutions as necessary.

 

Fabio Molina, mayor of Alajuela, told the daily the entire process would take no more than eight days.

 

Another prime selling point for business leaders: Alajuela’s location. It’s home to Juan Santamaría International Airport, close to San José and the Inter-American Highway, and only 90 km from the Pacific port of Caldera.

 

The city has fewer traffic problems than the capital, comparatively good road conditions, and plenty of available property, the daily reported.

 

Alajuela is home to seven free zones, or zonas francas, where foreign businesses can operate tax-free.

 

A Web site to inform foreigners about the area is also in the works, as are plans for promoting one-day Alajuela tours, including visits to La Paz Waterfall and Poás Volcano.

 

Trending Now

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...

A Costa Rica Love Story: From Rustic Cabina to Separate Dreams

My Tica wife and I have been together for over a quarter century. When we met, I was living a simple life here. Three...

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica