Security and tourism issues dominate meeting between Costa Rican and Honduran presidents

Costa Rica’s President Laura Chinchilla and the president of Honduras Porfirio Lobo met Thursday in San José to discuss opportunities for collaboration in the fight against drug, arms and human trafficking, as well as tourism strategies.

Lobo said he is looking forward to work on these issues and noted the need for countries where drugs are consumed “to take measures to discourage drug trafficking and commerce.”

He expressed interest in the Costa Rican tourism development model and also the country’s experience in areas such as health care, bilingual education, job creation and security for tourists.

Chinchilla said she is willing to share experience with Honduras in sustainability, ecotourism and rural tourism.

She also stated that “the region’s nations must implement tourism strategies that combine the strengths of each country to offer them as a ‘package’ to foreign tourists.”

The presidents agreed to meet again in November to follow up on these matters.