No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaCosta Rica will ramp up police presence after tourist murders

Costa Rica will ramp up police presence after tourist murders

Costa Rica announced on Friday that it plans on ramping up police presence at popular tourist hotspots after two female tourists were murdered last weekend.

“We’re going to increase Fuerza Pública personnel in delegations with high tourist presence,” said Vice Minister of Security Eduardo Solano. “We’re going to conduct a scientific analysis in our most visited areas and those with the most crime to see where it’s most pertinent to increase personnel.”

The boost in police presence will cost an estimated $1 million a year for the next four years.

The issue of tourist safety became a national concern after a Spanish tourist was murdered in Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast, followed by the murder of a Mexican tourist in Santa Teresa, on the Pacific coast, the very next day.

On two coasts, communities mourn tourists’ deaths in Costa Rica

Solano said that the suspects in both murders have been apprehended.

“We need to stop being afraid to talk to tourists about safety,” the Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo said.

Tourism is one of Costa Rica’s main sources of income. Nearly 3 million people visited Costa Rica in 2017 and they spent $3.87 billion during their stays.

The country currently has 284 officers in its tourism police force. They’re spread across 18 locations, speak English, and are trained to help foreign tourists.

Revelo said an app, scheduled for release in December, with up-to-date information about security is being developed for tourists and business owners.

The government will also train 2,000 business owners in risk prevention strategies. Additionally, Revelo said Costa Rica will provide more infrastructure and equipment to police in tourist hotspots.

Trending Now

El Salvador Faces Fastest Democratic Decline in Latin America

El Salvador is the country in Latin America and the Caribbean facing the “fastest deterioration” of democracy in recent years, according to a report...

Costa Rica Plummets in FIFA Rankings Amid World Cup Qualifier Struggles

The Costa Rican national soccer team is facing a pivotal crisis, confirmed by the latest FIFA rankings published today. La Sele fell seven spots,...

Robert Redford, Hollywood icon and Sundance founder, dies at 89

Cinema legend Robert Redford, a screen great both in front of and behind the camera whose career spanned six decades, died early on Tuesday...

Costa Rica’s Central Bank Defends Exchange Rate Strategy

The exchange rate has been an important topic during the administration of President Rodrigo Chaves. The strong appreciation of the Costa Rican currency has...

Costa Rica Sees Drop in Tourism Amid Safety and Currency Concerns

International tourist arrivals to Costa Rica dropped by 2.3% between January and August compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Costa...

Costa Rica to Vote on Lifting President Chaves’s Immunity

Costa Rica’s Congress will decide on Monday whether to lift President Rodrigo Chaves’s immunity so he can be tried for alleged corruption, in an...
spot_img
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