No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rican hotel owners demand increased security following tourist's murder

Costa Rican hotel owners demand increased security following tourist’s murder

Hotel owners in Costa Rica demanded Thursday that the government take greater responsibility for the safety of tourists following the murder of a Venezuelan-American, a crime that shook the Central American country.

“If the country were acting consciously in its security policy for visitors, it would have clearer migration rules, it would be imprisoning criminals and providing greater protection to sites frequented by tourists,” the Costa Rican Hotel Chamber (CCH) said in a statement.

The CCH added that “these basic premises are not being met.”

The hotel sector was dismayed by the murder of tourist Carla Stefaniak, 36, whose body was found on Monday with knife injuries and a severe blow to the head.

The police detained as a suspect a 32-year-old Nicaraguan who had been working as a security agent at the hotel where Stefaniak stayed, in the mountainous town of San Antonio de Escazú, southwest of San José.

[Editor’s Note: Stefaniak had been residing at the Hostel Villa LeMas, which she had booked through Airbnb.]

The business owners recognized that they too shoulder part of the responsibility in guaranteeing the safety of the tourists who visit the country.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, insisted that hotels should be more cautious with the staff they hire.

“Employers need to be more careful with the people they hire for security functions,” Revelo said. “The law requires verification that the person has a regular immigration status.”

The suspect detained following Stefaniak’s death had entered Costa Rica illegally.

Last August, a Mexican and a Spanish woman were killed in separate incidents while visiting Costa Rica, cases that damaged country’s image as a tourist destination.

Trending Now

Empty Stadiums and Inequality Mar Women’s Copa América

Nearly empty stadiums, players' criticism of the organization, and demands for equality in South American football have marked the 2025 Women's Copa América in...

Costa Rica Opens New Pedestrian Bridge at Guayabo National Monument

Costa Rica has added a new attraction to its archaeological sites with the opening of a pedestrian bridge at Guayabo National Monument. The structure...

Keylor Navas Leads Pumas to Victory in His Liga MX Debut

Keylor Navas kicked off his Mexican league journey with Pumas UNAM in style, leading the team to a 2–0 win over Querétaro at Estadio...

Remittances to Central America Surge 20% Amid U.S. Deportation Fears

Family remittances in Central America grew by around 20% in the first half of 2025, according to official data—a rise that experts attribute to...

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...

Why I Choose Real Life in Costa Rica Over the AI Hype

When it comes to AI, call me OG. Old school. I sometimes wish I could go back to a time before it existed. Artificial...
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