No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaHealth Ministry suggests 'very gradual' return for international tourism to Costa Rica

Health Ministry suggests ‘very gradual’ return for international tourism to Costa Rica

Costa Rica is planning a very gradual reopening for international tourists, Health Minister Daniel Salas said Tuesday.

In his most direct comments on the subject in weeks, Salas said the Health Ministry is working with the Tourism Board and other government institutions to establish a protocol for international visitors.

But it may be months before tourists can freely book flights to Costa Rica, he suggested.

Below is what Daniel Salas said Tuesday, edited lightly for clarity:

* * * *

On reopening for international tourists: We have been working on protocols with the Transport Ministry, with the Tourism Board, with the Immigration Administration and obviously the Health Ministry, to eventually make this possible.

It would be with strict controls, in a very, very gradual and scaled way, so that in some moment we’d allow tourists coming from countries without mass transmission.

Tests, insurance — that’s part of what’s being analyzed to see what are the conditions that in their moment will be announced. We won’t preview that now, because we’re still building that plan to allow for reopening.

As I mentioned, it will be very gradual, very restricted, and a very controlled arrival of tourists.

On when Costa Rica will welcome international tourists: We’ll see what the data are telling us. How can we manage with certain [businesses], for example hotels, that may need guidelines. All of that is in play with this protocol.

As I indicated, it will be over the course of the year, but I won’t presume an exact date.

On the reactivation of domestic tourism: As we’ve been indicating, let’s remember that there are places that present a more complicated situation, where there is a bigger risk. As the the National Emergency Commission said, that is being evaluated constantly.

It’s clear that the scale of alerts has to correspond with the plans for reopening. We’re analyzing this, and Thursday or Friday we’ll announce the next phases.

* * * *

Costa Rica is currently restricting the arrival of non-resident foreigners through June 30, though given Salas’s comments, that date seems likely to be extended.

Tourism comprises an estimated 8.2% of Costa Rica’s GDP. The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) is promoting domestic tourism during the coronavirus crisis, though outbreaks in the Northern Zone have led to reapplied measures.

Popular Articles

Bérénice Béjo Stars in “Mexico 86” as a Revolutionary Guatemalan Mother

“Mother can also fight, rifle in hand, when democracy is in danger,” declares French actress Bérénice Béjo, who plays a Guatemalan activist in “Mexico...

Theft in Costa Rica: A Local Expat’s Personal Experience

If you follow the news in Costa Rica with any degree of regularity, you’ll know that crime is in the zeitgeist. As with any...

Costa Rica Bolsters Yellow Fever Defenses Amid Regional Surge

Costa Rica is intensifying its defenses against yellow fever as cases surge across Latin America, prompting heightened vigilance from national health authorities. The Pan...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles