Beachgoers will soon have extra reminders to play it safe when they take a dip in the ocean. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is planning to put up signs on 31 of the nation’s beaches to warn swimmers about dangerous currents.
The 186 signs will be made of galvanized iron with a high-reflectivity surface and reinforced base. The signs will feature warnings in English and Spanish, according to a statement from ICT.
It’s the first time the Tourism Institute has undertaken such an effort, said Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides.
“It’s not very intelligent that a people who have dedicated so much time and effort to promoting tourism don’t also promote the safety of our people, the people who bathe on our beaches,” he told a crowd on the central Pacific port town of Quepos while announcing the initiative last week.
The institute plans to invest ¢24 million ($50,239) in the signs, which will be installed by the private company M&P Obras Civiles, J& L Señalización y Arquitectura S.A.
The signage is expected to be completed within a year and last for seven years.
Among the shores where the signs will be placed are the central Pacific beaches of Jacó and Esterillos; Tamarindo, in the northwestern Guanacaste province; Cahuita and Manzanillo, in the Caribbean; and the Southern Zone beach of Dominical, to name a few.
