Air France Boosts Costa Rica Flight

Air France has significantly expanded its flight service to Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport, comprising daily flights for much of 2024. This caters to surging demand from French tourists, attracted by the country’s breathtaking natural landscapes and biodiversity. With Costa Rica proving ever-more popular with Air France’s customer base, the airline is committed to the market, having increased flight frequencies over the past two years. The country welcomed over 67,000 French visitors by air in 2023 alone….

Tamarindo Faces Water Shortage

Residents of Playa Tamarindo are facing severe water supply shortages, with some reporting 10-day service outages. Despite the scarcity, authorities continue issuing construction permits and water availability letters for large real estate projects further straining infrastructure. Locals must pay for costly water deliveries amid constant shortages. Representatives criticized the Aqueduct and Sewerage Institute’s incompetence, with some reporting the agency removed water meters, leaving them without service. Businesses and residents say their shortage reports go unheeded. The situation underscores inadequate infrastructure and planning, heightening tensions over continued tourism and construction approval without assessing impact….

Airbnb in Costa Rica Faces Calls for Regulation

Costa Rica’s hotel industry is calling for greater regulation of non-traditional accommodations like Airbnb, citing unfair competition. Hotels face more taxes, permits, and staffing requirements while platforms evade some fees and capture local tourism with flexible, budget stays. A proposed 6-night minimum stay law for alternative lodging aims to level the playing field but risks limiting consumer choice. Stakeholders urge an equitable solution benefiting hotels and platforms to sustainably grow tourism….

Costa Rica Traffic

Traffic congestion in Costa Rica has worsened due to ongoing construction, lack of planning by authorities, and limited public transportation options. Adding to the problem are the 100-150 minor traffic accidents that happen daily, often rear-end collisions caused by impatient drivers trying to force their way through stand-still traffic. Authorities are working to more quickly clear these accidents to keep traffic moving. Traffic police presence is also being increased in problem areas to enforce laws and reduce congestion caused by drivers disobeying traffic islands and lane markings.