Health and tourism companies will present their products and services to some 50 solidarista associations on Thursday at the Radisson Hotel Europe, west of San José.
Solidarista associations are worker-managed associations that function as credit unions and more. The Movimiento Solidarista is a nationwide movement, uniquely Costa Rican, founded in the 1940s in reaction to confrontational labor unions as a way of empowering workers.
Juan Carlos Ramos, president of the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), explained that the objective of this week’s event is to “create a platform for tourism entrepreneurs that will facilitate negotiating with little or unexplored markets.”
During the activity, Canatur experts will also offer lectures in medical tourism and marketing techniques.
Medical tourism generated about $288 million in Costa Rica in 2010, with an estimated 36,000 medical tourists visiting the country, according to figures provided by the Presidency Ministry. In 2014, the industry is expected to generate some $800 million and attract 100,000 visitors to the country.
