Tourism business owners on Wednesday voiced total opposition to a new Environment Ministry (MINAE) decree extending the collection of a 15 percent sales tax to several activities that were previously exempt.
The Costa Rican Tourism Board on Thursday confirmed approval of the first applications for the use by tourism businesses of the country's brand, "Essential Costa Rica," in advertising, corporate communications and promotional events.
As Costa Ricans obsessively tracked the arrival of their national men's team, La Sele, after its historic run at the 2014 World Cup – many rushing to Juan Santamaría International Airport to catch a glimpse of the players – thousands of visitors to Costa Rica were trying to reach the airport.
After Costa Rica’s historic string of World Cup wins so far, the small Central American country of 4.8 million is hoping that all the extra attention will translate into more tourists and foreign investment.
La Sele's historic qualification for the quarterfinals round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil prompted the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) to extend the airing of a TV ad campaign currently promoting the country as an ideal destination for tourism, trade and investment.
With just a week to go before the start of Costa Rica's mid-year vacations, the demand for lodging remains low. And although tourism business owners hope this year will be better than last, they also say the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will lower occupancy rates here.
Scenic beaches and cold bottles of Imperial pervade Costa Rica’s image as a world-renowned tourist destination. But a darker side lurks behind the pura vida.
Two weeks ago, Tamarindo Airport was shut down by Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Authority due to runway safety concerns. Now the company that owns the land – Hotel Diria Beach Resort Group – has stated that it will “continue with its aeronautical operation once everything is resolved.”
Costa Rica's abundant tourist attractions and business opportunities will be on full display during the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 in the U.K., U.S., Germany and Spain.
