Leaders of the National Tourism Chamber sent President Luis Guillermo Solís a letter asking him to block a Finance Ministry decree ordering tourism businesses to collect sales tax on several tourism activities that were previously exempt.
Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís attended the signing ceremony, saying the planned geothermal projects “will not interfere with territory in national parks.” Instead, he said they involve “new technologies that permit the exploration and utilization of wells without damaging conservation areas.”
Tourism entrepreneurs in the canton of Guatuso, in northeastern Alajuela, are on the verge of losing their businesses following the closure of a path known as “La Paz” that provides the community access to popular tourist destinations in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. Those destinations include Río Celeste, Laguna Azul, La Paz waterfall, and a sector of hot springs.
The turquoise tones of Río Celeste (Spanish for "Blue River") – one of Costa Rica’s most prominent natural jewels – "is mostly an optical phenomenon, not a chemical effect in the water," a research team formed by experts from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the National University (UNA) reported this week.
