By Zoraida Diaz

 

 

President Outlines Plans To Shake Up Ministry of Tourism

 

Without faster growth in tourism, Costa Rica risked losing 300,000 new jobs,

President Óscar Arias told the country’s biggest industry gathering this

week.

 

“Our priority must be to channel all our efforts to transform the ICT

(Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) into a dynamic institution, aware of

its mission as the industry’s voice, and transforming itself into the

regulating entity in all that affects the tourism sector,” the President

told about 300 professionals at the official opening of the industry trade

show, Expotur.

 

And in further evidence the Arias regime will concentrate on what is

effectively the country’s biggest export earner, the President promised tax

incentives to foreigners willing to invest in tourism.

 

“We must introduce tax incentives, but with control,” he told the

audience. “We cannot afford not to have a policy of foreign investment

incentives. When our competitors are improving daily so that visitors come,

it is because they have simplified the process.

 

“Meanwhile, our investors are subjected to endless nightmares...even just to

build a marina,” Dr Arias said. “There have to be changes”.

 

“The private sector must be integrated in the planning and execution of

programs that look to fulfill tourism needs,” he added.

 

The President also made clear that he aims to jealously guard the country’s

image abroad as a haven for nature that has no army and no history of war.

 

“Love of peace, love of nature: that is to be our country brand,” he told

the audience.

 

That support for tourism and the high priority he clearly gives it has been

received enthusiastically.

 

“There have been commitments made to solve various bottlenecks in the

industry, like infrastructure, security, a reduction in bureaucracy and the

most important, incentives for investment,” said Carlos Lizama, Vice

President of ACOPROT, the Asociación Costarricense de Profesionales en

Turismo.

 

Mr Lizama said there were incentives in place but they had been suspended

for years.

 

“There was a very restrictive interpretation of the legislation for

incentives because there were some abuses, so the reduction has been

gradual, probably starting some ten years ago,” Mr Lizama said.