Conserving the natural richness and achieving quality sustainable tourism development that allows an adequate distribution of income generated by this industry to most people in Guanacaste is the goal pursued by the Costa Rican Tourist Board (ICT), as was established during a government retreat with the main municipal leaders and deputies of the province, for a proper planning to guide the accelerated tourism growth experienced in the region. Only for the last month the increase in construction permits grew by 108%, many of which correspond to tourism and real estate projects.
We desire a sustainable tourism growth in Guanacaste so that a greater amount of the inhabitants of this province may sum up to the region's development. The province has had a successful growth that should preserve its quality and an efficient distribution of richness...
...stated Carlos Ricardo Benavides, Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica.
To achieve this objective, ICT has envisioned specific actions in agreement with the guidelines of the National Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development that includes a general plan of land use in agreement with the needs and conditions of the North and South sectors of the province. This year the plan is to create three, corresponding to the sectors of San Miguel Coyote, Playa Hermosa Bahia Azul as well as Avellanas- Junquillal.
To contribute to the integration of most "guanacastecos" to the benefits of tourism, training plans were established for human resources, environmental orientation as well as strategies involving the municipalities, and regional tourism organizations and chambers in the elaboration of strategic plans to increase the promotion of Guanacaste as a destination.
As for infrastructure, Benavides said there are actions to improve roads with resources from the Papagayo Tourist Pole Fund on the Troncos-Chorotega Beach Highway as well as between Arenilla Beach and the bridge over Quebrada Panama.
A strategic alliance was created with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, with an agreement to create tourism signs implying an investment of ¢300 million, with the purpose of adequately orienting visitors to the most visited destinations in Guanacaste and the Barranca-Peñas Blancas route, including National Parks located on this road.
Parallel to that, ICT is destining ¢25 million for placing signs in beaches such as Naranjo, Hermosa, Conchal, Flamingo, Grande, Tamarindo, Samara, Carrillo and the embarkment area of Lake Arenal with corresponding information of the sea currents in those spots.
In security matters, the Tourist Police was created along with the Ministry of Public Security, where ICT contributed resources for training as well as ¢260 million for the construction and furnishing of two stations in Guanacaste.
About attracting new airlines, it has already been confirmed that a new direct flight London-Liberia with the First Choice Company is starting in the month of May to increase the offer of seats by 312 for each flight. To this growth another charter flight from Toronto, Canada to Liberia is added, once a week by the Sun wing Vacations Company, generating a movement of 4,200 additional passengers up to 2008. The Daniel Oduber Airport recorded a 24% increase last month, after mobilizing 22,230 passengers.
