• In Puerto Limon, the arrangements are moving forward for the big welcome-festivity that will be held from November 20th to 30th.

Few days before the boats get to Costa Rica for the 9th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT, in Spanish) is working in the last details to receive the Costa Ricans tourists and hundreds that will come from Europe. This event, declared of national interest by the Government of the Republic, has motivated the ICT to direct a great quantity of resources in order to attract European and national tourists to give Limon a new motive to continue progressing.
Among the actions that were done we can emphasize the installation of a stand that was in the villa of the Le Havre Port, France from October 31st until last Sunday November 8th. With this stand, the unique chance to get the people and promote Costa Rica in the European region and bring out the natural beauty that our country has.

Two ICT officials were permanently in the villa to give service to hundreds of thousands of Europeans who visited the port with the intention to say farewell to the sailors. Heilyn James and Freddy Lizano, with great experience on fairs and ample domain in French, were in charge of the important work of promoting the country by delivering informative material about Costa Rica, and attended multiple interviews.
Minister Allan Flores traveled to Europe to participate in the acts related to the opening of the Transat where he was in charge to give the starting shot to the boats, and also to attend meetings with the tourism sector. According to statistics, last year about 290,000 Europeans arrived to Costa Rica, 35,000 were French. With Transat is expected to raise this number and obtained a turn back investment of 1:20, it means 06 millions of euros.
Limon is waiting the boats!
At the same time, in Costa Rica the arrangements continue in order to receive thousands of national and international tourists in Puerto Limón. These tourists will come attracted by the boats that will get there among November 20th to 30th. A joint work among the Limón Municipality, the Board of the Port Administration and Development of the Atlantic Area (JAPDEVA), the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce of Limon has been developed several months ago.

A series of complementary activities are organized to allow the maximization of the true Caribbean essence; with exhibitions of different products, artistic performances and lots of the local gastronomy. It will be a real feast that is going to offer a unique experience to the visitors. The ICT also supports the six chambers of the Caribbean Region (Matina, Siquirres, Guacimo, Pococí, Limón downtown and the Southern zone) with the installation of a stand within the fair located in JAPDEVA, where the exhibitors could offer their tourism services and products.
JAPDEVA installed 400 line meters of floating harbors that will functions as a proper place to duck the giant boats. Furthermore, common areas within Harbor 70 are being re-modeled and a boat that sunk many years ago was finally removed.
The ICT encourages everybody to visit Puerto Limón and live a real nautical party that will celebrates a not very well known sport, but this sport promises to shock the people with an breath taking spectacle.