OHMCR The Best Costa Rica Travel Guide

The recent visit of president Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China to Costa Rica was considered a “historic” one by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias.

Hu Jintao remained in Costa Rica on Monday during which he and president Arias signed several agreements as well as set a date for the first round of a free trade negotiation to be carried out in January 2009.

Jintao’s visit to Costa Rica was a quick one and concluded at 4:45pm without incident.  A public act that carried on for 40 minutes included the signing of several agreements between both nations.  Jintao addressed the Costa Rican public by means of a translator and did not take any questions from the press.

Among the agreed negotiations is the financing of the construction of a new and more modern National Stadium, the formalization of the free trade agreement, guarantee of Costa Rica’s participation in the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, the creation of a language and cultural center at the University of Costa Rica and a pre-contract to create a bi-national fuel refinery among others.

With the free trade treaty between China and Costa Rica, both nations hope to strengthen commercial ties, as both countries will benefit from the trade.  During Jintao’s translated speech, he mentioned that his country has the intention of increasing their import of Costa Rican products as well as promote and support Chinese investment in Costa Rica.

Hu Jintao and his staff left Costa Rica Monday evening towards Cuba where the Chinese president will continue with his scheduled meetings.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: costa rica china free trade

The Central America region has been working close together lately in order to promote the entire isthmus as one multicultural and multi-destination tourist market.  The objective is to attract the European and Asian tourism market by offering a well balanced and varied final product.

By promoting Central America as one market, the region hopes to achieve a constant and maintained tourism growth.  According to the Central America & Caribbean Digital Newspaper, the multi-destination tourism market in Central America already represents a 45% of the total market which authorities seek to increase.

The Central American organization hired the Gran Marc de Costa Rica firm for the development of the Interregional Tourism Marketing Program.  The Secretary of the Central America Tourism Integration along with the financial support of the United Nation’s Central American Regional Integration Support Program has allowed for the marketing strategy to advance.

The firm has carried out extensive marketing research in all 7 countries of the Central American region as well as interviewed ministers of tourism and other key entities in order to elaborate a fully integrated marketing strategy.

Chambers of tourism as well as tour operators, regional airlines, car rentals and other tourism related industries have contributed in the firm’s integral vision of the whole Central American region.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Caribbean Digital Newspaper, Central America Caribbean Digital Newspaper, Interregional Tourism Marketing Program