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

The Central American TACA Airline has announced that it will be dropping a $20 fuel surcharge from its tickets effective this week.  The airline decided to eliminate the charge due to the decrease in oil prices.

Starting this week, the extra ticket charge will be of $90 instead of the previous $110 charged by the airline.  An airline spokesperson announced that the decision was taken in order to benefit its loyal customers as well as offer the best service and price in the region.

The elimination of the $20 fuel surcharge for round trips will apply to all flights to and from Central America including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama.

In addition, the airline has also announced a special rate for all its introductory flights within Central America by means of their new Embraer fleet.  The special rate for TACA’s introductory flights is of $199 (from Costa Rica) that includes taxes, surcharges as well as a double mileage point promotion.

The rate will apply for flights between Managua and San Jose; Guatemala and Managua as well as from San Jose to Managua.  The rate will apply for all tickets purchased before Friday November 14th, 2008.

TACA’s new Embraer fleet has a capacity of 96 passengers and has been divided in 88 seats for coach class and 8 for business class.  The airline has already included two of the 11 aircrafts purchased within their flight schedule and will be adding 9 more by 2009.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: flight to Central America, Flights to costa rica, TACA Airlines