OHMCR The Best Costa Rica Travel Guide

The much anticipated tourist number 2 million has finally arrived to Costa Rica on Wednesday December 17th.  The Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism as well as the local press were stationed at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in order to receive the tourist number 2 million.

The honor of being such an important tourist to Costa Rica went to the Biedron family from New Jersey.  Mark and Gretchen Biedron along with their 5 children arrived on Wednesday at 12 noon on Continental flight 1762.

Mark Biedron is the owner of a private elementary school in New Jersey and also dedicates his time in promoting sustainable practices among businesses in his area.  Biedron mentioned that they chose to visit Costa Rica thanks to the recommendation of a family member who lives in Nosara, Guanacaste.

The Biedron family will be staying in Costa Rica for two weeks and will be visiting Nosara, the Caribbean, swimming with dolphins and learning to surf.  As part of the receiving ceremony that took place at the airport, the Biedron family received handcrafts from the women of Sarapiqui as well as a commemorative plate for being tourist number 2 million.

The Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavidez, mentioned that the Biedron family represents the typical tourist to Costa Rica.  They are part of the family tourism sector that also happens to work in pro of sustainable practices in their hometown.

The Bureau of Tourism will be offering the Biedron family complimentary accommodations in several of Costa Rica’s hotels as well as tours to all major attractions in the country.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism, Juan Santamaria International Airport

According to one of Costa Rica’s most respected economist, Fernando Naranjo, Costa Rica will not go through a financial crisis this year, nor next year.  Naranjo, who has served as Secretary of State and Minister of the Treasury Department in two different administrations, has publicly stated that despite the international financial crisis, Costa Ricans will not go into crisis.

Although Naranjo does acknowledge that the financial crisis will certainly have its impact on Costa Rica, the country is prepared to confront it.  Naranjo has suggested to follow Keynesian’s economic view in which a country or state should invest during difficult times in order to gain control and expand its economy.

A local newspaper interviewed Naranjo and asked if he wasn’t being way too optimistic in stating that there will be no crisis in Costa Rica to which he responded that the country’s difficult times in the early 80’s was a crisis and that these are better times.

In the early 80’s, the national product had fallen, inflation was at a 60% and the country didn’t have the capacity to pay off its external debt.  The current situation is much different today since the problem is due to external factors and not internal.

Naranjo suggested that in order to confront the future situation, the country should begin by investing specially in infrastructure and by financing social programs.  According to Naranjo, new road systems are extremely important as they can help alleviate difficult times by helping improve the country’s competitiveness in the long haul.

In addition, Naranjo mentioned that Congress should accelerate international loan applications in order to stimulate spending.  Naranjo also highlighted Costa Rica’s privileged position as a top tourist destination.  He agreed on what the Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism is doing in strongly investing in international marketing to increase the country’s international exposure as a tourist destination.

The former Secretary of State’s also suggested to speed up the remodeling and expansion of the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose as well as the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia.  Special emphasis should be placed on tourism as this sector is a strong source in income and employment.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism, Daniel Oduber International Airport, Juan Santamaria International Airport, No Crisis for Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism (ICT) and the Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) have teamed up with National Geographic Kids in order to promote the country’s culture, climate and biodiversity.

The “Are we There Yet? World Adventure” National Geographic Kid’s show, which airs in Canada, presents the adventures of two sets of real life brothers and sisters which travel the world and share their experiences on camera.  The show will soon be introduced into the United States by the means of exposure at movie theatres.

ICT and CANATUR have developed two episodes that will air one a month in selected movie theatres.  Both episodes were filmed in Costa Rica and will be included as part of National Geographic Kid’s promotion in U.S movie theatres during the Christmas holidays.

One episode shows the kid’s adventure in a Canopy Tour while the other shows the hosts visiting one of Costa Rica’s Animal Refuge.  Each episode will play for an entire month in 150 movie theatres throughout the United States and will display Costa Rica Trivia Questions at the end of each ad.  In addition, a short 15 second promo of Costa Rica will be played and children will be invited to participate for the chance of a free trip to Costa Rica.

The prize is a 9 day trip for a family of four and will include visits to Costa Rica’s main attractions of Tortuguero National Park in the Caribbean coast, the Arenal Volcano and thermal spring waters and the Manuel Antonio National Park in the Central Pacific Coast.

In order to participate, children must fill out a short quiz about Costa Rica in which they must answer questions related to the country’s climate, animals and vegetation shown in the promo.

written by Carolyn Ramer \\ tags: Costa Rica Chamber of Tourism, Costa Rica National Geographic, Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism