Every
year for the past 22 years companies from within and outside
Costa Rica have gathered in teh countries capital to show
each other what the country has to offer to tourists.
With the recently elected Oscar Arias's government in
power the new Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides took the
time out of his busy schedule to use the spotlight to
bring to the attention of the tourim industry and the
government the succes and the failure of the Costa Rican
Tourism indurty.
The
Minister stated that if Costa Rica does not watch itself
the cash cow tourism industry could come to an upbrupt
end. Last year tourism increased by over 14% and is the
countries main income provider. The Minister stated however
that if Costa Rica does not repair its poor infastructure
then the bubble may pop. It is Internationally known that
Costa Rica has terrible roads and that the service can
sometimes be a bit rough. The main thing he stated however
was that an important step toward ensuring growth will
be strengthening the leadership of the Costa Rican Tourism
Institute (ICT), which as Tourism Minister he heads.
Oscar
Arias's response was that everything that needs to be
said has been said, now all that has to be doen is to
do it!!
Some
of the other things that need to be looked at are the
education of English inSchools to help people get jobs
in Tourism. The security of the areas that tourists are
visiting as small crike is on the rise. Finally the Government
should protect the environment as this is the essence
of Costa vRica and is the main attraction. |
