Chilean companies visit Costa Rica to strengthen trade ties │ Costadevelopers.com

trade

Chile is one of the countries with better indexes both commercial human development in the region as Latin American.

Around 40 Chilean companies recently visited Costa Rica to strengthen and increase trade relations between the two countries, at a meeting called "I S Chile", according to the official spokespersons.

In the event which will have a duration of two days, participating companies of various industries, from pharmaceutical producers of containers, the information and communication technology, building materials environmental services and University services.

As the Director of the office in Costa Rica for the direction of promotion of exports from Chile (ProChile), Marcela Aravena, indicated in an interview with Acan-Efe, the main objective is to achieve a rapprochement between the Chilean manufacturing companies and services with potential business partners in the region of Central America, especially in Costa Rica.

"Want to know that Chile is not only food and drinks but a manufacturing industry. We see in Central America real opportunities for trade that are growing in time," Aravena said.

In accordance with Aravena, the Central American region is not one market for Chile, but by otherwise representing a suitable for the foreign trade area, especially products that diversify exports to Costa Rica and vice versa. Both countries maintain a free trade agreement since 2002, this meeting allows you to consolidate and capitalize on the negotiations that were established in the Treaty.

"We hope that within the framework of the FTA trade in Chile to Costa Rica continues to grow and be closer to our entrepreneurs with potential Costa Rican counterpart, which come more products like medicines, food industry, University services," said Aravena.

The delegation representative of Chile, said that the free trade agreement has been "very positive" for exports, also is expected in a medium square a significant growth of the Costa Rican sales in the South American region, using this country as a platform to cover a wider region market.

According to the data of the Ministry of foreign trade of Costa Rica, during the year 2012, exports to Chile reached $25.7 million and imports from that country $291,3 billion.

On the other hand, exports to Central America and the Caribbean increased by 17% since 2009.

Among other activities the business meeting "I S Chile" is organized by ProChile and also includes a seminar, technical workshops and wheels of negotiation.

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Japan will help Costa Rica to protect wetlands │ costadevelopers.com

The support from the Japanese Government gives the country will its better capabilities for the conservation and management of wetlands.

The Agency of Japan International cooperation (JICA) provides training to personnel of the Vice-Ministry of water and a sea of MINAE on wetland conservation, the first course started in the month of May and consists of the "conservation and sustainable use of the biodiversity of wetland ecosystems in base communities".

"This training gave us tools to encourage the participation of the communities and the development of local plans that facilitate the conservation and rational use of biodiversity of wetland ecosystems", said engineer Jacklyn Rivera Wong, employee of the Vice-Ministry of water and seas of Costa Rica who received the training together with specialists from China, Malaysia and Mexico.

Back at the end of the courses, lessons learned will be reflected in an action plan for the conservation of the RAMSAR sites, this project involve also local communities on sustainable management of resources, initially a pilot scheme should be established in the area of Paquera, Puntarenas.

The RAMSAR Convention is of International Court and seeks global countries worry the wetland conservation through protection, the rational use of resources, international cooperation and training and training in this area.

Wetlands correspond to one of the sites of major ecological conservation on biodiversity, and one of the most important are: water purification and detoxification of waste, which seeks to reduce the concentration of elements in space.

Another of its main functions is in the regulation of climate change, through capture and broadcast of a large proportion of the carbon in the biosphere.

"On this site we will develop a project to strengthen citizen participation and participatory environmental education that supports the efforts of Area Conservation Pacific Central SINAC/MINAE for its wetland ecosystems," said Jacklyn Rivera.

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Costa Rica will have its first beach of freshwater │ CostaDevelopers.com

The region of the North of the province of Alajuela is one of the most popular places in the country among tourists.

The new project in the area will be established on the edge of the volcano: a beach of freshwater that will take approximately three years to develop, it promises to be one of the most significant tourist centers of the country.

San Carlos region is characterized by the number of activities that can be enjoyed by tourists in the area, not only is famous for its variety of sites suitable to enjoy the hot springs at Spa style, but is ideal for horseback riding and hiking in the Woods.

The project "manufacture" a freshwater Beach responds to the exploitation of the unique scenic beauty that shows great Arenal Lake , and until today had not been developed. This initiative has the backing of businessmen of the area and the Costa Rican Institute of tourism.

The beach of freshwater will be located at the Arenal lake, which boasts a surface of 85 km and it was built in 1979.

According to the President of the Chamber of tourism of the Zona Norte, Leovigildo Villegas, this is a project that has been pushing for a couple of years and which is currently in the phase of approval of various permits.

"There are many countries in America such as Chile and United States which have been able to exploit its freshwater lakes and this privilege that we have we have a beautiful Lake must take advantage", Villegas told Acan-EFE agency.

For some years at the Arenal lake have begun to conduct tours for tourists in small boats that allow you to enjoy the beautiful scenery, while the more adventurous can cross waters kayaking or rowing standing on tables similar to the of surf

According to businessmen involved in this project, the investment for the realisation of the freshwater Beach, will reach 3 million dollars, which will be provided by the Costa Rican Institute of tourism, business in the area and public institutions.

In addition to the conditioning of a beach, there will be restaurants, sites to perform concerts, conference rooms and other outdoor activities. You will also appreciate cultural and sports events.

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1.32 million tourists visited Costa Rica in the first half of the 2013 │ Costa Developers

Costa Rica Tourist

The average number of tourists visiting the country reached about 2 million or more.

During the first half of 2013 was recorded income of 1.32 million visitors, this represents an increase in comparison with the previous year, according to information provided by the Costa Rican Institute of tourism (ICT).

The majority of these visitors, entered the country through the Juan Santamaria international airport, the main of the country, secondly the most important port of entry is the Daniel Oduber airport, which is located in Liberia, Guanacaste, the other remaining entered through the land borders, Peñas Blancas with Nicaragua and Paso Canoas (Panama).

Through the airport Juan Santa Maria between the months of January and June entered 678 491 tourists, this represents an increase of 3.5% compared to 2012, when they entered 655 530.

In accordance with the General Directorate of migration and aliens, the month with the lower income of tourists is may.

The Minister of tourism, Allan Flores, said that one of the most important aspects of this study is that markets including China, Mexico, Brazil and the United Kingdom emerged. The Costarican Institute of tourism

made efforts to attract tourists to the country, among them the airline alliances, for example those that were signed with Chinese airlines to offer better access to the country.

Tourists coming from Europe also have more convenient transportations through the opening of airlines such as Iberia, which offers direct flights to Madrid.

Notwithstanding that the number of tourists increased, not generated increased hotel occupancy, this is due to two factors, one of them is the competition that exists in the apartments or beach residences for rent, and one of them is the decline in the length of stay of tourists.

Flores hopes that growth for the second half of 2013 is similar to the numbers estimated by the World Tourism Organization, which would represent a 3% to 4%

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Owners of vacation residences must pay their taxes │ Costa Developers

taxes

Hoteliers indicate that there is a disparity between the application of taxes for hotels and vacation properties.

A new clarification in the records of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) and the Ministry of Finance has intensified efforts to strengthen tax and patents that are paid on the residences holidays throughout the country.

"No we are trying to discourage the renters" said Herman Navarro, the Manager of tourism by the ICT.

the incomes from rentals properties in Costa Rica emerged on the scene after the crisis of 2008 by people who owned vacation properties and stopped coming, so it began to rent their properties or sold them to rental companies." This has led to reducing the demand of visitors to hotels.

The owners of the hotels think that competition is not what causes affectations, but that hotels should cancel taxes unlatched to vacation properties, ranging from sales tax, social security for its employees, payments to the Ministry of health and others not.

To start the implementation of this new law, the Ministry of finance in conjunction with the ICT conducted an investigation where it was found that there are several of these properties, for example in Jaco Beach about 23, Manuel Antonio a 36 and on the coast of the Caribbean a 38.

The ICT indicates that this represents unfair competition among hotels and rental properties, since every dollar earned by the hotels is to re invest about three or four times, while investing in 1 or 1.3 times for vacation properties.

This occurs because the vacation properties should not be so frequent in infrastructure, services and personnel investments. In some places, hotels pay an amount to those in charge of monitoring the coast, while the properties not canceled these amounts and receive the benefits.

This aims to of there is a balance of occupation between independent vacation properties and hotels which offer the same service to both.

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Riverside Villas by Costa Developers

These #beautiful #Riverside Villas within our first #Project #CostaMontaña, are surrounded by the World famous Carara National Park, 5,242 hectares (13,105 acres) of magnificent beauty, with exuberant flora and fauna.

The Riverside Villas offer indoor/outdoor living experience beyond all expectations. Nestle between the Tarcolitos river and the rain forest, the units’ windows serve as portrait to the entire mountain where you can feel the local nature while enjoying a beautiful outdoor BBQ area and a relaxing swimming pool. After a nice lunch you can walk to the water's edge of the river, a private pathway that leads to this pristine, crystal clear mountain river.

The Riverside Villas feature gracious family, living, and dining rooms scaled for small families, but designed with extraordinary details such as wide hallways, top of the line appliances, granite counter tops, upgraded tile floors and hard wood cabinets. As one expects in paradise, the river, the rain forest and the sky are evident from all angles; spectacular design features such as big sliding glass doors guarantee that you'll never miss a sunrise neither a sunset.

The Gourmet eat-in kitchen with river views is absolutely spectacular, and opens to the Dining Room and Family Room. This entire space leads to the outdoors through a comfortable balcony.

Each villa has 3 bedrooms, with private balconies, providing guests a true resort experience and ultimate comfort. The Master Suite has endless mountain and river views, total privacy and walk in closet, the ideal place for afternoon naps.

An immaculately finished outdoors, over 9 cars parking space, in house security guard and maid, and residential  grade elevator are just a few of the additional features.

Meandering pathways and the authentic native #Costarican landscape, evoke the lifestyle of the Central Pacific coast, where the forest, the river and the sun are there for you to relax and enjoy.

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San Carlos: a paradise for Hot Springs lovers │ Costa Developers

Hot-Springs-san-carlos

Tabacon, Los Lagos and Baldi Hot Springs hot springs are some of the most popular in the region.

San Carlos is one of the regions most visited by tourists in Costa Rica, located to the North of the province of Alajuela, offers visitors an experience in the enjoyment of the hot springs, in many cases coming directly from the Arenal Volcano.

A group d entrepreneurs from the sector of San Carlos are in pursuit of strengthening relations to boost medical hydrology in the area, this make use of therapeutic infrastructure that already has the region and natural conditions.

Is sought in the area believed a region a medical business community that built centers that take advantage of the natural conditions of the area in the field of health, according to Lorena Herrera, who is an entrepreneur in the area and President of est working team.

One of the most renowned centers of the city on the theme of hot springs is the Baldi Hot Springs, Gabriela Moreira who is the spokesperson for the Center said that people visit this resort to enjoy these thermal waters and also cure some disease present.

"This tourism has been growing because people recognize the benefits of thermal water," Moreira said.

Are some of the others that are in the region, Los Lagos, Tabacon Hot Springs Resort Spa and others.

This initiative was born some years through consultations to the Latin American Association of Spas and thermal tourism (Termatalia) international fair.

Through different structures of ideas, support was consolidated with the Chamber of tourism of the Zona Norte which authorized to form a working group.

According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, approximately 25% of the people that visit Costa Rica, come to the North to contemplate the various attractions, one of the most important are the complex of thermal waters.

There are all kinds of price and services, including also offer different tours around the city, in the area of San Carlos also seen Arenal Volcano, horseback rides to callus and other attractions that are important to the tourist activities in the area.

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