Attracting Costa Ricans and visitors to stay in Sarapiquí and Turrialba to enjoy their numerous tourist attractions and stay overnight in these destinations rather than simply traveling through them—this is the objective of the six projects negotiated between the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) and local actors of Sarapiquí, Turrialba and Jiménez as part of the Comprehensive Management of Tourist Destinations Program, which was launched in August 2018.

In Sarapiquí, the priority is to open a new entrance to the Braulio Carrillo National Park by the Ceibo post to enjoy the rainforest, a project supported by the Municipality, the region’s Chamber of Tourism, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) and the business owners of the area and surrounding community.

Tourist signage will also be improved, while the creation of spaces highlighting the identity and richness of the destination will improve cultural aspects and conditions for tourism in the city of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. These strategies include, for example, reviving the role that the Sarapiquí river played in the National Campaign of 1856-1857, and promoting birdwatching.

In Turrialba—and for the benefit of its neighbor, Jiménez—the three priority projects are: reopening the Turrialba volcano, improving the Guayabo National Monument’s visitor experience, and developing a thematic trail that uses the Turrialba cheese denomination of origin as a tourist attraction.

To reopen the Turrialba Volcano, the municipality and the region’s chambers of commerce, set up a commission along with SINAC, the National Emergency Commission and the ICT, which will develop a plan and carry out the necessary steps to achieve this objective.

“These are very specific projects focused on opportunities to improve the competitiveness of the destinations, which will have an impact on economic revitalization by attracting more activity to the area”, said the Coordinating Minister of the Government Economic Council, Edna Camacho.

María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the leadership of local governments and ongoing initiatives in Sarapiquí, Turrialba y Jiménez.

“With the support from ICT, it is the people of Sarapiquí and Turrialba who are in charge of deciding where they want to be in five years. They are the engines of this train, and ICT is one more car. We want to facilitate investment in hotels, increase overnight stays and encourage new tourism products that differentiate each Tourism Development Center”.

The National Tourism Plan – a document produced by ICT in partnership with the private sector – has identified 32 Tourist Development Centers spread throughout the country. These centers have a connotation of “local destinations” and are defined as the segments of tourist areas where the concentration of attractions, facilities, tourist equipment and services in general attracts a steady flow of overnight tourists who stay at least one night on a fairly regular basis.

“The integration and coordinated work of local actors are necessary to improve competitiveness, the generation of social capital, and the conditions for the development of tourism. In general, they are indispensable for the organization, execution and monitoring of the actions necessary to face challenges and take advantage of opportunities to contribute to the development of the country as a world-class tourist destination”, said Rodolfo Lizano, director of Planning and Development at ICT.

In the company of local actors in Sarapiquí and Turrialba, ICT presented the management plans for these destinations on the 13th and 15th of March, respectively. In Tamarindo, the presentation of the results is scheduled for April.

“We have set clear goals and the document we receive is the guide to navigate the path towards the future. Tourism is our hope”, said the mayor of Sarapiquí, Pedro Rojas, while in Turrialba, its mayor, Luis Fernando León, said about the plan: “We understood that to achieve our objectives we must work together and this is the payoff”.