Three years ago, the National Tourism Board (Spanish acronym: ICT) launched an initiative to provide clear warnings to foreign and domestic tourists about certain risks they may face during their relaxing or adventurous activities in Costa Rica. The initiative called for a closer involvement by Fuerza Publica in looking after the safety of visitors to our country.

The first stage of the project consisted of strengthening the Tourism Police special unit of Fuerza Publica, which now counts with more English-speaking officers who are better trained in tourism matters. The second part of the project is now underway, and it involves a better safety information system.

Rip Current Warnings

Proper warning signs pointing out the danger of rip currents in our beaches have now been placed in 41 of our coastal communities. The second stage of ICT’s safety initiative will involve 17 more beaches, which means that tourists will now be aware of the danger of rip currents at the great majority of our oceanfront communities. Ever since the initiative started, the number of emergencies related to rip currents has diminished.

According to the Red Cross, rip currents are responsible for the significant number of drownings at beaches like Dominical, where the high number of rip current drownings calls for an organized lifeguard service.

The next 17 beaches that will be properly signaled are located in:

• Avellanas
• Bandera
• Baru
• Bejuco
• Camaronal
• Cangrejal
• Carrillo
• Garza
• Guiones
• Junquillal
• Manuel Antonio
• Matapalo
• Naranjo
• Ostional
• Ventanas

In addition to the signs, the ICT will make available brochures in English and Spanish with tips and warnings to those who wish to enjoy our beaches safely. The Tourism Police precincts, some beach hotels and tourist information centers will offer these brochures.

New Tourist Information Offices

The ICT has opened two new information offices, one across from Libreria Lehman in downtown San Jose on First Avenue, and another in the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia.

These offices, along with others around the country, offer services such as bus schedules and routes, maps, brochures, safety tips, important phone numbers, etc. These are also central offices for tourists to voice their concerns and complaints. ICT-trained customer service specialists will follow up on all complaints, even those that are lodged by foreigners after they return home. With these two new offices, the total number of official information points around the country is now 12.

ICT and Fuerza Publica have asked the government to provide $75 million in the next four years to increase the ranks of the Tourism Police and provide their officers with advanced training.

Source: Pueblo y Sociedad Noticias