Strike, Blockades and Tourism

After nine days of strikes by public officials in Costa Rica, tour operators, hotels and restaurants in different parts of the country are reporting that reservations are being cancelled and sales are plummeting.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

The strike being promoted by the country's public unions started on Monday, September 6, and has already caused millions of dollars worth of losses due to multiple road blocks and acts of sabotage in the fuel distribution chain, among other coercive measures. 

In relation to the cancellations, Dicgiana Gómez, tour operator at Mardigi Tours which offers tours in Guanacaste, told Nacion.com that they have had " ... pure losses and, with the three tours that we did have (last week), unfortunately the return trip for customers to get back to their hotels took six hours. Very bad. Its not at all good for good for them, nor for us. Given the lack of tourists because of the protests by strikers, I have decided not to do any more trips until the strike is over."

See Strike: "Strike: Business Leaders Demand Swift Action" and "Another week of strike in Costa Rica"

The article reports that "...Trevor Bernard, from the Best Western Hotel Tamarindo Vista Villas, also in Guanacaste, revealed that since the strike by a group of public sector employees began on Monday, September 10, they have seen 21% rise in reservation cancellations: 'That represents thousands of dollars for the company from revenue from consumption and tours taken by the guests' in that area of the Pacific beach."

For her part Rowena Brown, at the Caribbean Kalisi Restaurant, in Limón port, reported that sales have plummeted by 70% due to lack of tourists and sales agents in the Limón zone, because of the strike.

In regards to this issue, the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) issued a statement last weekend, in which it demanded that the Government regain control throughout the national territory and warned of the economic impact being felt by companies in the union.

From the statement issued by the CCH:

The members of the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels (CCH) want to make clear their concern about the situation facing areas such as Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Limón, where tourism is essential for sustaining the economies of each area and which have been affected by blockades and riots that have not even stopped this weekend.

In the Chamber's view, the government must enforce the law, remove the blockades, which in themselves are illegal and thereby guarantee the free movement of citizens and thousands of tourists whose plans to enjoy the wonders offered by Costa Rica in different areas have been affected.

Extended travel times, fear of disturbances and even fuel shortages in some regions, are the main effects, which have also led to cancellation of reservations, flights and delays in the delivery of rented vehicles, for example.

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More on this topic

Coronavirus and Tourism in Central America

March 2020

Some of the most notable effects caused by the spread of covid-19 is the cancellation of at least 8,000 hotel nights in Costa Rica, and the interruption by Iberia of its flights from Madrid to Guatemala and San Salvador.

Businessmen in the region agree that due to the virus that has been spreading from China, supply chains have been interrupted, which is combined with a drop in the transit of people, causing losses to the tourism sector.

Strike Losses Keep on Counting

October 2018

During the first five weeks of a strike called by public unions in Costa Rica, 76% of businesses reported economic losses and 18% had to lay off staff.

The Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce carried out a study with the objective of measuring the losses of companies in the sector, derived from the strike carried out by the country's public unions, which began last September 6th.

Strike: Business Leaders Demand Swift Action

September 2018

Following a week of strikes by public unions in Costa Rica, the private sector is demanding that authorities act faster and prevent public roads from being blockaded.

In the face of the strike led by public unions in the country, which has now been ongoing for more than seven days, the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) is demanding that the government act quickly and avoid further blockades on public roads.

Another Week of Strike in Costa Rica

September 2018

Millions of dollars in losses to the business sector, fuel shortages and roadblocks are some of the consequences of the strike by public officials in the country.

Since the unions of public institutions started the strike on Monday, September 6, the situation has been getting worse, with no sign of an end any time soon.

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