Although in the last year the country reached 2.48 million tourists, spending $4,605 million, exceeding in 3.3% what was recorded in 2017, businessmen ask the new administration to make "all efforts that lead to a vigorous revival of tourism."

From the CCIAP statement:

Because of the capacity of tourism to promote other productive activities in the country, there are several reasons for the newly installed government to include this sector within its priorities of immediate attention.

Tourism can generate hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs at different scales of development and geographical areas, and incorporate individual, family and collective entrepreneurs into its dynamics.

This adaptability has in the country a unique field of action by offering from jungle and desert areas to high altitude lands, through its extraordinary wealth of flora and fauna, as well as seas and island territories.

In fact, tourism is one of the country's most important exporters, as it integrates many businesses into its management. However, the so-called 'industry without chimneys' is in a state of crisis, which leads it to require urgent attention to recover its potential as a strategic economic factor.

Read full statement (In Spanish).

More on this topic

Less Bureaucracy to Boost the Economy

June 2019

As one of the measures that the Costa Rican government plans to implement is that it will no longer be necessary to have all the requirements to open a business certified, and only an affidavit will be necessary.

The government will implement a regulatory moratorium that will prevent the creation of new procedures, requirements or procedures to obtain permits, licenses or authorizations, which will apply until May 2022, according to an official source. This would be one of the guidelines that are part of the government's actions to lead the country to economic recovery.

Economic Reactivation: Proposals from Businessmen

May 2019

Reducing social security contributions, lowering the price of electricity and simplifying procedures in the country are part of the changes proposed by Costa Rica's private sector to reactivate the economy.

Representatives of different productive sectors agree that immediate actions focused on improving the performance of the Costa Rican economy should be implemented.

Is Panama Burned Out?

January 2018

One of the best parameters of the strength of an economy is the amount of businesses it creates. In Panama, 47% fewer companies were created in 2017 than in 2016.

Not only were fewer companies were created in 2017, but more companies were closed than in 2016.

Panama: Actions Proposed for Economic Reactivation

January 2018

Speeding ​​up the execution of public projects and creating a public-private entity that enhances exports, are some of the proposals put forward by the business association to reactivate different economic sectors.

From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama: