The law, signed on April 5, authorizes foreign-flagged vessels and their crews to carry out lucrative activities related to aquatic transportation, recreation and tourism within the waters of the national territory, allowing the hiring of national captains and sailors to carry out these practices, informed the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

See "Tourism and Travel: Consumer Interests and Preferences"

Also, it makes it possible for marina concessionaires and their subsidiary companies to grant the concession as a guarantee in order to access financing, adds the ICT press release.

President Carlos Alvarado said that "... this legal reform introduces new features for marina concessionaires and for foreign vessels that dock in their spaces, which will facilitate and strengthen the dynamics of nautical tourism in Costa Rica, a segment that attracts visitors with high purchasing power and has a huge impact on employment generation in coastal communities in the country."

The Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Segura, explained that "... by modernizing the conditions in which the marinas operate, it is expected that they will be a more powerful magnet to attract lovers of nautical tourism, a segment that involves quality tourism, consistent with the model of sustainable development, closely related to culture and sport and key to boost the economy of coastal communities where they are located."

Jeffrey Duchesneau, president of the Association of Marinas of Costa Rica, explained that "... the reform to the Law of Marinas and Berths, together with the skill of the country's tourism sector and the world-class marinas of the Pacific coast, make Costa Rica the new ideal destination for luxury yacht charter; we are opening a whole world of options to tourists of another category. It's a win-win scenario for everyone: the tourist, the coastal communities and the country as well."

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