A bill being prepared by the hotel union would force platforms such as Airbnb to pay 13% sales tax and an additional 5% for national parks.
The bill is being drafted by the National Chamber of Tourism, which intends to submit it to the Legislative Assembly.If passed, this law would take effect for all platforms used for renting accommodation for tourism purposes, such as Airbnb, Homeaway and others.
The postponement of the payment of sales tax on some activities, approval of pending projects and the creation of a Tourism Competitiveness Council are some of the points that entrepreneurs want to prioritize.
Private trade union for tourism has raised at least five actions points it hopes will be addressed no later than next May by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. Another priority asked for is the cataloging of tourism as a sector and not as sub-sector.
Although it is facing 2015 with optimism, Costa Rica knows that it is facing strong growth in competition from regional neighbors as a tourist destination.
Costa Rica has begun to lose its comparative advantage which it has held for many years over the rest of the region in attracting tourists.
Businessmen are complaining that investments in international promotion amount to less than a third of what Panama spends, resulting in the country losing competitiveness as a destination in the region.
The 2015 budget for investment in official tourism promotion is $18 million, which industry representatives say is not enough if you expect tourism flows to keep up a good pace.
Up until December 31, 2015 a moratorium will be in effect on the payment of the 13% sales tax on recreational tourism activities in Costa Rica.
The tourism sector will accept the new tax on their terms: desiring an alternative draft law as soon as possible, which exempts legislative procedures and exonerates the charges made before the moratorium.
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