New #tourism partnerships between #Costa Rica and #China │ #costadevelopers

#china and #costarica

Commercial alliances with China have increased in the Government of President Laura Chinchilla.

The Minister of tourism of Costa Rica, Allan Flores said in recent days from Beijing was signed a memorandum on air cooperation between China and Costa Rica with which it seeks to increase Chinese tourism to Costa Rica.

Initiative pursues the increase at four times the number of visitors from China in the next three years. According to the goal intends to spend 12 thousand current Chinese per year to 50 000 in 2016.

The Minister indicated that this establishes a line of air cooperation which was signed in August of last year and which was given validity in President Laura Chinchilla's recent trip to Beijing.

This agreement is beneficial for those airlines that fly between the two countries, through the major cities of the United States, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.

"In the absence of direct air links between China and Costa Rica, something that is technically very difficult due to the long distance (as with almost all Latin America), this type of links seek to stimulate the arrival of Chinese tourists," said.

For example, developing travel packages that include Costa Rica as a destination added to U.S. cities already very popular among travelers from China, said Flores.

The country is currently in search of a profile of specific tourist, those who travel frequently outside of China, and have for favorite destinations, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia and Viet Nam.

The country wants to be shown as a safe destination, suitable to enjoy eco-tourism, bird watching, and other adventure activities.

This is part of the plan for the diversification of the attraction of tourism in Costa Rica, since this activity is usually promoted to countries like United States, Canada and the European Union; however the country now seeks to attract to the Asian region.

During his visit to China, the Costa Rican delegation, which also includes the Deputy Minister of transport, Ana Cristina Jenkins, met with leaders of three of the major airlines in the country (Air China, China Eastern and Hainan Airlines) and the director of the administration of Civil Aviation, Li Jiaxiang.

Posted by Costa Developers

Costa Rica becomes a country of high luxury for visitors

Years ago the small country of Central America was known as a little explored natural destination and with limited possibilities to find accommodation and services of high luxury, found in the Caribbean and other countries. However that has changed and today it has become a tourist destination paradise and desired by many.

San Jose, the capital city has grown enormously and is capable of accommodating hundreds of businessmen and tourists looking for luxurious, comfortable and good price places to attend activities of world order, business congresses and other meetings; a focal point in new investments of the Ministry of tourism of the country.

With an input of about two million tourists a year, the country has made efforts to offer visitors everything you require when visiting the country.

If you are traveling to Costa Rica seeking a high luxury vacation, can be found. Currently there are marinas, golf courses, luxurious restaurants and hotels. Near projects of Costa Developers, where you can enjoy an unforgettable vacation, the luxurious Central Pacific Resort: Los Sueños, a place where it has access to a true oasis of tranquility and comfort.

Despite having taken a direction towards the buildings and most luxurious services and that they meet high standards, Costa Rica continues to be recognized worldwide for sustainability and conservation of the environment in urban residential and tourist complexes.

These centers for visitors have been catalogued as part of the stream of eco-tourism, which make up the eco-lodges, eco-resorts: centers of placement for tourists possessing high luxury and comfort without forgetting the flag for the conservation of nature and resources, something that much attention from the visitors.

Areas such as Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Herradura, Jacó, tourist complexes in Manuel Antonio, Central Pacific and Gulf of Papagayo in the North Pacific. Definitely Costa Rica has become a paradise for those looking for both comfort and harmony with nature.

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What do “baby boomers” wished to have when going on vacation?

There’s no question that comfort and price are two important elements when going on vacation, and people between ages of 48-69, that have been called the baby boomer generation, become more demanding bout what they look for when traveling for leisure and pleasure.

A recent survey conducted by WatchBoom.com an online magazine with 7000 subscribers, revealed interesting suggestions to resort and vacation centers on the world.

One of the most important things, of course is the price, but curiously 60% of people who responded to the survey said they’d be willing to pay a few extra dollars if they’re promised to have a time to remember, even if that is on high season.

Travelers also prefer all-inclusive hotels, giving them the choice to not pay anything extra for food or drinks. “Knowing that your tab for food and drink is covered takes a lot of unknowns out of budgeting for a vacation, especially for (Boomers) who foot the bill for family reunions and the like.”

More than 50% of respondents say they would prefer a “garden view” room at beach resorts because of pricey “ocean view” rooms at some resorts, and one of the subscribers said that “you can’t always get a front-on view of the ocean” from an ocean view room.

Boomers were also asked which the top five foreign destinations to vacation were; the results of those places are 1.Mexico, 2.Hawaii and the Caribbean, 3.Spain, 4.Costa Rica and 5.Canada.

The most important reference to choose a place is the experiences of others; the best way to find out how good or bad is a place is from the previous travel of relatives or friends. But online reviews are also very important, some say they’d rather see some good and bad reference instead of only wonderful things, “When I see a whole string of reports saying a hotel is really wonderful, and nothing ever goes wrong there, I get a feeling that the reviews have been ‘planted’ by the hotel.”

On the other hand some do rely on what others have said about the places on the web, “I rely on reviews by people who’ve actually stayed at hotels to steer me away from noisy, dirty and otherwise awful places…things I’d never have known from pictures of hotels on the websites.”

All inclusive hotels have a challenge of pleasing baby boomers’ visitors around the world, Costa Rica is no exception of it is surely a place where you will find everything you’re looking for to have a great time.

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6.9% more tourists came to Costa Rica on the third trimester of 2012

According to statistics of the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) between January and September 2012 the income of tourists to the country, rose at a 6.9% leaving as the balance $ 1.7 billion to the State.

These figures show that in the first nine months of the previous year (2012), a total of 1.635.348 people entered the country by airway, while in the previous year (2011) the same figure was 1.593.999 which reflects growth of 2.5%. The authorities even scanned the last quarter of 2012.

In addition to the income by air, is added the entry of tourists who arrived in the country by land, which were 1.799.000.

According to the corresponding authorities, since 2008 the number of tourists entering the country is maintained between 2,000,000 and 2.100.000 per year, which shows a clear change in the figures that were presented between 2004 and 2007.

The Minister of tourism, Allan Flores indicated that data are still needed "I have information that the airport Juan Santa María closed in a significant way, as well as the International Airport Daniel Oduber." You have to wait to have the data for the fourth quarter of 2012 ".

The country has made strong efforts to issue of marketing and exposure of the benefits and attractions to visit the country, which is expected to translate into the increase in the number of tourists entering the country. Tourism is one of the main economic activities of the country. Costa Rica plans to invest 17 million dollars for the promotion of tourism in 2013.

As the Minister of tourism, the overall expectation for the year 2012 correspond to an income of more than two million tourists, is however too early to make approximations. However, if indicated that most of the recorded tourists come from the United States and Canada.

"What I can tell you is that we are increasing the budget in promotion and marketing and our participation in international fairs; "also hope to have completed the National Convention Center, which will attract another form of tourism this year", said Flores.

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Where are the “best buys” in Costa Rica?

Year after year we’ve seen that the more than 2 million tourists that show up to explore this country keep falling in love with it and become interested in purchasing property in Costa Rica; with such promising panoramas within the next years in the Real Estate business and with a lovely destination, how come you doubt?

International Living magazine recently shared information about where are the hot spots to purchase property in Costa Rica, not surprisingly the Central-Southern Pacific stills in top 1, not only because it’s proven to be the best area to live and vacation but because of all benefits of it.

Think about a place which is located very close to Costa Developers projects, Manuel Antonio National Park, the most visited place in the country by tourists, not only because it is very close to the Central Valley but because of its immense natural beauty. The park is so visited; there are restrictions to get it, 600 people during the week and 800 on the weekends.

If you happen to be on that area, moving a little to the south you’ll find Corcovado National Park, for those who are truly down for a completely natural outdoors adventure, this is the place to be; a pristine reserve full of wild life, without roads, stores or hotels, huge tall trees and all kinds of birds to watch and enjoy.

Not only Manuel Antonio and Corcovado are located around the Central-Southern Pacific area, but a lot of places to enjoy as well, and numerous, countless activities to have lots of fun.

The following spots where to the northern are of Alajuela (city approximately 10 miles from San Jose) San Carlos, where you will find beautiful landscape and a lot of activities to enjoy, such as delicious hot springs, horseback riding tours and many more. On the third place, International Living chose the Caribbean region of the country, which despite all its current social problematic situations also holds a beautiful landscape.

No doubt, the Central-Southern Pacific stills your first top choice in case you’re looking for a great place to vacation and enjoy retirement, family travel. Take a look at our website so you can see yourself vacationing at this paradise.

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The world’s largest labyrinth lives just outside Tamarindo.

La Senda, which is strategically built over two energy centers in Guanacaste.

The trip to La Senda, the world’s largest labyrinth, is a journey in itself. Located 20 minutes from Tamarindo, Santa Rosa is not a travel destination. It is barely even a town in Costa Rica.

It was biologist Sergio Salas who found the energy centers with a dousing rod, and later suggested building the labyrinth. Depypere and Salas called in architect and labyrinth designer Ronald Esquivel, who drew up the labyrinth using rules and traditions from sacred geometry.

The effect of their labors is an overwhelming sight.  After a short hike through the woods, labyrinth seekers will suddenly find themselves in a clearing exuding the ceremonial wonder of an Indian burial ground. 

Eventually, the prickly pear cactus will grow to form solid walls between the other cacti, but for now it is easy to weave between the lines without taking the 3-kilometer walk along the path. The cacti are clustered in spirals around the two energy vortexes, with another point on the line between them creating a third center. At ground level, the circular mass of cacti looks like an alien landing marker, but aerial photos show the obvious spiral path.

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Costa Rica seeks to attract more tourists from the Middle East.

costadevelopers.com

A new agreement will help boost the number of flights from the region.

Costa Rica and Qatar on Today signed the Central American country’s first open-skies agreement with a Middle Eastern country, aimed at boosting tourism from that region.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) said in a press release that the agreement allows flights and airline operations between the two countries.

Tourism Minister Allan Flores said the agreement also will allow airlines to connect from other countries and transfer passengers between flights.

Air Transport Vice Minister Luis Araya said that in the last two years, Costa Rica has signed more open-skies agreements than in the past 100 years.

“These air transport links are vital in an economy in which tourism is our main economic development engine”.

Qatar, an emirate in the Middle East, has the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world ($102,700), and Costa Rica hopes to become a favorite holiday destination for its nationals.

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Costa Developers | Environmentally friendly constructions grow in the country

Sustainable building is a new opportunity to promote more efficient construction developments  

According to an interview to La República with Pietro Stagno from Luz de Piedra, he says environmentally sustainable or friendly buildings called the attention of businessmen and representatives of the sector. Buyers expressed more frequently interest in this type of techniques.

In addition to complying with the environmental commitment, the cost of an eco-friendly house is competitive relative to a normal one.

To unify criteria, a group of businessmen and representatives of Chambers wrote a code, which contains the standards to be met by the contractor so that the construction can declare eco-friendly.

This initiative was born more than 10 years ago, aims to generate a positive impact on the nature and lower costs.

However, is not so far that the technique is endorsed by the Institute of technical standards and accepted by the association of architects and engineers.

The development of this technique is carried out by Bruno Stagno, who named this code reset, which means requirements for sustainable buildings in the tropics. He had also the support of the Institute for Tropical architecture and Carlos Álvarez, President of the engineers and architects professional association.

For compliance with this standard does not require the person concerned to invest in expensive technologies, you are rather encouraged to build national materials. With Reset, the investment to build an eco-friendly building is almost the same as for a normal, said Alvarez.

Currently is used only by consulting firms for the design of houses both in urban land and mountains. Some of the precursor signatures are Bruno Stagno architects, Luz de PIedra and Terranum.

Terranum for example, works with modulations of block, steel profiles, aluminum, natural light and ventilation building on the direction of the prevailing winds, as well as the use of gardens. On the other hand, Luz de Piedra focuses on the impact to the ground, controlling the movements of land and vegetation layers.

Costa Rica Real Estate | Costa Developers