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  The Costa Rica Electric Route project seeks to support the electrification of transportation in different tourist rural communities. - Monteverde Climate Change Resilience Commission photo - |
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Published Wednesday, October 21, 2020 projects in tourist zones By the A.M. Costa Rica staff According to the Costa Rica-U.S. Foundation for Cooperation, CRUSA, the country tourism sector is one of the most impacted by covid-19. In 2015 the tourism sector generated approximately 160,000 jobs and at least 450,000 additional jobs related in some way to tourism, according to the Tourism Development Plan 2017-2021. However, the pandemic has left practically no income for the entire industry such as hoteliers, transport companies, tour agencies, tour operators, guides, porters, chambers and associations, and hundreds associated with tourism, such as artisan groups, CRUSA said in its statement. Considering the importance of tourist activity, which in 2016 accounted for 6.3% of GDP, CRUSA with the support of public institutions and the private sector created the Rediscover Costa Rica project. The program has the goal of financing entrepreneurs and promoting the economic reactivation of tourist areas located outside the Greater Metropolitan Area, GAM. The Greater Metropolitan Area or GAM is the area made up of cities in the outskirts of San José such as Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. As part of the Rediscovering Costa Rica program, the Solutions Contest was created to finance entrepreneurs with the best proposals aimed at promoting sustainable tourism. Thirteen proposals were chosen based on their solutions for challenges facing communities. There was an initial investment of $150,000 contributed by the CRUSA Foundation. The following are the winning project proposals: 1. "Costa Rica electric routes" developed in the Monteverde district in Puntarenas Province. 2. "Montezuma's sustainable tourist destination" to be developed in Montezuma town in the southern part of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. 3. "Rediscovering the Gulf of Nicoya" also developed for the Nicoya Peninsula. 4. "La Tigra Forest Reserve" focused on San Carlos and San Ramón. 5. "Strengthening rural community tourism in Isla Venado" for Isla Venado in Lepanto Puntarenas. 6 "Matina on the map of sustainable tourism" focused on the Matina district in Limon Province. 7. "Community Nursery Aprender - Haciendo" for the community of Portogolpe in Guanacaste Province. 8. "Draw your plastic" targeting Santa Teresa, Malpaís, Carmen Beach, Cabo Blanco, Ario, Manzanillo and Hermosa Beach in Cóbano. 9. "Ngäbe youth and heritage" for the Ngäbe community of Alto Laguna in Osa Canton. 10. "Guana Staff on-demand" for Coco Beach. 11. "Strengthening and equipping the activities of the Association of Butterfly Women", in Manzanillo and Costa de Pájaros. 12. " From unemployed to female community park guards protecting macaws" in Pital de San Carlos. 13. " Building synergies for solidarity" for Bahía Ballena in Dominical, Uvita-Bahía, and Ojochal. The goal of the projects is to expand green programs to promote the development of tourist areas. For example, the Costa Rica Electric Route project, of the Monteverde Climate Change Resilience Commission; seeks to support the electrification of transportation in different tourist communities of the country, outside the Greater Metropolitan Area, establishing a network of charging points for electric vehicles in shops in different communities throughout the national territory. The charging points will be located at restaurants, hotels, attractions and other companies. Visitors can load their vehicles while resting, eating, shopping and errands and/or enjoying the tourist attractions in the area. ---------------------- Have you heard of a green project entrepreneur looking for funding? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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