   A nomadic worker is someone who works remotely in different places, or even countries, often using mobile devices and the internet. - A.M. Costa Rica illustrative photo - |
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 Published Wednesday, January 27, 2021 International
nomadic workers residing
in the country could receive benefits By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The National Chamber of Tourism, Canatur, presented to Congress the bill No.22,215, "Law to Attract Foreign Nomadic Workers." The law will offer benefits to expat workers living in Costa Rica. A nomadic worker is someone who works remotely in different places, or even countries, often using mobile devices and the internet. According to Canatur, this new bill has the goal of creating a new category of stay in the country with the conditions of a non-resident. International remote workers will be allowed to settle in the country for long periods of time to work while offering their professional services to people or companies abroad. The special work permit would be granted for one year, with the option of being extended for another six months, according to the bill text. Also, the law will allow international remote workers to be exempted from income tax of the income generated abroad. As well as, they will receive an exemption of taxes for importing (or buying) the equipment necessary to fulfill their tasks. According to the chamber, this bill could give a boost to the recovery of tourism that has dropped due to the covid-19 pandemic. "The tourism sector sees it as an important opportunity to target foreigners who seek to establish themselves to work, because they are people who receive high incomes, require services and buy products during their stay," Rubén Acón, President of the Chamber said. According to Acón, the country meets ideal conditions such as the lifestyle, quality of services, accessibility, infrastructure and technology, for foreign nomad workers. This bill is expected to be approved or rejected by the deputies of Congress sometime this week. Currently, international visitors with a tourist visa can stay in the country for 90 days. U.S. citizens (for example) don't require an entry visa to Costa Rica. However, they must have a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica within 90 days. Either to return to their own country or to go to another country. As a tourist visa requires, they cannot stay more than 90 days. For a stay longer than 90 days a residence permit must be established.  According to the most updated report of the Tourism Institute provided last week, the arrival of tourists fell by approximately 70%. According to the institute, 1,011,912 tourists arrived in 2020, which represents almost a third of the 3 million-plus visitors recorded in 2019. "The uncertainty and restrictions of the pandemic caused world tourism slowdown and the country received a third of the tourists that usually come to Costa Rica," Gustavo Segura, Minister of Tourism said. The country closed the air and maritime border for five months, from March to August, as part of the government's plan to try to stop covid-19 infections in the country. The recovery of the tourism sector will be gradual, Segura said. According to the minister, an increase has been detected in the number of tourists arriving from the United States, however, this is not happening in the case of European visitors, due to the restrictions in those countries and the long distance. In other words, for a European, it could be more expensive to travel from another continent to get to Costa Rica, than for a visitor of the American Continent. Last year 547,466 tourists arrived from North America. In December alone, 45,641 arrived from the U.S. and 4,450 from Canada. Also in 2020, 149,023 European travelers arrived from countries such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. "With the arrival of the vaccine, the increase in efforts to contain the virus, the opening and reactivation of tourist activity, we hope that the activity will show a rebound for the second half of 2021," Rodolfo Lizano, representative of the Tourism Institute said. According to Segura, the challenge for this year is to maintain a safe border opening and to keep promoting the country's brand as a safe destination in the main markets, such as the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Another challenge is to bring relief to tourism service companies, so they can survive during the pandemic, the minister said. -------------------------- What should the government do to increase tourism? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com         
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