By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
The National Federation of
Associations of Tourism Guides of
Costa Rica denounced a government
decree published on March 8 that
"leaves free" the activities of
adventure tourism in the country.
The decree published in the official
newspaper La Gaceta gave companies
that offer adventure tourism without
a certified tourist guide permission
to continue operations until June 6,
2020.
According to the Federation, this
measure generates a progressive
weakening of the security conditions
of adventure tourism activities
carried out by national and foreign
tourists and hikers in Costa Rica.
"This Decree generates a fourth and
unnecessary extension, this time of
up to 15 months, to companies and
people who sell and operate
adventure tourism activities, so
that they can run without the need
for certified tourist guides."
According to the Federation,
insurance policies apply only when
there is a certified tourist guide
in adventure activities including
things like rafting in fast-flowing
rivers, national park hikes, rope
activities, zip lines, and cables,
as well as ATV trips or other
motorized activities, diving, and
horseback riding, among others.
"Consumers are reminded that the
insurance and the policies they
would apply in eventual
contingencies are valid only if the
Tourist Guides in charge of the
activities are certified," said the
Federation in its statement.
In response to the denunciation of
the Federation, the National Chamber
of Tourism and the Association of
Adventure Operators denied that the
Costa Rican State is "leaving free"
the operation of adventure tourism
activity.
Shirley Calvo, executive director of
the National Chamber of Tourism,
said "the Decree does not mean a
setback in the high levels of
security that the country has. The
modification defines a longer period
of time that allows companies to
finish certifying all their guides."
The Chamber states that, currently,
the Regulation for the Operation of
Adventure Tourism Activities defines
the requirements for companies that
provide this type of service saying
they must fulfill the sanitary and
security aspects regulations for
both of tourists and of the staffers
of the companies.
In addition, in order to operate,
companies have different types of
manuals such as: operations and
security, maintenance of their
equipment and as emergency plans,
according to the provisions of the
Regulations since 2016.
The National Chamber of Tourism
published the list of tourism
agencies that are accredited online.
To know more about accredited
tourist agencies call (506)
2234-6222. The list can be reached
at the following link canatur.org
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ABC
news / Red Cross photos
In 2018, five
men were dragged by
the strong current and
drowned.
Related
to tourist
accidents, as A.M.
Costa Rica reported
in Oct. 2018, a
group of 14 tourists
from the U.S. hired
the services of a
rafting company, as
part of a bachelor
party for their
friend, Luis
Beltran.
The group went to
the Naranjo
River in Quepos*
where they divided
themselves among
three rafts and
began to navigate
through the Rio
Naranjo rapids.
"We decided to
celebrate Luis
Beltran's bachelor
party in Costa Rica
on the weekend of
October 18, 2018.
We've been friends
for many years and
we wanted to do
something special
for our friend
before his wedding.
We planned a few
activities, one of
them being a white
water rafting tour
on the Saturday of
our trip," said
Antonio Castro one
of the survivors of
the accident.
For reasons that are
still under
investigation, the
three rafts were
overturned, throwing
tourists into the
water. Most managed
to save their lives
by holding to the
rafts and letting
the current take
them to the
riverbank. However,
five men were
dragged by the
strong current and
drowned.
"Within minutes, all
of us were careening
down the river with
life jackets and
helmets just trying
to stabilize and
find something to
hold on to.
Throughout the
dangerous ride down
the river, all of us
struggled to stay
above water,
swallowing lots of
it. All of us [the
survivors] were so
lucky. Four of our
dear friends drowned
in those waters,"
said Castro.
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Have you hired a
tour in an agency
recently? If so, did
you know that the
insurance policy
does not apply if
the tour guide is
not certified? We
would like to know
your thoughts on
this story. Send
your comments to: news@amcostarica.com
*Link to reach the map.
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