Mr. Carlos Ricardo Benavides, current Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica, visited the Manuel Antonio National Park in the community of Quepos in the canton of Aguirre.
In addition other senior officials as Ireth Villalobos Rodriguez, from the Department of Marketing of Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, met with Central Pacific businessmen to show the efforts made in marketing promotion the brand Costa Rica in the world._x000D_
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The meeting discussed tourism as a generator of employment, foreign exchange and promoter of investment. Ruth Alfaro Rojas, Head of Department of Tourism Development of ICT, explained that "Taking advantage of those benefits will be achieved by improving the quality of life of Costa Rica, the conservation of our customs, traditions and simultaneously protect the environment."
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Mr. Richard Lemire, president of the Chamber of Commerce Industry and Tourism of Aguirre, was the one who invited the Minister for Tourism to visit the park and expose some of the region needs to continue its course towards sustainable development.
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The Minister pointed out that in two months 60 million colones, will be donated by ICT, to solve the problem of infrastructure which is currently affecting the Manuel Antonio Park. Moreover, the Minister is offering political help to engage the government to invest more in security for the area, such as bringing more tourist police to the county.
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Mr. Lemire mention that: "The National Park pioneered tourism more than 35 years ago, and it’s very important that Aguirre has an ICT office promoting tourism" and the Minister told us that is still under study the ideal place to locate the new regional office of ICT in the Central Pacific in Costa Rica.
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The Minister also spoke of the possibility of bringing the plan that works in Parrita, to take lifeguard at the beaches of Manuel Antonio, paid with municipality funds and with equipment donated by the ICT.
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This meeting was very fruitful for the commitments obtained, as well as unusual, since no one remembered having the Minister of Tourism visit the Manuel Antonio Park. We hope to have a meeting in the future with the Minister of Environment to expose our achievements and needs.
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