Improvement in technology
Costa Rica climbed 13 positions in the yearly world index of Net availability and access to information and communication technology by the World Economic Forum. Thus, Costa Rica places 56th –69th in 2006 and 61st in 2005– among the 122 countries studied. Now Denmark tops the list –3rd in 2006–, while the U.S. dropped from 1st to 7th. The index measures information technology availability and the ability of each country to take advantage of it.
More tourists
Minister of Tourism Carlos Benavides expects a 4 percent increase in the arrival of visitors to Costa Rica in 2007. Contrary to what had been previously said, he pointed out that tourism did not decrease in 2006; quite the contrary, he pointed out a 2.2 percent increase in the arrival of visitors. He further explained that improving conditions at the international airports and the arrival of new airlines might account for a larger increase of Costa Rica’s key activity this year.
Visas for frequent visitors
Hundreds of foreigners will be granted digital visas, valid for a year. Thus, they will not need to call on a Costa Rican consulate every time they have to come here. Immigration Service boss Mario Zamora said the new visas are safer and will benefit frequent travelers, mostly. He added that the new visa will soon be available at most key consulates.
Corporate traveling
English corporate traveling firm Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) started operations in Costa Rica. HRG investment director Roger Westwood said that the market both in Costa Rica and in the region is growing fast, thus their decision to set shop here. HRG has been 161 years in the world market, has offices in over 100 countries, and its yearly operations are close to $20 billion.
Food prices up
The prices of basic foodstuffs increase at a higher rate than the other goods and services, the National Statistics and Census Bureau (INEC in Spanish) reports. In the year ending last February, Costa Ricans faced a 14.3 percent average increase in the 45 products that are considered basic in their diet. According to Emilia Sanchez, of the Integrated Agricultural Market Program, irregular weather during most of 2006 –accounting for a decrease in crops– and the exports of foodstuffs to the Caribbean are at the root of the increase.
Smithsonian secretary
Cristian Samper, a biologist born in Costa Rica 41 years ago, is now the acting secretary –the top position– of the Smithsonian Institution. Since 2003, Samper had been director of the National Museum of Natural History, one of the Smithsonian 19 museums. Among other features, Samper has vast experience in biological diversity, based on research done in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica.
U.S. swindlers arrested
In an operation coordinated by the International Police (INTERPOL), Joshua J. Grimes, 29, and Michael R. Kearns, 30, were arrested at Juan Santamaria International Airport when ready to board a flight to San Andres, Colombia. The two are suspected of leading a gang that scammed a large number of people in the United States and were wanted on fraud and cash laundering charges.
Sinaloa Cartel
Official sources have now confirmed that the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful and bloody drug organizations in Mexico, controlled the trafficking of cocaine on the Costa Rican Pacific Ocean. The criminal organization had enlisted local fishermen, who received the drug, bound for the U.S., from Colombians and carried it on Costa Rican boats to Guatemala and Mexico. U.S. and Costa Rica anti-drug joint operations have dismembered most of the branch of the organization here, according to Tico police sources.
Orchids endangered
A large number of the 30,000 species of orchids in the world are threatened with extinction, as a result of damage to their habitat, climate change, and the ignorance of people regarding their growing and handling. These data surfaced in recent days, when over 175 experts from 30 countries discussed orchids in Costa Rica, which is home to 5 percent –some 1,400 species– of the world’s orchids.
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