This Week’s Top Costa Rica News Story
This week in Costa Rica, the U.S. deportation agreement moved into its third week, the colón stayed strong against the dollar, lawmakers advanced a wildlife crossings bill, and the debate over development in Papagayo kept growing. Travelers also got new warnings about airport-area road closures and QR code scams.
Costa Rica receives third group of deportees from the United States
Costa Rica received another group of deportees from the United States, bringing 28 people to Juan Santamaría International Airport: 25 foreign nationals and three Costa Ricans. It was the third consecutive week of arrivals under the migration cooperation agreement signed with Washington in late March. The latest group included people from Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Bolivia and Romania.
More News From Costa Rica This Week
Costa Rica’s strong colón keeps pressure on tourism and exporters
The colón closed another week below the ¢460 mark against the U.S. dollar, adding pressure on tourism operators, exporters and people earning in dollars. The issue is now drawing more attention inside the Central Bank, with two BCCR directors calling for a rate cut
Wildlife crossings bill advances in Costa Rica
Lawmakers approved in first debate a bill that would make wildlife crossings a formal part of road planning. The proposal passed with 47 votes in favor and none against. It would require safe passage structures when technical studies show that roads affect animal movement or ecological connectivity
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Night closures begin as General Cañas toll booths come down
Costa Rica will begin demolishing the old toll booths on the General Cañas Highway on Monday, April 27. The work is expected to run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for about five days, with closures affecting traffic from San José toward Alajuela and Juan Santamaría International Airport.
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Papagayo development fight keeps building
Environmental groups protested in Playa Panamá against a real estate and tourism project in the Papagayo Gulf area, citing concerns over planned tree cutting, water pressure and coastal ecosystem damage.
The dispute also moved through the courts, with developers challenging a Constitutional Court decision that suspended logging and construction permits tied to the project
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Costa Rica to Add Nearly 1500 Hotel Rooms in Major Tourism Expansion
Costa Rica’s hotel market is preparing for another wave of growth, with the Costa Rican Tourism Institute confirming 17 new tourism projects tied mainly to lodging and representing about $391.8 million in investment.
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Spotlight
Costa Rica Backs Panama in Escalating China Shipping Dispute
Panama announced yesterday it will sanction a Chinese consortium for alleged breaches on a canal-related infrastructure project as detentions of Panamanian-flagged vessels in Chinese ports continue. The move comes after a sharp rise in inspections that began in March.
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