Costa Rica strengthens tourist security with the opening of the new 9-1-1 Tourist Police Office

In a joint effort to strengthen security and provide immediate assistance to tourists visiting the country, this Tuesday, September 2nd, authorities inaugurated the Tourist Police's 9-1-1 Dispatch, located in the heart of the capital, specifically on the south side of San José's Central Park.

This joint effort was supported by the Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora Cordero; the Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez López; and the Executive Director of the 9-1-1 Emergency System, Adirman Miranda Mejía, who officially opened this new command and control center.

The dispatch, as this service channel is known, will provide an immediate and personalized response to situations involving foreign tourists, streamlining inter-institutional coordination, fluid communication, and the efficient deployment of resources. In addition to its operational capacity, this center will allow for the collection, analysis, and use of emergency data to identify crime patterns and critical risk points. This information will be key to designing security strategies, optimizing resource allocation and preventing future incidents.

To date, the Tourist Police has 317 specialized officers. More than 50 percent of its officers speak English, and a smaller percentage speak several languages.

Public Security Minister Mario Zamora highlighted the importance of this new tool for the Tourist Police, which not only provides a public security service but also assists the thousands of tourists who visit all corners of our country. "I want to once again express my gratitude for this government's commitment to security, as we saw with the ICT (Spanish Institute of Traffic and Traffic Control) and last weekend with JAPDEVA (Japanese National Police), which has enabled more delegations and mobile units."

Joint Strengthening of the Tourism Police

“From the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, we extend our congratulations to the Ministry of Public Security and especially to the Tourism Police for the opening of the 9-1-1 Tourism hotline. The establishment of a direct line for handling incidents, emergencies, or cases involving foreign tourists is a significant achievement in improving traveler care and strengthening visitor safety. We will continue to move forward and provide support based on our expertise, with the clarity that a sustainable destination must also strive to be a safe destination for visitors throughout the country,” concluded William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism.

The ICT has made significant financial contributions to the construction and opening of new Tourist Police stations in Tamarindo, Playa Panamá, and recently in Cahuita, Santa Teresa. Construction is already planned for an additional station in Jacó, all destinations with high tourist traffic. The ICT has also contributed equipment, supplies, and training so that specialized officers can serve and protect tourists with the necessary skills and in several languages. These projects were made possible through agreements with the Ministry of Public Security.

While operational 9-1-1 dispatches already exist, the establishment of a dedicated dispatch for the Tourist Police represents a fundamental step toward a security model specialized in the protection of foreign visitors, serving as a bridge between first responders, the tourism sector, and the diplomatic corps accredited in the country.

Through the 9-1-1 Emergency System, we have opened various offices nationwide for response institutions, but the opening of an exclusive office for the Tourist Police is an important step for the institution to protect and support tourism, a major driver of the Costa Rican economy. This opening is in addition to institutional advances in citizen protection issues such as the "9-1-1CR Emergencies" app. We will continue working together with response institutions for the country's security.

With this initiative, Costa Rica reaffirms its commitment to the safety of those who visit us, strengthening its position as a safe, reliable, and hospitable tourist destination.
 

Source: ICT.