The Costa Rican Tourism Institute and the Meritorious Red Cross signed a new cooperation agreement that will allocate 1,200 million colones over a period of four years for the prevention of aquatic accidents involving tourists on several national beaches. The agreement gives continuity to the previous agreement that expired on April 10, 2023.
“The ICT has always kept security in mind as a fundamental part of tourism, although it is not a direct competence of the Institution. We support different public institutions and the private sector in tourism security and this agreement is part of that spirit of cooperation to offer nationals and foreigners a safer environment when they enjoy the sun and the beach in the most visited areas of the country”, said the Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez.
The hierarch added that security is one of the determining factors for the sustainability of the tourist destination.
According to data from the Costa Rican Red Cross, during the validity of the previous agreement from April 4, 2019 to April 10, 2023, the hired lifeguards carried out more than 800,000 preventions; more than 1,900 rescues and applied 409 first aid maneuvers to national and foreign tourists.
"Thanks to the union of efforts of two great institutions such as the Costa Rican Tourism Institute and the Benemérita Costa Rican Red Cross, we achieved a greater presence of lifeguards on the beaches of our country. From the institution we seek prevention to save lives and this The link seeks to promote safe beach spaces for visitors", mentioned Dyanne Marenco González, president of the Costa Rican Red Cross. ", mentioned Dyanne Marenco González, president of the Costa Rican Red Cross. The new agreement This new cooperation proposal consists of a contribution of the annual ICT of 300 million colones for four years for a total of 1,200 million colones.
The agreement aims to continue joining efforts and provide coverage in at least eight of the most visited beaches in the country and that represent a greater risk of deaths by submersion such as: Cocles, Manzanillo, Playa Ventanas, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Caldera, Playa Manuel Antonio, Playa Negra, Esterillos Oeste and Bahía Ballena.
As in the previous agreement, this new version allows the payment of salaries and the necessary basic equipment for 30 lifeguards who will participate actively and full time in prevention and rescue work.
The last agreement contemplated 20 lifeguards duly trained by the Red Cross and who attended four of the highest risk beaches and a significant flow of national and foreign visitors: Cocles-Manzanillo in the Caribbean, Tamarindo, Bahía Ballena and Espadilla in Manuel Antonio.