Costa Rica currently has 294 active and prominent officers in the Tourist Police, its objective is to guarantee the physical, patrimonial and emotional security of national and international tourists, through the implementation of preventive measures, such as surveillance in recreational areas, the generation of awareness of potential risks and collaboration with local authorities, all to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for travelers.
Along with training in sensitive areas, 240 officers also receive training in a second language. To date, this specialized unit has 55 bilingual officers in English, 5 in French, 3 speak several languages and 177 have basic English training, which allows them to more easily help tourists and create a safe environment in the areas. most visited tourist destinations through the implementation of proactive and articulated actions, with a specialized police force.
The training efforts join a series of agreements of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) together with the Ministry of Public Security (MSP), such as the investment for the purchase of equipment and construction of delegations such as in Tamarindo and Playa Panamá in Guanacaste.
One of the most recent by the ICT is the contribution of ¢640 million for the construction of the new police stations in Santa Teresa and Cahuita in the medium term. This budget was released at the end of October last year, with the aim of positively impacting tourists and residents of the areas of Cóbano in Puntarenas and Cahuita in Limón.
The Tourist Police is a specialized unit that contributes to the security of national or foreign tourists who visit us in national parks, beaches, volcanoes and all tourist sites in our country. We are a polyglot police force, facilitator of information, communication and guidance to all our tourists so that they have a safe visit, seeking to create safe environments, taking into consideration the tourist's receiving community and working together with the different police forces that we are in. to the order of security,” explained Kattia Chavarría, director of the Tourist Police.
At the same time, William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism, expressed that, in the current growth process of the Costa Rican tourism sector and the increase in the influx of international tourism, the participation of the Tourist Police is essential to protect the lives and property of those who visit us. . “This specialized unit is essential for the security and progress of tourist areas. The sustainability of tourism includes the tourist feeling safe in Costa Rica and this police force has come to fill this space to communicate with visitors in their native language and they have become a support element that we appreciate and the national and international tourist every day values more. I appreciate the great work carried out by the Tourist Police in Costa Rica,” concluded the tourism chief.
The tourist police maintain a presence in 11 different areas of the country, among which the Chorotega region, the Central Pacific, Huetar Atlántica, Huetar Norte, Brunca, Golfito and the Central Valley stand out.
Preventive actions As part of the preventive actions, coordination between private companies, the public sector and the media stands out, talks in educational centers, information campaigns, approaches with the tourist service office, reinforcement of personnel at airports, preventive care information to the victim and the creation of the Tourist Support Group (GAT). Between 2018-2023, the ICT and the MSP managed to invest around $1 million through an agreement to purchase equipment for the Tourist Police (vehicles, uniforms, equipment, radios, motorcycles), carry out security training, signage on beaches with the MOPT and with the Red Cross. The tourist police also contribute their efforts to the protection of flora and fauna and their presence in National Parks. The ICT also maintains agreements with institutions such as the Red Cross and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), investing more than 300 million colones annually for prevention on beaches, with the aim of educating tourists about rip currents, a security measure to avoid drownings or aquatic accidents, as well as the presence of certified lifeguards on the most visited beaches.