In 2007, before the crisis in the United States, Costa Rica had 21 projects in the pipeline for the construction of marine tourism, of which today only three remain in operation while the development of another has been suspended due to lack of funding.
Although a law passed in 2010 lifted some of the bureaucratic obstacles that were hindering these types of project, the marine industry is not holding its head above water, simply because of lack of demand.
Tourism, despite encouraging figures in 2011, has not yet reached the level and quality of spending in the years preceding the crisis, and real estate developers do not see signs of a revival in tourism where there is demand for high-level services such as berths and other services related to recreational craft.
However, experts highlight the potential of the sector. Juan Eduardo Montalto, president of Marina Pez Vela, said that, being a young industry, "it is normal to go through periods of acceleration and deceleration in its development. Marinas require large capital investments, making it difficult for new entrants to this young sector, considering the circumstances of global economic stagnation. "
Montalto believes "we need more promotion, an issue that the ICT has included in its agenda for the coming years and within which it seeks to promote tourist and sportfishing."
Source: elfinancierocr.com
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March 2010
“Pez Vela” (Sailfish), a marina located on the country’s central Pacific area, will begin operations in April.
In its initial phase, it will be capable of serving 100 ships and will have 22 permanent employees.
Harold Lovelady, president of the marina, told Nacion.com that “in three years, when the project is 100% complete, it will employ 300 people to serve the 300 ships that will dock in it”.
October 2008
Congress is reviewing a plan that will prohibit the installation of marinas where their are coral eco-systems and that will regulate the tourist piers in lakes and rivers.
The iniciative, which will reform the Law of Marina Concessions and Tourist Piers which has been in force since 1998, will increase the authority of regulatory organizations.
June 2011
The National Assembly has approved amendments to Law 7744, extending concessions to 35 years and reducing the associated red tape.
The new law, which has been in discussion in Congress for more than three years, reduces procedures for concessions to 12 months.
The director of the Inter-institutional Commission on Marinas and Wharves, Oscar Villalobos, said the environmental assessment conducted by the Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA) is essential to get a marina concession.
October 2008
The Constitutional Court put a stop to reforms that lawmakers approved for the Law of Concessions for Marinas and Tourist Docks.
Magistrates of the Court reviewed the project that was approved by Congress on 9 September and ruled that it lacks substance and needs to be corrected.
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