By: Estefanía Chacón
On October 19, 2022, the President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, signed a reform to the Regulation of the Law of Marinas and Tourist Berths with the objective of attracting more investors and developing the economy of the coastal areas in Costa Rica.
This reform aims to eliminate obstacles to develop marinas and moorings, and also allows the procedures and requirements to be clearer so that they can be carried out more quickly, which would generate more jobs on the coasts, as mentioned by the President in the conference held after the session of the Governing Council.
The executive director of the Association of Marinas and Tourist Berths, Grethel Fernandez, mentioned that obtaining this regulation is part of the regulatory improvement to promote the development and economy of coastal areas that are quite depressed, and the document that will allow agility and development in coastal areas.
The official added that the marine industry generates profits of approximately US$25 million per year per marina, and that this amount can be surpassed with the new regulations.
The new regulation also clarifies the conditions under which a foreign vessel will use the services of a marina or tourist berth in Costa Rica, it may remain in the country for two years extendable.
This reform will be in force as of its publication in the official gazette La Gaceta.