Hotel Operators Fear Loss Of Reservations
The daily Spanish language newspaper, La Nación, reports that hotel operators in the country fear a reduction of reservations as a result of the power failures and the subsequent water service cuts.

The report says that the most affected are small hotels and operators of "cabinas" who do not count with their own power plants.

"Some tourists might move to larger hotels", said Carlos Lachner, vice-president of the Cámara de Hoteleros (hotel operators chamber of commerce).

Lachner added that there is also fear that the news around the world of the energy crisis can mean many cancelled reservations or tourists simply deciding to go to other places.

Hotel operators are taking stock of their losses accumulated during this past week of power cuts and rationing that is affecting the entire country.

Juan María González, vice-president of the Cámara de Industrias (industrial chamber of commerce) said he has petitioned the government to exhonerate the purchase and importation of small power plants, giving business the incentive to purchase the small generators during this prolonged energy crisis.

Estimates on the losses due to the blackout and rationing are at us$10 million dollars.

Business leaders are reproaching the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) for ignoring the warning signs of an energy crisis and for not taking preventive measures.