Assaults On Tourists
Down, Tourism Board Says
Attacks on tourists have
decreased and the
Instituto Costarricense
de Turismo (ICT) -
tourism board - has the
numbers to prove it,
saying that during the
past 12 months there has
been a 26% reduction in
assaults and violent
attacks against
foreigners.
The drop can be
attributed to the work
of the "policía
turistica" (tourist
police), a unit created
specially to protect
foreigners visiting the
country and located in
major tourist centres.
The Ministerio de
Seguridad Pública
reports that during the
past 12 months there
were only 4.038 assaults
on foreigners compared
to 5.450 the previous 12
month period.
The majority of crimes
against visitors are
theft, break in of
vehicles, assaults and
home break invasions.
"We have given strength
to the subject of
tourist security. In the
past year we have 100
more officers and has
seen crime drop which is
significant of a police
force of only 225
members", said Benavides
commenting on the work
of the tourist police
unit.
"Our goal for 2008 is to
add 100 officers more
and to implement a
"tourist instruction"
program at the Academia
de Policía (police
academy), where the
instruction is more
intense and the officers
better trained", added
Benavides.
The figures point to the
San José, Guanacaste and
Limón as the areas with
the decreased number of
crimes against tourists.
The tourist police are
members of the Fuerza
Pública (the national
police force) and have
the same function and
authority though they
dress different than the
regular police force,
wearing white polo
shirts and shorts and
with the words "policía
turistica" clearly
identifying themselves.
Officials of the tourist
police are present in
all major tourist areas
and patrol on foot,
bicycle, motorcycle and
automobiles. |
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