Presidential candidate Araya promotes increased rural tourism; support for small operators

PLN presidential candidate and former mayor of San Jose, Johnny Araya (archive.)

December 13^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Presidential hopeful Johnny Araya told a group of tourism entrepreneurs yesterday that the tourism sector should shift to a development model which supports small and medium enterprises, particularly those located in rural areas.

Araya used La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the Arenal Volcano, as an example.  “I think [La Fortuna] represents a model that delivers and leaves more benefits to Costa Rican society, I think other areas such as the Southern Zone, Central Pacific and Limon, should stimulate this model, which is more balanced and better distributes wealth,” Araya said.

Araya also said he would encourage agreements with financial institutions to negotiate better credit terms for family-ran tourism businesses, some of which are heavily in debt.

Araya said he also supports the concept of “conference tourism” aimed at the growing niche.