Comments on: Bill would provide some $15 million to help struggling tourism businesses

By: Yeims

Yeims — Sat, 02 May 2015 21:01:00 +0000

The government here has made it pretty damned clear to the tourists that it wants their money, starting right there at the airport when they arrive. After that, fresh meat, everyone!

This has always been a factor in tourism here, charging tourists and ripping off tourists. 30 years ago, Costa Rica was billed as the “jewel of Central America” and now it is more like the faded old whore who is going to take whatever she can from whomever she can.

By: disgusted

disgusted — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:19:00 +0000

Ken your right! Most tour operators have a Office ,phone, desk and computer. The desk person connects you to whatever adventure.your seeking. Some may have a van. They are like travel agencies mostly. little over head. Like you, I am skeptical that this will help anyone other than those getting the money and pocketing it themselves, They have really no assets anyway.

By: Ken Morris

Ken Morris — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 03:14:00 +0000

Yeah, Disgusted beat me to it. There’s way too much money in this bill to help failing businesses that in a market economy probably should fail. I mean, is any money in this bill earmarked for the operations that offer visitors tours of the San José brothels? Really, some businesses should fail. Sorry.

Though I am on the fence a little, since I strongly favor small and medium businesses over large ones in the tourism industry as well as elsewhere.

Even so, I doubt that handing out tax dollars to small and medium businesses is the way to encourage them (or at least the good ones). There are probably better policy initiatives the legislature could take to encourage these businesses that stop short of just giving them money.

By: disgusted

disgusted — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:51:00 +0000

So first in line would be the politically connected, Those who have family member and of stature. So for average of 100 businesses that is $150,000 each IF divide evenly, Nice EH! Seems to be a bailout! I take a million then soon file bankruptcy of the company. Poof! money gone into whose pocket.