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Bill seeking to increase Costa Rica’s airport departure tax to fund youth sports gets strong support

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inside of Juan Santamaria airport

(ICR Archive)

November 11th, 2015 (ICR News) A bill that would increase the departure tax for those leaving Costa Rica by air from the current US $29 to US $33 per person to fund youth sports programs received significant support when presented to lawmakers this week.

 

According to the bill, the funds would be used to fund youth sports programs of the National Olympic Committee.

 

President of the Legislative Commission, Fabricio Alvarado, told Amelia Rueda that the measure was necessary to give support to young athletes and that he would seek lawmakers’ support to pass the bill in plenary.

 

Alvarado said that the increased departure tax would not affect tourism, saying that it was “absurd” to think that tourism would be affected by an increase equivalent to ¢2,120.

 

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  • docseuss

    I wish they could use the money for driver’s education.

  • Michael C

    Srong support? Perhaps ONLY from the targeted recipients! This is a very punitive and costly tax for tourists visiting Costa Rica (remember how important tourism is to this small country!)

  • stfree

    Sure, why not. The world is already financing the pobricito government here.

  • amserv

    Yes, ¢2,120 is an absurdly small amount. And a single straw weighs almost nothing. But keep piling it on and you’ll kill the goose that lays the golden eggs (to egregiously mix metaphors…)

  • Tom Keeling

    This will only drive newcomers to CR to give Cuba a try. You can’t punish your tourists any further.

  • John

    Youth sports is important. It could well be worth the further destruction of CR as a tourist destination.

  • Mark Kahle

    With that added on it will then be cheaper to fly in and out of Panama if you live in the Southern Pacific Zone as I do. The air tickets already average less, the goods in the airport are cheaper and more diverse, and I can get two buses rather than several to get there meaning it also takes an hour or two off the travel time even with a greater distance.

    • Lori Diaz

      Except that you have to pay the exit tax anyways, even if you walk across the CR/Panama border. It’s an exit tax, not an airport tax. I also don’t understand how it’s faster to travel to Panama City by bus, as opposed to San Jose. No matter how you look at it, traveling to Panama City takes much longer, as does the flight north to whatever North American destination you choose. Even from the Southern Zone. We lived in Uvita, and have never considered flying from Panama to the US. It’s a nine+ hour drive from Uvita to Panama city by car. Longer by bus, obviously. It is a 3 hour drive to San Jose from Uvita, by car. About 4 1/2 hours by bus.

      • Mark Kahle

        Lori,

        The road to Panama is ALWAYS open from Uvita. It does take a 8 hour drive time, granted. But that is 8 hours regardless of the weather and or how fast they can clear or replace the road. While it is 3.5 Hours from Uvita to San Jose you can add another 1 to 1.5 hours depending on whether or not it is peak traffic. I also don’t have to remember what day goes with what licence plate. Gas is half the price. Flights are considerably cheaper to Europe and South America… I am not an American and don’t go there. The bus (I have pins in left leg, it does not bend) requires two seats, thats 22,000 round trip and the ride ends in downtown San Jose. Another 20 dollars by cab (more with traffic) to the airport.

        To get to Panama I go to David then to the Bus terminal in Panama add a 2 dollar cab ride and I am there. About the same exact cost. Buses are more far less expensive there, the A/C works, the seats actually recline and I only need one.

        Air tickets always cost me 2-500 dollars less from Tucaman. For the sometimes longer sometimes shorter road time but with the time to Panama fixed it is the far safer and far surer bet. I can leave in the morning knowing that I can board an evening flight. I do not need to leave a day in advance to “be sure” of getting on the plane and that saves the hotel costs. If you lived here then you know everyone with any sense leaves the day before the flight if it is out of San Jose.

        • Lori Diaz

          I guess I don’t have any sense at all. Silly me! If my flight is in the early morning (before noon) I spend the night so I’m not driving in the dark and so I’m not groggy when I finally see my family in the States. Otherwise, I leave for the airport about 5 hours before check-in time, which leaves time for a detour due to road closure, but usually just allows me a leisurely lunch at one of my favorite restaurants along the way before hitting the airport. I use a guy for long-term parking at $2/day who drops us off at the airport and also picks us up on the return. Cheap. Or, I use a shuttle direct to the airport – about $55 from Uvita. A 3 1/2 hour drive by shuttle. Bottom line, San Jose works for me, but if Panama works for you – great!

  • Mark Kahle

    Oh, and just one more thing…”Sports of the National Olympic Committee” translates to Central Valley ONLY. It is not and never has been operating in my part of the country.. meaning my family, grand kids, and none that I know will ever benefit…. unless we move to the San Jose area.

    • Roberto

      This will probably end up like the “luxury home tax”, that is, the Youth Sports Program will see very little money, although the director will probably have a new pickup truck.

  • turbooperator

    Airport departure taxes of various countries:

    Belize: $39.25
    Honduras: $37.50
    Nicaragua: $32.00
    Guatemala: $30.00
    Costa Rica: $29.00
    Cuba: $25.00
    Mexico: $25.00

    Por favor, No se ponga payasos.

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