Taiwan Entrepreneurs Encouraged To Invest In Costa Rican Tourism
Taiwan's tourism and hotel industries are encouraged to invest in Costa Rica and to take advantage of generous subsidies, Gina Guillen, the director-general of international promotion of Costa Rica, said in Taipei Tuesday.

Taiwan and Costa Rica have had official diplomatic ties since 1941, one of the longest maintained by the island.

Speaking at the Costa Rica Investment Seminar in Tourism Infrastructure on Nov. 22, Guillen said, "We encourage hotel investment in our country because it is a place where the weather is good all year long, so there is no low season for tourism."

"We have a special incentive program to welcome Taiwan investors in tourism. The most important of all, our country can exempt Taiwan investors from taxes for 60 years; besides that, we can also help in building a hotel's infrastructure. More privileges can be enjoyed once investors come to Costa Rica, " said Guillen who arrived in Taipei Monday to attend the seminar.

Vice Premier Wu Rong-I mentioned at the seminar that the ROC government is to prepare a fund aimed at helping Taiwan business people invest in Costa Rican tourism. In 2004, only 2,450 Taiwan people went to Costa Rica for tourism.

According to Guillen, the Costa Rican government has been keen on promoting eco-tourism by developing a legal framework for environmental protection in their constitution so that their tourism industry will protect and respect the environment.

"We never expected tourism to grow so fast. We have reached a growth of 16 percent just in the past year, and first of all, we advocate sustainable tourism, " she said, which allows the hotel industry and the environment to coexist in a positive way.

According to figures provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are about 20 Taiwan companies in Costa Rica, but none of them belongs to the tourism sector as the majority are in manufacturing.

Commenting on investments in the manufacturing sector, Guillen said that since Costa Rica is a member of the Central American Free Trade Association, manufacturers can extend their benefit to other countries in the U.S. as well as other countries in Central America.

"Ninety-eight percent of goods locally produced enjoy tax-free privileges in the U.S. market," she said.

Bruce Tien, general manager of the Omni International Express travel agency said that Costa Rica is a good place to invest in tourism instead of manufacturing.

"The country's political scene is the most stable in Central America, and its society is safe. Most people are happy, open-minded and healthy," he said.