"EDICION 84" EDITORIAL

 The year 2001 for many, marks the beginning of the third millenium while for others, this historic event was reached last year.  Be it 2000 or 2001, the long awaited arrival of the third millenium is a milestone that the tourism industry of Costa Rica must seize, to reformulate the future and decide upon a new direction.  It is our past history that must guide this path, enabling a more efficient role for the public and private sectors while maximizing  the benefits that tourism can provide the country. 

There is no debate the Costa Rica has done many things right and that this success has positioned the country as a premier  destination for naturalists and adventure lovers alike.  That the mutual interests and joint efforts of the public and private sectors have born fruit is undeniable but it is also undeniable that the common ground discovered by this unity, depends enormously upon the style of management of those designated to the position of Executive President of the Costa Rica Tourist Board.  While various appointees have had the foresight to grasp the necessity and convenience of a united effort, others have not shared this philosophy, choosing instead to operate without the private sector.  Within this diversity of criteria lies a fundamental concept – What would happen should the precepts of unity in and joint execution of  tourism  initiatives were institutionalized, considered as requirements instead of dependent upon the whim or preference of the designate of one or other administration?  

The third millenium  must not be interpreted as a “start from scratch” or base zero for Costa Rica’s tourism industry. In the view of this Association, it must rather be interpreted as a departure point from which  we can diagnose our past experience, taking advantage of the positives, eliminating the negatives and establishing  a permanent framework for mutual cooperation between all the interested parties. The latter must also assure consistency of criteria and action with regard to the endeavors that must be taken to maintain our primary markets while developing new markets, making us less vulnerable to global political and economic variations, today a staple of our times. 

This new beginning should be a time to refrain from simply “more of the same”, when we are in doubt as to the convenience for the country, of the actions to be taken.  For example, in the fields of marketing as well as tourism development incentives, international transportation and travel attractions (including casinos, gambling, etc),  Costa Rica has proven to be both erratic and inconsistent in its policies and legal framework.  We cannot afford to continue sending mixed signals of this kind. Investors, international wholesalers and tour operators will judge our actions and if we do not fulfill the basic requirements of stability and consistency, they will simplify opt for other destinations that can provide investment security and sufficient  attractions of international quality, to recommend to their clients. 

Costa Rica can ill afford to lose its frequent clients or ignore the reality that we need to develop new markets.  The exigencies of the globalized world of today, in spite of the fact that we might not like what is “out there”, requires that those of us with some responsibility in the Costa Rica travel industry – not permit this moment pass us by - without capitalizing upon the strengths of our past nor disregarding our errors in the development of future policy. 

The Costa Rican Association of Professionals of Tourism  (ACOPROT) will do its utmost to seize the moment and together with the industry, foster an intelligent and productive direction for tourism in  third millenium, both for the benefit of the country as well as for those of us who share this industry and the many benefits it has given  Costa Rica.