Founded just nine months ago, the Central Pacific Chamber of Commerce is undertaking a slew of new projects to improve education, security, cleanliness, and environmental awareness in the central Pacific Canton of Garabito. The chamber has about 60 members, including real estate agents, developers, law firms, a tattoo company and a surf shop. Its goal is to “create a sense of community here and help protect the interests of tourism and businesses in the region”, said Chamber Co-Director Christina Truitt.

Welcome to “Fishing Heaven”: a world-class marina, big, abundant fish, and easy access to Juan Santamaría International Airport, northwest of San José, all of these make Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region one of the premier fishing destinations in Central America. Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna, Dorado, Snook, and other large, hard-fighting species abound here, and, most importantly, you’ll find world-class fishing boats and marinas that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere south of Mexico.

Saudi billionaire, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, arrived in Costa Rica this week, saying he wanted to build six hotels in the country, two of them in the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste. Prince Al-Waleed, whose Kingdom Holding Company is the biggest foreign investor in the United States, announced his hotel investment plan after a 30-minute meeting with President Oscar Arias in Casa Presidencial.

The number of visitors to Costa Rica grew 6.42% during the first half of this year compared to last year, according to statistics released this weekly by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR).

An estimated 50,258 more tourists arrived to Juan Santamaría International Airport, just northwest of San Jose, and northwestern capital of Liberia, this year.