Australia Issues
Advisory For
Travel To Costa
Rica
The government
of Australia has
issued a travel
advisory for
travel to Costa
Rica. By way of
its website,
Australia tells
its nationals to
"exercise a high
degree of
caution in Costa
Rica because of
the high risk of
serious crime."
The advisory
also says to pay
close attention
to your personal
security at all
times and
monitor the
media for
information
about possible
new safety or
security risks;
avoid rallies
and
demonstrations
as they may turn
violent; and to
be a smart
traveller.
Australia does
not have an
Embassy or
Consulate in
Costa Rica. The
Canadian Embassy
in San José
provides
consular
assistance to
Australians in
Costa Rica
(except for the
issue of
passports).
The website
explains some of
the problems in
Costa Rica,
saying the
incidence of
violent crime
including armed
carjackings,
home invasions
and gang
muggings in
Costa Rica
remains
significant.
'Express
kidnappings',
where
individuals are
abducted and
forced to
withdraw funds
from ATM
machines to
secure their
release, are
becoming
increasingly
common.
Foreigners have
been the target
of armed
robberies and
drug-related
crime. Areas in
the vicinity of
tourist
attractions,
resorts,
airports, bus
stations,
harbour
facilities
(particularly
the ports of
Limon and
Puntarenas) and
public transport
are a particular
target of
criminals due to
poor security.
Tourists
visiting or
travelling
through the
banana
plantations in
the Province of
Limon should
check with
public transport
providers to
ensure there is
adequate
security on
public transport
as there has
been a number of
attacks on local
buses and taxis.
Visitors to
Tamarindo, Jaco,
Quepos and
Manuel Antonio
on the Pacific
Coast and Puerto
Viejoon on the
Atlantic Coast
should pay
particular
attention to
their
surroundings.
However, Juan
Carlos Borbón,
general manager
of the Instituto
Costarricense de
Turismo (ICT) -
tourism
institute -
assures that
Costa Rica
remains safe for
travellers.
Borbón said that
he does not know
the criteria
used by the
Australians for
the travel
advisory, he
assures that
"Costa Rica is
one of the
safest countries
in Latin
America".
Juan Carlos
Ramos, president
of the Cámara
Nacional de
Turismo (Canatur)
said "I do not
consider
insecurity as a
threat. Other
Central American
countries
experiencing
worse crises".
Ramos added "the
situation is
still manageable
as we work to
avoid further
insecurity.
These are
problems that
are experienced
in all
countries. At
Canatur we
working hard to
mitigate the
problem", he
said.
The complete
travel advisory
can be found at:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/advice/Costa_Rica
Australian
nationals In
Costa Rica can
get help at the
Canadian Embassy
at:
La Sabana
Executive
Business Centre
Building No. 5,
3rd Floor
Sabana Sur, San
Jose, Costa Rica
Telephone (506)
242 4400
Facsimile (506)
242 4410
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