SAN JOSÉ, Mar 8, 2010 (IPS) - The Costa Rican government has declared retirement communities, aimed at attracting U.S. pensioners, to be "of national interest." Plans to create "retirement clusters" providing complete health services for older adults are seen as a profitable prospect for this Central American country.
International Property Journal
After 32 years of delays and frustrations, a new toll road recently opened in Costa Rica dramatically cutting the drive time from San Jose to the resort areas of the central coast.
International Property Journal
The Costa Rican government is promoting a plan to help developers build projects centered on health care facilities for foreign retirees.
The Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) is getting aggressive in attracting new mortgage customer and is now lending up to 100% of the value.
Angus Reid Global Monitor
Laura Chinchilla remains the frontrunner ahead of this weekend’s presidential election in Costa Rica but her main opponent is gaining momentum, according to a poll by Demoscopía published in Al Día. 45.1 per cent of respondents would vote for the candidate of the governing Liberal National Party (PLN) in the upcoming ballot, down 1.5 points since December.
Official talks between Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias and the the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, of Qatar, resulted in the signing of an economic agreement between the two countries, including a Tourism Cooperation Agreement.
Finally, after more than three decades of planning, promises, starts, stops and delays, the San José - Caldera highway, though some prefer to call it a road, is a reality and travel between the interior of Costa Rica and the Pacific coast is at least 45 minutes faster.
Otto Guevara, the presidential candidate for the Movimiento Libertario (ML) party said he plans to "dollarize" the Costa Rican economy if elected.
The presidential race is on again after a break during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Many in Costa Rica are looking forward to the new year, a year that his hopefully full of optimism and prosperity in all sectors. Or at least a better year than last.
