Since the Ministry of Health issued warnings about a sewage problem that has taken several years to appear, complaints about poor conditions in Manuel Antonio National Park exploded this week.
As explained by doctor Victoria Sánchez from the Regional Directorate of the Central Pacific of the Ministry of Health, this entity issued a warning against the physical-sanitary conditions of the park which must be solved in the coming days.
In addition, the situation is complicated on weekends when 2,000 or 3,000 people visit the place.
President of the Tourism Protection Association (PROTUR) Boris Marchegiani said that the park has the worst situation in recent years: toilet bowls and portable toilet bowls are overflowing.
If we remove them, there are only two health services. We are looking for upper class tourists but we are giving them a sty. It is an extremely serious problem. In addition, there are only 4 rangers at each shift,
said the businessman, who is also one of the members of the Manuel Antonio National Park Board of Directors.
Marchegiani insists that tourists come to see “the king of the environment” but they find “a pigs’ pigsty” that will generate a crisis in tourism. In fact, he says that this is already damaging the image of the country. Likewise, he indicated that a series of proposals have been elaborated to strengthen the administration but the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) can’t be the one to blame if it has no budget.
According to Roberto Molina, General Secretary of the Workers’ Union of the Ministry of the Environment, there are very few people in Manuel Antonio National Park to assist to the large number of people arriving and, acording him, the best investments have not been made in the Park.
The Ministry of Environment and SINAC announced that they will present an appeal in which they will request the suspension of the order issued by the Ministry of Health.
At the moment, the Park will remain open for national and foreign tourists.