The Costa Rican Association of Tourism Operators (ACOT) and the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) said the situation of Manuel Antonio National Park is shameful.
Both institutions express that the conditions of the park are deplorable. Some of the problems reported by the national tourism sector is the ticket purchase system that generates long lines and uncertainty for tourists who fear not being able to enter, unhealthy conditions in the bathrooms and the environmental impact due to poor wastewater treatment systems.
Manuel Antonio is the most visited national park in the country, which makes it an excellent income generator. Kathia Valverde, president of ACOT, mentioned that it is of the utmost importance that authorities look for mechanisms to improve these conditions since they can seriously affect tourism in the area.
The executive director of CANATUR, Shirley Calvo, said it is time to stop to these problems, since the park brings many tourists to the country and this should be reason enough for the authorities do something about it.
An immediate intervention of the park is necessary, because, according to CANATUR, on Tuesday morning they received several complaints by businessmen of the area, who express their discomfort due to the itinerant sales and the exposure of the tourists to theft while waiting to enter the park.