Costa Rica to simplify visa regime with Russia

In 2010 more than 2 million foreign tourists came to Costa Rica, 60% of them are form USA and Canada. Russians require a visa to visit this South American country, so there were not many of them – just 2-3 thousand. Nevertheless, Costa Rica Tourism Board in cooperation with tour operators takes part in the MITT travel trade in Moscow for the third time – said the Tourism Board official Mr. Freddy Lisano Chakon during the interview to RATA-news.

Mr. Chakon told that the most convenient way to get to Chile from Russia is to fly via Miami or New York. The flight from Miami takes 2.5 hours, form New York – 4.5 hours. Tourists can also use Iberia flight via Madrid. German airline Condor will take you to Chile form Berlin and Frankfurt. Mr. Chakon added that the Minister of Tourism is in talks with other European airlines to launch new flights from more cities.

The Ambassador of Costa Rica to Russia Mr. Manuel Antonio Barrantes during his visit to the country’s stand said that the facilitation of visa application procedures is an important measure to increase the tourist flow. These days many Latin American countries abolish visas to attract more tourists. Mr. Ambassador says that the visa situation depends on the politicians, and for now the Embassy is working on the easiest application procedure. Specifically they plan to introduce an electronic visa, so each any Russian can apply for it at home using his computer. Similar system is currently working on Mexico.