15
Feb 09Costa Rica… and the crisis?
Locals don’t really know how to respond to the question “are you sensing the consequences of the crisis?”, and truth is neither could I. Costa Rica has always been something of a luxury destination, and the real state/mortgage premises of countries such as the US of A in reality don’t apply all that well to the local market. Banks have indeed exploited the weakest salary-ranking individuals and their capitalist hopes; yet, the largest compound of our population has been exposed for SO LONG to financial instability it would seem unlikely the majority of us could have fallen so easy into the Credit traps of the monstrous Money-Dogs.
Despite all of the above said and in common scenario to most other American-dependant markets, the fact that most of our tourists ARE in fact US citizens has had a much broader impact in our largest revenue source: Tourism (surprise anyone?).
The coming of the phenomena has happened so radically fast the Costarican board of tourism has had almost no time to digest the problem or even consider the circumstances in a calmly fashion.
A friend that owns a hotel in Manuel Antonio told me that, for the first time in about 10 years, he had not seen the beaches and resorts so desolated and barren. Firings have begun to frighten the population involved and the prospect for the next months seems hardly promising. One thing is true, the new model of Costarican business management has played in recent years a strong role in making the local scene more stable, reliable and fiercer than most our Central-American neighbors. The question remains, may the nation survive the backlashes of the world crisis, and in doing so, create an environment which can in future and seemingly more complex circumstances stand the test of disastrous Republican administration of our largest tourist buck-source.
The presidential term is about to expire, and with it comes-yet- another question. What financial path is our country going to explore? –Or maintain given that the PLN remains in power-. Otton Solis and his PAC adherents are certain to contest the unfairness of the trade treaty with the US, the PLN will surely wish to have the status quo stay –redundantly so- and the PUSC will likely want to push the absurdity of their public image to a jaded population. Seems to me the PAC and PLN will make for fun show of power pull, whatever personalities they choose to lead have but one thing in common: the wanting to represent a much more real and practical popular conscience. The old games of politics no longer work in Costa Rica, and seeing Calderon wishing to promote himself as candidate is so laughable a premise it would drive me to personally punch those who would dare to wave his so personal Red-and-Blue flag. I mean, wouldn’t you?
Seems to me Costa Rica now possesses the stamina and intent to survive a crisis that just some decades ago could have us destroyed and depleted. The generations have changed, even if I hold no faith for my father’s contemporaries, I do have faith in mine.