Country strengthens services to attract foreign retirees



Activity is declared of national interest
Country strengthens services to attract foreign retirees
Goal is that 10,000 renters with high purchasing power live here
Plan aims to stop foreign retirees by $ 340 million annually
Sergio Arce A. | sarce@nacion.com
Published: 2010/02/19


Costa Rica claims that in the years to 10,000 foreign retirees make the country their new home and generate income by $ 340 million annually.

This amount would be received by the country house payments, food, medicine and recreation, but also for the wages of 40,000 new jobs would generate the arrival of this stock, consider the ministries of Foreign Trade and Competitiveness.

The way to crystallize this goal is done by creating communities designed for senior citizens and its importance was reflected yesterday after senior officials from both portfolios signed the document declaring the activity of national interest.

The declaration will allow public institutions such as the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Trade, allocate resources to encourage and promote the creation of these communities.

Now only remains the signing of the decree by the president Óscar Arias and subsequent publication in the Gazette to take effect.

The goal of state and private entrepreneurs from the real estate and health is that communities for retirees have specialized services for medical care and recreation.

In addition, efforts are made that are relatively close to hospitals, shops, beaches and mountains.

The idea is attractive to the country, which now heads for the formation of a cluster or cluster of related companies and attracting attention of foreign retirees, said Jorge Woodbridge, Minister of Competitiveness.

Among the companies that have shown interest include hospitals and private clinics, especially those with international certification, as awarded by the Joint Commission International (JCI).

First steps. According to the strategy, Costa Rica and attract U.S. and Canadian retirees, primarily Florida, Arizona and Texas.

The focus will be on those over 65, better known as baby boomers, those born shortly after World War II and the early 60s.

With the plan, Costa Rica offers foreign rentiers maximum tax exemptions.

The amounts range from $ 5,000 to import the new resident vehicle and $ 10,000 when it comes to utensils brought from home.

Also valued the option to give some kind of exemption on income tax, but is still under study.

Another benefit that is offered to this population is that their residence formalities will be conducted in a single window in the General Directorate of Migration.

This plan also identifies potential areas where they are located or operate from now these special communities.

These include the area around Lake Arenal in Tilarán, Guanacaste, Orosi, Cartago, Miramar, Puntarenas, and Poas volcano.

One of the projects aimed at retirees and foreign works in San Pedro de Poas, Alajuela province.

This is the Mountain Refuge, which since July 2009 serving older adults who chose Costa Rica as their new home.


Ronald Garcia, the owner, explained that the property has a center with 10 rooms and a villa, and invested $ 400,000 in this project.

High Points

Certificacionese investments

Underpins the Government hospitals and private clinics that have international certification, which he says generates "greater peace of mind" to foreigners. For example, hospitals Bible, the Catholic and Cima are certified by JCI. Besides, here there are many transnational companies of U.S. origin. 60% of FDI comes from that country.

Around Lake Arenal in Tilarán, Guanacaste, and are the target of government and private sector to foreign retirees living there with high purchasing power. In the background the volcano Arenal.

http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2010/febrero/19/economia2273664.html