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CONSETUR raises awareness of the importance of tourism for Costa Rica among diplomats, prosecutors, OIJ workers and police

 

● Extensive training included an overview of the domestic tourism industry and the most important tools to guarantee quick and effective justice in cases involving foreigners.

Over the last week, the National Tourist Safety Commission (CONSETUR) held two workshops to raise awareness of the importance of tourism for Costa Rica, training consuls, honorary consuls, prosecutors, workers from the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), regional directors of the Police Force and police officers.

The activities were held on August 16-20 in the Hotel Tryp San José Sabana, and included talks on promoting visits and tourism, tourist safety, the role of the Office of Technical Assistance and International Relations (OATRI), part of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic, the proposed changes to the police report that the Police Force will send to judicial authorities in the event that the person affected is a tourist, and a presentation of the OIJ’s newsletter regarding the attention given to a foreigner visiting the country on a short-term stay.

The operational consultant for the Office of Planning and Operations of the OIJ, William Odio, explained to attendees that the newsletter, dated May 10, 2018, seeks to expedite complaints from tourists who have been the victim of a crime, noting that tourists will leave the country and for a case to be resolved in a satisfactory manner, as much information as possible should be collected so as to be able to locate and contact them afterwards, especially once they return to their countries of origin.

The OATRI prosecutor, Laura Monge, discussed success stories in which videoconferences were used so that victims or witnesses living outside of the country were able to play a key role in the resolution of criminal proceedings in which tourists had been victims.

With regards to the police report, the Director of Legal Assistance from the Public Safety Ministry, Kattia Rivera, noted that plans are being created for a new police report that would include the possibility of reporting whether the victim is a tourist as well as their native language, among other information.

These actions seek to create a trusting, supportive and peaceful environment for tourists visiting the country and for the authorities in charge of dealing with complaints filed in the event that the tourists are victims of a crime.

During the opening of the workshop, the Attorney-General, Emilia Navas, called for zero tolerance for criminal activity and emphasized that caring for the country’s beauty.

The Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo, repeated that tourist safety is a priority for her mandate, and that the ICT would take every measure necessary to protect both Costa Ricans and foreigners.