INTERNATIONAL Wave Seekers: Gabi Shalem, 25, and Manuel Bar-Gil, 26, from Haifa, Israel, took to the waves this weekend in Playa Hermosa, on the central Pacific coast. Costa Rica is becoming an increasingly popular destination for surfers from around the world; about 100,000 traveled here during the first six months of last year, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

The Spanish airline Iberia recently announced plans to add daily direct flights to San José beginning in June, according to a statement from the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT).

Political and business leaders from around Central America called for their countries to turn their words into action Friday during the conclusion of an investment seminar in San José, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

Developing infrastructure, simplifying bureaucratic processes and promoting education were among steps the leaders agreed they must take in order to combat unemployment and poverty in the region and attract international investors.

In attendance at the conference were International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director Rodrigo Rato, World Bank vice-president for Latin America Pamela Cox and the Vice-Presidents of Guatemala, Eduardo Stein; Nicaragua, Jaime Morales; Honduras, Elvin Santos and El Salvador, Ana Vilma Albanez. Additionally, representatives from businesses including Volkswagen, Telefónica Internacional, Intel, Hanes Brands and Duke Energy came to San José for the conference, according to the statement.

“In Central America, and definitely in Costa Rica, what has happened is a paradox of being a place flooded with reports and analysis, diagnostics and conclusions, but empty of policies and coherent actions with these diagnostics,” said President Oscar Arias, calling for his counterparts to work toward commercial accords and encourage free trade.

Rato advised attendees that macroeconomic stability is fundamental to attracting investment. Proving to investors that “their savings won't end up consumed by inflation” is an important step, he said.

-Tico Times

The Costa Rican textile sector Friday expressed worry over the country's delay in ratifying the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

The Costa Rican Textile Chamber and the National Association of Textile Exporters said in a statement that they fear the United States will not renew its Law of Commerce and Development, passed in 2000, if Costa Rica doesn't ratify CAFTA. This law, which has given the textile sector preferential access to U.S. markets, expires in 2008.

The law benefits countries that are part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which is why “for the Costa Rican textile sector, the ratification of CAFTA is so important as a vehicle that will allow us to continue exporting in the future,” the statement said, adding that the textile industry is one of the country's most important exporters, producers and job providers, the statement said.

The groups released this statement shortly following a meeting between Citizen Action Party (PAC) leader Ottón Solís and President Oscar Arias. Solís, just back from a visit to Washington D.C., argued that although CAFTA advocates have said Costa Rica must ratify the agreement or risk exclusion from CBI, this is not the case.

Solís said U.S. legislators assured him that the United States is not considering modifying CBI, a unilateral U.S. initiative, and that Costa Rica's inclusion in CBI does not depend on the country ratifying CAFTA.

Meanwhile, Arias agreed with Solís that CBI does not depend on CAFTA's ratification and said he will continue his strong push for the Legislative Assembly ratify the trade agreement, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

-ACAN-EFE and Tico Times

The Spanish airline Iberia recently announced plans to add daily direct flights to San José beginning in June, according to a statement from the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT).

The airline currently makes seven flights weekly to Costa Rica from Spain: six with layovers in either Guatemala or Panama and one direct flight. In June, it will add 10 direct fights per week between Madrid and San José, the statement said.

These new flights will be serviced by Airbus A340-600 aircrafts with capacity for 232 passengers.

Iberia announced this decision Friday at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid. Representatives from ICT, along with those from the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) attended the fair. Among their goals was attracting European airlines to fly here to regain tourists lost when the Spanish airline Air Madrid shut down late last year (TT, Feb. 2).

Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides expressed “enormous satisfaction” over Iberia's decision, which he said “demonstrates the enormous trust in the growth of European tourism to Costa Rica,” the statement said.