Crocodiles famous for basking under the bridge at the central Pacific Río Tárcoles have always drawn tourists there, but recently this attraction has also drawn thieves. A newly refurbished police hut provided by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) and two permanently stationed Tourism Police officers are part of an effort to nip this problem in the bud, according to a statement released yesterday by CANATUR.

During a ceremony yesterday attended by Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal, Tourism Police officers and National Tourism Institute (ICT) general manager Allan Flores, CANATUR presented the refurbished hut to Berrocal. This small concrete structure received a fresh coat of paint, new floor, new roof and electrical wiring (it previously had no electricity).

Beginning this month, two Tourism Police officers will be stationed there permanently, the statement said.

“This hut is going to help tourism and improve the security conditions at Río Tárcoles.... they say that security is everyone's responsibility, but this idea must be made concrete and materialized, and the refurbishing of this hut by CANATUR is a clear example of how to operate efficiently for the benefit of tourists and the country in general,” Berrocal said.

Flores praised the Tourism Police force, established in December of last year (TT, Dec. 22, 2006) for their work to prevent crimes against tourists. Assaults against tourists went down 15% during the first few months of this year, thanks to the “prompt action of these officers,” he said, according to the statement.

Also during yesterday's ceremony, CANATUR offered to train Tourism Police in customer service in the tourism industry, using its Service Best training program. Berrocal gladly accepted the offer.