A world-class boating event set to arrive in the Caribbean port of Limón later this year could contribute indirectly to the creation of at least 2,000 jobs in the region, particularly within the hard hit construction sector, a port official said.

After a year-long bidding process, it was announced that Costa Rica's port of Limón will be the final destination for the Transat Regatta Race that will take place in November.

“The event is creating the opportunity to create jobs in the sense that if we maintain the infrastructure, we can hold other types of events in the future,” Francisco Jiménez, president of the Atlantic Port Authority (JAPDEVA), said Tuesday.

The Transat Jacques Vabre regatta is the world's third-leading yachting race, during which more than 60 sailboats from 14 different countries will set out on Nov. 7 from Le Havre, France seeking to be the first to arrive at Limón Port.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) plans to spend about half a million dollars promoting the race in major European markets such as France, Italy, Finland, England, Spain and Germany, said Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides.

The estimated initial price tag for a larger project to revitalize the port of Limón is about ¢400 million (more than $716,000).

“This project is part of the overall betterment project of the Limón Port,” said Rashid Esna, engineer in charge of the project. “So as a result, this event will help speed up improvement projects that were planned for this area in the near future.”

The regatta typically follows a “coffee route,” using coffee-producing countries such as Colombia and Brazil as the finish line in previous years.

Panama and Mexico were two other contenders being considered for the final destination.

However, according to the event's promoter, Pierre Bojic from Pen Duick, the organizing committee, “ Costa Rica was chosen for being a very important coffee producer in the world.” “In addition, we think Limón has a great deal of potential for the development of its marina,” Bojic said.