January 25, 2017
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The National Congress and Convention Center (CNCC) is one step closer to becoming a reality. Today, the Comptroller General of the Republic notified that it has endorsed the construction contract for said property.
According to Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, the approval from the comptroller entity was essential to start the construction of this long-awaited building. “The tourism sector and the country as a whole have been waiting for the construction of the National Congress and Convention Center for many years, and we have devoted all efforts to accelerate the processes and make this project a reality. Therefore, finally, after completing this transcendental step, we will be able to start construction and truly compete in the profitable meetings tourism industry,” Ventura said.
With the contract endorsement, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute will issue the commencement order in early January, so that the awarded company can start construction of the Center, for which it has one year.
According to Ventura, the National Congress and Convention Center represents the visible head of meetings tourism, a segment in which the ICT, hand in hand with the private sector, has decided to strongly enter, through participation in highly renowned specialized tourism fairs worldwide, the establishment of strategic alliances with important international organizations related to the topic, such as the International Congress and Convention Association, the Confederation of Congress Organizers in Latin America, among others.
In addition, the actions have included strengthening research, data collection, and statistical analysis of current and historical market trends, the advice of world-class experts, and the development of a promotional plan for meetings and incentives tourism, which seeks to facilitate the organization, development, and implementation of communication and marketing actions that promote the country’s image as a suitable destination for meetings tourism; however, these actions lost strength due to the absence of a Convention Center.
“The CNCC transcends the construction of its own infrastructure. It represents a country project, whose benefits will permeate throughout the territory and will become a driving force for tourism, by providing employment, promoting hotel development, generating productive linkages, and improving the country’s image as a consolidated destination,” highlighted Ventura.