t has been one month since they lost their sons in a tragic rafting accident in Costa Rica, the parents of the victims want answers and complain of the lack of regulations and controls in the adventure tourism sector in the country. Fourteen friends traveled from Florida to Costa Rica back in October 18 to celebrate a bachelor party, but only 10 of them went back alive, the other four tragically died when their rafts capsized in the Naranjo River in Quepos; some have questioned whether the rafting tour should have taken place at all considering the weather conditions over the days prior to the accident; even though it had not rained the day the accident occurred, heavy rains had been reported over the days prior in consequence, the river was grown and turbid and therefore the risks involved in the practice of rafting were higher than normal.
The victims, between the ages of 25 and 35 were Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andrés Denis, the fifth victim was Costa Rican tour guide, Kevin Thompson.
In interviews given to local news website CRhoy.com the parents of Ernesto Sierra and Javier Caso, shared their frustration, stating that the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) had told them that their main function is to promote tourism to the country but they do not have the power to regulate tour companies; at most, they provide training and certifications but these are voluntary.
Tour companies, like most other companies in the country are regulated by the Ministry of Health and the local Municipalities; these entities are the ones in charge of granting licenses and permits, in fact, Tourism Chambers in the country have proposed that it should be ICT the institution in charge of granting licenses and overseeing these companies.
The case is currently under investigation by the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ). The company that offered the rafting tour service to the 14 US tourists is Quepoa Expeditions, according to the company’s website they are “a fully licensed and insured white water rafting company based out of Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica
The victims, between the ages of 25 and 35 were Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andrés Denis, the fifth victim was Costa Rican tour guide, Kevin Thompson.
In interviews given to local news website CRhoy.com the parents of Ernesto Sierra and Javier Caso, shared their frustration, stating that the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) had told them that their main function is to promote tourism to the country but they do not have the power to regulate tour companies; at most, they provide training and certifications but these are voluntary.
Tour companies, like most other companies in the country are regulated by the Ministry of Health and the local Municipalities; these entities are the ones in charge of granting licenses and permits, in fact, Tourism Chambers in the country have proposed that it should be ICT the institution in charge of granting licenses and overseeing these companies.
The case is currently under investigation by the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ). The company that offered the rafting tour service to the 14 US tourists is Quepoa Expeditions, according to the company’s website they are “a fully licensed and insured white water rafting company based out of Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica
