What will the new marina in Golfito bring? A revitalized local economy.6262368

There are big things happening in Golfito, Costa Rica Property, namely a complete overhaul of the town and marina. The first part of the project is a state-of-the-art marina, which will cater to yachts of all sizes and has been designed to support the hosting of future fishing tournaments. Golfito’s strategic location, easy access to the Pacific Ocean and Panama Canal, will help to make the town an exciting new location for yachters specifically and tourists in general. Plus, the marina is only the beginning. Noam Schwartz has a plan to revitalize the small town of Golfito in more ways than one. He plans to build a resort hotel, residences, shopping stores, restaurants and entertainment locations. He’s working with his team, local authorities, architects, and developers to renovate and improve access, appeal, and draw of the town itself. Golfito is currently a small town that looks out over a protected deep water bay of the same name nestled within the Golfo Dulce on the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It was historically a small fishing village and then a company town when United Fruit rolled in and made bananas big business in the region during the 1930s. For generations, Golfitenos worked in support of the industry, lived in company constructed homes, attended company built schools and went to a company built hospital. Then, in 1985 the Company left and the town suffered greatly.

The Costa Rican government worked to revitalize the economy by dubbing Golfito a duty-free zone, allowing Ticos and expats to purchase duty free goods including big ticket items twice yearly (up to $1,000 every 6 months) without having to pay the import tax. However, when you drive through the town there appears to be only a handful of shops and/or restaurants along the main road. The change in store for the town is a stunning multiphase project that will involve the following: • Golfito Marina Village and Resort. This is the first phase and it is supposed to break ground in July 2014. It will be Costa Rica’s newest super yacht and tourist destination and will pave the ground for the following phases. • Easy access to local airport. The construction of a well-designed road will connect the town with the Golfito Airport, further connecting the town with easy jaunts to other parts of the country and to the major international airport in San Jose (currently a 3+ hour drive). • A central plaza. What cute little tourist town does not have a central plaza? Golfito’s central plaza will provide a picturesque area for visitors to walk around and do their shopping (in the only duty-free zone in Costa Rica). The plaza will also help to create a hub of business and a sense of community for the town. • A history museum. Golfito has a rich history from even before it was a company town. Visitors to the area will appreciate being able to learn about the local history and the special culture of the area. • A tourist information center. There is so much to do in the area from deep water fishing to hiking through national parks, or having a picnic on a beach and enjoying the warm tropical waters of the protected bay. There are islands to explore in Golfito Bay and can only be accessed via boat. There’s a ferry that will take passengers across the bay to Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula, which opens up a lot of other activities and adventures. With a tourist information center, Golfito will be in the position to be a guiding force in the ecotourism industry of the region. • A local artists and crafts village. This will enable the local art and craft scene to flourish and share their culture and vision. Visitors looking to take something home, which is authentically Costa Rican, will undoubtedly find the perfect treasure in this village. • A new boardwalk. In addition to the central plaza, the boardwalk will involve eateries featuring local cuisine, souvenir shops, coffee shops, bicycle trails and rentals, and water taxis to neighboring beaches and attractions. • A community recreational park. Towns should allow for green areas and parks. These parks create spaces of beauty where families and communities can get together for picnics, sports, and community events. It’s the icing on the cake. As Golfito goes under a bit of a facelift, all this hustle and bustle will generate hundreds of jobs in the construction, service, and hospitality industries. These jobs, in turn, will generate demand for local real estate and amenities. This demand will increase the economy and local real estate values. It will then ripple across the bay to Puerto Jimenez and around to the surrounding areas. For more information regarding my experiences and other tips and insights about living as an expat in [http://e-learning.csc.ku.ac.th/wiki/index.php?title=What_will_the_new_marina_in_Golfito_bring?_A_revitalized_local_economy.448830 Costa Rica Real Estate please check out my blog at http://ackermanrealtyinternational.com/category/costa-rica/. If you are interested in subscribing to my blog or simply to keep up to date on my listings (including the ones located in and around Golfito), please sign up at http://ackermanrealtyinternational.com/subscribe-today/. Summary: A multiphase renovation of Golfito, Costa Rica will revitalize all aspects of the economy in the region.