$320 million is the value of investments in hotel projects in the touristic development pole Gulf of Papagayo that have failed to start due to lack of water.

Unable to present a letter of guarantee of water resources, 11 tourism development projects planned for the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste, have failed to start. Lack of water is a problem that has affected the development of the area for years.

Furthermore, “…Nine concessions with 11 hotels on the Papagayo development center in Liberia and Carrillo are stalled. Of those hotels, four have already completed their paperwork phase, and seven have not even started that stage due to the impossibility of submitting a letter ensuring that water resources are available.”

Nacion.com reports that “…The four that have already undertaken the official processes have a combined investment of $174 million. They are the hotels Melia Paradisus Papagayo, with a $90 million project with 412 rooms; Yu Papagayo, with $22 million and 151 rooms; The Point, with $55 million and 150 rooms; and the expansion of the Grand Papagayo, with $7.8 million and 60 additional rooms, according to data from the tourism pole department. The other five concessions with seven hotels have a combined value of $145.7 million. Among these are the hotels Punta Mar, Costa Mona and two Altepe hotels and three condohotels.”

In regards to possible solutions, authorities at the Aqueducts and Sewers department explained that in 2018 it is expected that the aqueduct Las Trancas will be completed, which will supply the tourist resort area and neighboring communities. Yamileth Astorga, chief executive of AyA, told Nacion.com that “… the solution is so close that next Wednesday the board of this entity will be chosing the construction company from among final three bidders.”