The National Hotel & Restaurant Association says that its official position is to reject the construction of hotels at the limits of the National Park of the East. President Mejia had authorized this by decree, and later by a bill sent to Congress. As reported in El Siglo newspaper, Asonahores said that the parks should be used to promote sustainable tourism development, but does not favor developing any area of the National Park of the East. Asonahores says there are plenty of beach areas available for development. It mentions Playa Grande in the North Coast and Los Corbanitos in the Southwest, both government owned. The same article quotes Arlette Pichardo, director of the environmental office, Pronatura, as rejecting the bill that is at present in the Senate. Pichardo worked for years with the International Center of Economic Policy of Costa Rica, prior to her job with Pronatura. She highlighted the importance of competing with high quality services. "If we use our resources unwisely, within five or ten years we are not going to receive any travelers. We have to be clear about what are the ties that have to be established between the development of natural resources, preservation and the care of these resources and tourism development," she said. She says that travelers seek natural clean spaces and that to compete the country must offer high quality services. "Within this framework is how tourism should be understood," she said. "Travelers are not going to come because we open mega projects on our beaches; travelers coming for sun and beach seek clean natural spaces, not mass development." (6 March 2001)
