Despite a recent lessening in the intensity of its eruptions, scientists and emergency officials will keep restrictions in place on entry into the Poás Volcano National Park, much to the dismay of local tourist businesses who depend on the park to draw visitors.

The park was the most frequently visited in the country, being within an hour’s drive from San José and about a half-hour from the international airport. Its hiking trails had recently received some spiffy investments, and a new visitor’s center at the entrance to the park was underway when the volcano become very active in April and started having large eruptions, causing the park’s closure on April 13, 2017.

Local businesses and government representatives have run several publicity campaigns since April in an effort to continue to attract visitors to the region which has become highly dependent economically to tourism.

Other activities include fishing, strawberry picking, horse-back riding, and hikes in other nearby areas such as the La Paz waterfall. However, tourist businesses, most of which are family-owned, have experienced a sharp drop-off in income.

 

In addition to promoting the region’s other highlights for visitors, local authorities say they are encouraging tourist business owners to retrain in other economic areas by taking advantage of classes offered by the Technical Training Institute (INA), said mayor of Poás, José Joaquín Brenes

Tourist businesses have united to present petitions to the National Emergency Commission and other government agencies for a reopening of the national park, but there is no telling how long the park facilities will be closed due to the volcano’s strong internal activity.

 

Brenes said the technical criteria to shut the park must be understood and respected as the closure is in effect to protect people’s safety. The constant emanations of gasses and some ash point to an extremely active phase of the volcano, whose length is completely unpredictable, said emergency officials.