Over the last two months, Fuerza Publica officers assigned to the special branch of Tourism Police have been reviewing their operations and strengthening their presence in Guanacaste and other regions of Costa Rica that welcome a high number of visitors during the high season.

According to a press release recently published by the Ministry of Public Security (Spanish initials: MSP), the increased activity among the various Tourism Police precincts in Costa Rica started in November and will continue until the Holy Week and Easter Sunday holidays end. Aside from Guanacaste, other regions where Tourism Police officers will be deployed in greater numbers include Puntarenas, Limon and San Jose.

The increased activity will include road checkpoints, foot patrols, boarding of buses, monitoring of areas frequented by tourists, intelligence, and undercover work. The bulk of the effort performed by Tourism Police officers is focused on preventing thefts and robberies perpetrated against foreign tourists.

According to Tourism Police Director Xinia Vasquez:

“We have more than 350 Tourism Police officers, and they are strategically assigned to certain areas, which are known to attract high numbers of tourists.”

Fuerza Publica officers who are not assigned to the Tourism Police special unit tend to joke about their counterparts, often calling them “Baywatch cops.” The fact is that Tourism Police officers train alongside regular Fuerza Publica officers, and they often serve as their backup. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, these officers have been injured in the line of duty while executing high-risk warrants in the slums of San Jose.

The mission of the Tourism Police in Costa Rica is to provide specialized security to both foreign and domestic tourists so that visitors can feel safe in our country. To this effect, these officers receive English language training, and they also learn about various foreign cultures. They also work closely with the community and with business owners who serve the lucrative tourism industry of Costa Rica.