In a joint initiative to strengthen security and provide immediate assistance to travelers, Costa Rican authorities inaugurated yesterday the new 9-1-1 Operations Center of the Tourist Police.
This new resource will ensure a fast and personalized response to incidents involving visitors by improving inter-agency coordination, optimizing communication, and guaranteeing efficient deployment of resources.
Beyond intervention, the center will also be responsible for collecting and analyzing emergency data to identify high-risk areas and criminal trends—essential tools in designing preventive strategies to better protect visitors.
“As a Canadian tourist, I find this initiative extremely reassuring. Knowing that there is a direct 9-1-1 line to help us in case of need gives me even more confidence to explore the country. Congratulations, Costa Rica!”
— Marie Tremblay, Montreal, Canada
Costa Rica’s Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, emphasized that this new tool not only guarantees public safety but also provides direct support to the thousands of tourists who explore Costa Rica every year.
Currently, the Tourist Police employs 317 specialized officers, more than half of whom speak fluent English, with several also trained in other languages. This multilingual capacity enhances their ability to serve a diverse international clientele.
“The creation of a dedicated 9-1-1 line for incidents and emergencies involving foreign tourists represents a major step forward in improving services for travelers and reinforcing their safety.”
— William Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) played a key role in this project, funding the construction and opening of Tourist Police stations in Tamarindo, Playa Panamá, Cahuita, and Santa Teresa. Another station is already planned for Jacó, one of the country’s busiest tourist destinations.
Beyond infrastructure, the ICT also provides equipment, resources, and specialized multilingual training to ensure that officers are well-prepared to respond to the unique needs of international visitors.
Although Costa Rica has long operated a national 9-1-1 system, the creation of a center exclusively dedicated to Tourist Police represents a decisive step toward a security model centered on visitor protection—building a bridge between first responders, the tourism sector, and the diplomatic community.
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