The depth and impact of the CoVid virus globally and in our local community of Manuel Antonio is impossible to ignore. The closure of the borders during what was an incredibly strong high season and the extended nature of the tourism shutdown has had a tremendous impact on the hotels, restaurant, tourism providers, transport companies and virtually everyone living in these coastal communities whose economies revolve around the tourism dollars coming in from around the world. There is certainly no way to lighten the load which the total shut down has brought to our community, but in the midst of crisis, the solidarity, ingenuity and bright future of our community have also become much clearer to anyone in the area.
It has been humbling and rewarding to watch how our community has created a food bank to help insure that no one is going hungry during these challenging times. Hundreds of volunteers, businesses and individuals are investing their time and energy to organize, prioritize, collect and distribute the basic food and hygiene necessities around the entire county. The entrepreneurial spirit has never shone brighter here as families once dedicated to tourism-related businesses are offering everything from prepackaged cocktails delivered to your door to home made chifrijo ( a local favorite with pork, fresh salsa, lime and cabbage). While no one is getting rich, many are finding ways to survive and neighbors are buying from neighbors, each finding ways to insure that our community can survive until the borders open and tourism is reactivated. We have also seen some amazing organic work by our community in terms of marketing, branding and helping to insure we get as much national tourism as possible. Within a week of the shutdown starting, more than 80 local businesses had joined together to create a campaign called “ This is life as a local in Manuel Antonio” The social media campaign focuses on various elements of the lifestyle here, gastronomic, Wellness, accommodations and activities. The platform has garnered thousands of followers on its instagram, Facebook and main website www.estoesvidaparaunlocal.com and is just another example of how the community has come together to find sustainable ways to survive this temporary crisis.
The unity, beauty and strength of this area are just part of the reason why I believe that Manuel Antonio will be one of the first destinations to have a robust recovery from the current tourism standstill. A few of keys reasons for this confidence are:
1. SUPPLY & DEMAND. Unlike mass tourism destinations who have lines of mega-hotels, Manuel Antonio has always been and remains a boutique destination. Our largest hotel has just over 125 rooms and most of our area is dotted with small boutique hotels, private villas, homes and a few small condo projects. This lack of huge development and density, combined with having the nations most visited National Park, Marina Pez Vela and diversity of activities combine for what is the most pure supply and demand dynamic perhaps anywhere in Central America. It is this dynamic which has long made investing here so lucrative as the rental incomes in this area are so strong, and it will ultimately be what allows this region to rebound perhaps quicker in terms of occupancies and vacation rental rates vs other areas of the country and world.
2. DIVERSITY. There is no doubt that the travel world will be trepidatious in the first months and perhaps years after this pandemic. The concerns of jumping from place to place, zone to zone, hotel to hotel will be very much a part of choosing travel destinations and the Manuel Antonio area is virtually a one stop shop for anything and everything iconic here in Costa Rica. Looking for wildlife. check.. looking for spa and wellness. Check... Looking for rainforest, waterfalls.. Check... rafting, horseback riding, canopy tours.. Check... Sportfishing, whale watching, dolphin cruises.. Check.. agricultural tourism, coffee farms. Check.. Basically other than a volcano, anything you could imagine wanting to do in Costa Rica is either in town or within 30 minutes of this area so it is an IDEAL option for travelers who want to get away, find a safe and secure .home/villa where they can socially isolate and then explore and enjoy without having to move around much.
3. SECURITY. The restaurants, tour providers, luxury homeowners, condo owners and hoteliers in the Manuel Antonio area have spent the past months putting forth rigorous security measures and new cleaning protocols in place to insure clients security. That combined with the reality that we have had fewer than 10 total cases in the entire country in the past 4 months bode for a safe and secure destination.
Ultimate, no one has been immune from the impacts, but seeing the community respond, unite and prepare for what is to be a bright future fills me with hope and pride.