The government of Costa Rica has announced plans to build a cruise terminal and marina in Limón on its Caribbean coast, the Tico Times reports.

The 27ha Hernán Garrón Salazar Terminal is expected to cost $854m. It will include a passenger terminal, hotels, and a handicraft market.

This project is intended to develop the country’s tourism industry, which before the pandemic accounted for almost 11% of its GDP.

The government intends to launch a tender for the scheme before the end of the year, and is hoping to attract funding from international investors.

Sucy Wing Ching, the president of Atlantic port authority Japdeva, commented: “We are moving forward safely to make this project a reality, which will transform our Caribbean.”

She added that the environmental impact assessment and the feasibility study would be completed by August.