BCR SME Action Tourism Program Will Strengthen the Tourism Sector’s Climate Adaptation

• Designed for Small and Medium-Sized Tourism Businesses, Offering Multiple Financing Options Through Banco de Costa Rica.

• The program promotes investments in sustainability, climate resilience, and business continuity for tourism enterprises, while providing technical support and guidance from the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the Development Banking System (SBD), GIZ, and other strategic partners.

• Participating businesses will have access to specialized guidance to help develop and implement their projects.

• The tourism sector accounts for approximately 8.2% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and

represents approximately 20% of the economically active population.

San José 16 de julio, 2026. Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), in partnership with the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), with the support of the Development Banking System (SBD) and the technical assistance of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), has launched the BCR SME Action Tourism Program. This initiative is designed to facilitate access to financing for small and medium-sized tourism businesses seeking to strengthen their sustainability, climate change adaptation, and resilience to extreme weather events.

The BCR SME Action Tourism Program aims to increase the productivity of tourism businesses by supporting investments that promote the efficient management of resources and the implementation of preventive measures to reduce risks associated with climate change.

Who Is It For and What Is the Investment Plan?

Small and medium-sized tourism businesses eligible for the program include accommodation providers, vehicle rental companies, land and water tourism transportation services, tour operators, certified tour guides, theme parks, private nature reserves, agritourism farms, restaurants and food service establishments, recreational resorts, hot springs, spas, and venues for tourism activities.

The financing options cover projects related to sustainable construction and renovation, energy efficiency, water management and treatment, waste management and recovery, low-emission transportation, and climate change adaptation measures such as forest conservation, reforestation, and sustainable agricultural production.

In addition to financing, participating businesses will have access to the Climate-Resilient and Low-Emission Tourism Guide, a resource that provides detailed guidance on eligible investment activities, technical criteria, and impact indicators related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The financing terms will be supported by funding from the Development Banking System (SBD), designed to facilitate access to credit for projects that contribute to climate action and sustainable development.

Intersectoral Collaboration Makes the Program Possible

As the program’s strategic partner and financial operator, Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) will play a key role in channeling financial resources to participating businesses, providing financing solutions that accelerate the sustainable transformation of the tourism sector and strengthen its resilience to climate-related challenges.

"At Banco de Costa Rica, we believe that sustainable development is built through concrete actions that enable businesses to strengthen their competitiveness while creating environmental and social value. The BCR SME Action Tourism Program represents an opportunity to support the tourism sector in its transition toward more resilient, sustainable business models that are better prepared to address the challenges of climate change," said Julio César Trejos, General Manager of Banco de Costa Rica (BCR).

Marcos Vargas Borges, Executive President of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), added: “Costa Rica has distinguished itself through the development of a sustainable tourism model. However, ensuring its continued growth and long-term success requires tourism businesses to have access to affordable, timely, and inclusive financing options. Access to these resources will enable them to invest in innovation, strengthen their resilience to climate-related impacts, improve risk management, ensure business continuity, and enhance the quality of the country's tourism offerings. In doing so, they will continue to deliver unique experiences to visitors across all regions of Costa Rica.”

María del Milagro Solórzano León, Chair of the Governing Council of the Development Banking System (SBD) and Costa Rica’s Minister of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), also stated: “We recognize that the climate emergency is now part of the environment in which tourism SMEs operate and represents a significant challenge to their competitiveness. For this reason, we have developed a financing program designed to strengthen their adaptive capacity, enhance their resilience, and support more sustainable and inclusive growth. These resources will enable businesses to invest in climate resilience, energy efficiency, water management, and sustainable infrastructure to improve and safeguard the continuity of their operations. The program provides a pathway to protect jobs, reduce risks, and sustain business activity in the face of increasingly frequent climate-related events.”

She also encouraged tourism SMEs to formalize their businesses and register with the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) so that more companies can access financing, training, and technical assistance.

In addition to the leadership of Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), the program is supported by the technical and financial contributions of the Development Banking System (SBD), as well as the expertise of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in program design, methodology, and training. The National Training Institute (INA), the Environmental Quality Management Directorate (DIGECA), the Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA), and the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) will also support the initiative through promotional activities, technical assistance, and the strengthening of business capabilities.

“Building climate resilience in the tourism sector requires a combination of financing and technical assistance. At the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), we are pleased to have supported the design of this program, which strengthens the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism SMEs in addressing the challenges of climate change,” said Astrid Michels, Director of the EbA LAC Program at GIZ.

Adriana Aguilar, Head of the Business Planning and Development Unit at the National Training Institute (INA), emphasized the importance of strengthening business capabilities and closing capacity gaps so that more businesses can take advantage of financing opportunities like this one.

The BCR SME Action Tourism Program also envisions the future incorporation of additional financial institutions, with the goal of expanding the program’s reach and enabling more tourism businesses across the country to access financing for sustainable investments.

Businesses interested in the program or seeking additional information can visit the following website: www.bancobcr.com/wps/portal/bcr/bancobcr/mipymes