Tourism has given me good work, even though the hours can be difficult. A hotel needs staff at every hour of the day and every day of the year. Guests arrive late, leave early and need assistance during weekends and holidays.
Still, I consider hotel work clean and much less physically demanding than my previous life as a fisherman. Fishing was hard, uncertain work. The sea decided whether the day would provide an income.
I hope to continue working in tourism. I have been away from fishing for too long to return comfortably now. At the same time, most of the skills I have learned on a hotel floor do not transfer easily to other kinds of work. In that sense, tourism has given me a future but has also made me dependent on it.
Almost every hotel owner I have worked for has been a foreigner. That is not surprising because most hotels in this region are foreign-owned. I have also worked for Costa Rican managers and owners.
In my experience, foreign employers often manage their staff in a more professional way. The rules and responsibilities may be clearer. Even so, I still prefer working for a local boss.
I believe we Costa Ricans should try to remain in charge of our own tourism industry.
Foreign investment can bring useful experience and capital, but it should not mean that local people lose control of the industry built around our country, nature and hospitality.
Tourists can help by choosing local hotels, restaurants, guides and other businesses. Their decision about where to sleep or eat influences whether tourism income stays in Costa Rica or travels overseas.
I also notice differences between guests. European tourists are often especially kind to hotel staff. Friends who work in restaurants tell me that visitors from some other places can be more demanding, although they sometimes leave better tips.
A tip may seem like a small extra to a guest, but our wages are not high, and that money can make a real difference.
Good treatment matters as much as money. Hotel employees work long and irregular hours to make a holiday comfortable. Being greeted with patience and respect makes the work feel worthwhile.
I am grateful for the livelihood tourism has given me. I hope visitors will help make it a livelihood with a future—by respecting the workers, tipping when service is good and supporting businesses owned by Costa Ricans.