Outsourcing Costa Rica? It may be a wise move during a recession.

[craig]

Do you think that will change anytime soon in Costa Rica? My guess is "no" but I'd be very interested in your take on it.

Sorry, but Costa Rica ratified the WHO Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control treaty a few months ago (Aug 2008). Banning of smoking indoors and in public is more-or-less a condition of the treaty.

FYI, President Bush (or designate) signed the treaty for the USA in May 04, but Congress has not yet ratified the treaty. Canada signed in June 03, and ratified the treaty in Nov 2004.

(Signing "indicates agreement with the FCTC and an intention to become a Party at a later date and thus be bound by the FCTC’s provisions." Ratification by a signing country means that county "is bound under international law by the provisions of the FCTC.")

For vacation planning purposes, the only country in the Americas that has not signed the treaty is the Dominican Republic. Signed but not yet ratified are: Argentina, Bahamas, Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, St Kitts/Nevis, St Vincent, and the USA.

Loads of information: http://www.fctc.org