Costa Rica News – Tourism has had an unexpected effect in smaller towns, boosting the presence of supermarkets.
Carrillo, Puntarenas and Garabito are some of the examples of small coastal towns that have attracted the attention of large supermarket chains.
Walmart and Auto Mercado are among the chains expanding to smaller areas that are big with tourists. Walmart invested almost ¢8,000 million in the new store in Liberia last July.
Although these cantons have relatively low populations, they attract the establishments with lodging, tourists, and good road infrastructure, factors that act as a magnet for companies looking to invest.
The 53,197 residents of San Rafael de Heredia have just two supermarkets while the 43,251 residents of Carrillo have eight. Walmart plans to expand in Guanacaste and open in Ciudad Quesada.
