After an extension of almost 300% in area this Monday, July 16 the duty-free store administered by the Joint Institute for Social Aid (IMAS, its Spanish acronym) reopened to receive travelers entering Costa Rica.

The duty-free store was closed for close to four months for the remodeling works and it went from 100 square meters to 475 square meters. The total investment was of over $1.4 million.

The improvements made have the objective of offering a better shopping experience to the tourists that arrive at the Juan Santamaria Airport and at the same time increasing the income for the wellness and social aid projects promoted by IMAS.

President Carlos Alvarado was present at the inauguration and highlighted the quality and celerity of the remodeling work done. He also showed optimistic in that this new duty-free store will help bring in more funds for social programs.

Rafael Mencia, Executive Director of AERIS, company that manages the Juan Santamaria Airport, stated “As administrators of the main aerial terminal of the country and promoters of its image, we are sure that the attractive design will be a symbol of the warmth of Costa Ricans to welcome the close to 2.5 million passengers that visit us”.

In the past this store with a limited space (1076 square feet) reached sales for $11.3 million; now with the new space of 5,113 feet there is more room for products and it is expected that the sales reach in the first year $17 million, and that these increase in the next five years to at least $27 million.

“This project responds to a series of actions executed to strengthen and modernize the duty-free stores administered by IMAS and that constitute direct income to battle poverty”, commented the Minister of Human Development and Social Inclusion and Executive President of IMAS, Maria Fullmen Salazar.

IMAS manages 8 duty-free stores, 6 at the Juan Santamaria Airport, and 2 in the Liberia Airport plus another one at the Golfito duty-free zone. During 2017 the duty-free stores had a growth of 13.65% in comparison to 2016.

“Costa Rica Duty-Free. Do Good Shopping by IMAS”, clients can purchase perfumes, liquors, electronics and luxury accessories tax free.