Banco de Costa Rica and the country’s hotel association entered into an agreement Tuesday, and one of the benefits for the tourism businesses is a special rate for credit card transactions.

Carlos Fernández, general manager of the Banco de Costa Rica, said the rate was 50 percent lower than what now is available elsewhere. The special rate is 2.65 percent of the transaction.

Fernández said he hope the hotels respond by  adopting discounts for those who carry credit cards from his bank.

The association, the Cámera Costarricense de Hoteles, also will get special electronic services from the bank. The electronic services will includes online payment of a multitude of government charges, including worker social security, workers’ insurance and payments to suppliers. This is important for hotels far from business centers.

The chamber was represented by Manuel H. Rodríguez. president.