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Ecotourism In Costa Rica. Costa Rica. Costa Rica attracts about a million visitors each year. Well-organised government promotions and a reputation as the safest country in Central America attract a large number of North American and European visitors.
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Costa Rica • Costa Rica attracts about a million visitors each year. • Well-organised government promotions and a reputation as the safest country in Central America attract a large number of North American and European visitors. • Costa Rica’s tourism is unusual in that a large part of it relates to special-interest groups, such as birdwatchers, and its dispersed small-scale nature is a form of sustainable tourism.
Montverde Cloud Forest • Situated at a height of around 1700 m. • There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, and several thousand species of insects. • Early tourists were mostly scientists and conservationists from the USA studying the area’s rich biodiversity. • In 1974 there were just 471 visitors.
The Increase • Since the 1990’s, the number of tourists has stabilised at about 50,000. • The nature of the tourist has changed. • At the beginning they were mainly specialists. • Now the tourists have a more general interest in the forest, and seek a balance between entertainment, adventure, and knowledge. • Monteverde now accounts for about 18% of Costa Rica’s total tourist revenue.
Impacts • The growth and development of tourism came at a time when there was a long-term decline in agriculture in Costa Rica. • Ecotourism was able to absorb some of the displaced agricultural workers in their own villages. • Much of this development was small-scale. • For example 70% of the hotels in Costa Rica have fewer than 20 rooms.
Impacts • New businesses have been created in Monteverde, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, craft stalls, supermarkets, bars, riding stables, and a butterfly and botanic garden. • Many of these are locally owned. • Over 400 full-time and 140 part-time jobs have been created. • In addition, there are indirect and multiplier effects.
Impacts • Unlike many rural areas in developing countries, Monteverde is not experiencing out-migration. • Indeed the situation has been quite the opposite. • Because of the developments in tourism there have been increased employment opportunities in accommodation, transport, food, and communications, and this has attracted many young people.
Impacts • However, the growth in resident and tourist population has placed a great strain on the existing infrastructure such as water supplies, refuse collection, electricity, and telecommunications. • In addition the price of land has soared.
Benefits • Controlled access to the Cloud Forest, with the use of local people employed as guides, has meant a reduction of visitor impact on parts of the forest. • Local arts and crafts have been rejuvenated. • The increase in the number of small businesses means that income should be more evenly distributed.
Benefits • Formal and informal education programmes have been strengthened, and the local community is even more aware of the value of the natural resources than when they were farmers. • Furthermore, the education is two-way: the villagers learn from the tourists just as the tourists learn from the villagers.
Activity Using A2 Geography P296-299, answer the following… • What are the scenic, ecological, climatic, and secondary resource attractions for Costa Rica? • Is Costa Rica an eco-friendly country or is its environmentally friendly image misleading? • What are the main problems of implementing eco-friendly ideas and management in Costa Rica?
