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Ecotourism in Costa Rica

Ecotourism in Costa Rica. Jay and Nazly. Locational Context and Trends. Population: 4 million 1.5 million tourists per year. Monteverde. La Fortuna. Arenal Mundo Aventura. Arenal Volcano. Transport. Impacts of EcoTourism. “likely to cause more harm than good” Selective benefit

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Ecotourism in Costa Rica

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  1. Ecotourism in Costa Rica Jay and Nazly

  2. Locational Context and Trends • Population: 4 million • 1.5 million tourists per year

  3. Monteverde

  4. La Fortuna

  5. Arenal Mundo Aventura

  6. Arenal Volcano

  7. Transport

  8. Impacts of EcoTourism • “likely to cause more harm than good” • Selective benefit • “Trojan horse to gain entry to areas otherwise denied” • Solution: Certification •  unclear standards, not well known • “greenwash for few companies- largely western owned”

  9. Established 2003 by World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC)  Only a symbol of commitment, not of achievement  High fees Affiliation fee: $220 Benchmark sticker: S $395, M $1610, L $7500 Certification fee: ??

  10. Sustain Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) • Accreditation body by UNWTO, UNEP, TIES, Rainforest Alliance, etc •  only regional network setup • High operational costs • High fee for accreditation status

  11.  Criticism on Certification • Until demand increases, efforts doomed • “flawed and self-serving concept…[only for] First World interests” • Awards given to hotels and tour operators that only super-rich can afford  X role models • “Tourism is essentially egocentric, and escapist activity”

  12. Social impact of ecotourism • : increase in local awareness of their env • :“eliticist construct”=> patronizes local communities • Imposing artificial “zooified” lifestyle • Ignorance of local ppl’s aspirations for higher living standards • “form of voyeurism”

  13. Environmental Impact of EcoT • : Evidence that animal activities are disturbed • May result in destruction of the very thing ppl come to see • Big hotels require large amount of resources and facilities • Golf course, spa, swimming pool, etc

  14. : Increased employment : Increased foreign investments : Increase in real-estate prices due to foreign operators and investors Economic impact of EcoT

  15. Solutions • Need rules on density and capacity  ethical code among companies on visitor limits • Stop promoting mass tourism; need fewer tourists who pay more • More caretakers • Guidelines for building in sensitive areas • Certification becoming mandatory from voluntary

  16. Interesting Sites • Successful Ecotourism in Costa Rica • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeynzQz4SXk • Ecotourism explained by Duke U profs • http://www.biology.duke.edu/bio217/2005/cmp8/index.html

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