sustainable ecotourism in costa rica and the united states roslyn albee, carl carnagey, and neysa...

Sustainable Ecotourism in Costa Rica and the United

StatesRoslyn Albee, Carl Carnagey,

and Neysa Daquilante

After This Presentation You Should Be Able To:

• Understand what ecotourism is, its importance, and what impacts may result in Costa Rica and the U.S.

• Describe activities that make up ecotourism in Costa Rica and the U.S. and how they may differ

• Analyze if an ecotourism activity or operation is sustainable and identify ways to increase sustainability of ecotourism operations in the future

• Know how to properly choose a sustainable ecotourism company when traveling in the U.S. and abroad

Importance of Ecotourism • Ecological:

o build environmental awarenesso waste production

• Economical: o provides source of income for businesses and

local communityo incentive for conserving and enhancing

environment

• Social: o build cultural awareness and respect

What Is Ecotourism?

• Goal is to unite conservation, communities, and sustainable travel

• Tourism to places having unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern

Activities in Costa Rica and the U.S.

• Costa Rica:o Local environment o Sea turtles and sustainable theme parks o Emphasis on helping local communities

• U.S.:o Viewing of untouched/unexploited landscapeso Alaska to the Rockieso Individual or small group experiences

Economic Impacts

Negative: ● Growing industry with potentially accumulating

negative impacts Positive:

● Creates jobs● Provides needed external capital to locations

lacking industry● Can be used to market a vacation company or

particular get away

Ecological Effects

● Can help to keep otherwise vulnerable ecosystems intact and productive

● The impact of the tourist can be negative with too much waste being created.

● Choose your tour company carefully

Social Impact

● Ecotourism is a mixed bag; socially do to the varied method used by ecotourism companies and their participants.

● Can be very helpful to an ecosystem when tour companies act responsibly

Themes of Ecotourism in the U.S

● Focused on viewing untouched wilderness

● not usually action oriented

● individual or small group

Themes of Ecotourism in Costa-Rica

● Hands on

● Community minded with positive social impact

● larger groups often accomplish more

What Makes an Ecotourism Company Sustainable?• Economical:

o balance between citizens long term economic needs and short term goals of the business

• Ecological: o reinvestment of profits into conservation o increasing biodiversity o reduction of solid waste over time

• Social: o evidence of thriving local culture o effective planning

Ecological Sustainability

● What are the impacts to the environment? ● Does it benefit the land by keeping it protected:

lodging, amenities, etc? ● What habitats and endangered species are being

affected?

Economic Sustainability

● Does it make the rich richer or help everyone within the community?

● What services are benefiting (restaurants, lodging, etc)?

● Does the money spent on ecotourism stay in the country and locally?

Social Sustainability

● Does it affect indigenous people of the host country?

● Does the culture accept and educate others?

● Are the ecotourism organizations sensitive to make sure locals are being respected?

Certification in Sustainable Tourism

• “aims to differentiate tourism businesses based

on the degree to which they comply with a

sustainable model of natural, cultural, and social

resource management”

• 5 levels of certification

How to Pick the Right Tour

• Does it meet your trip goals?

• Uses local resources and employees

• Balance impacts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2172239611/

Ecotourism Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPq80Ehb_OU

Websites with Additional Information

• http://www.tourism.co.cr/costa-rica-ecotourism-and-nature/index.html

• http://www.crica.com/special/ecotour.html

• http://www.adventureincostarica.com/