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/