Costa+Rica

2009 presentation

2010 presentation = 2010 Notes (Mainly about Ecotourism) = Impacts of Ecotourism · 2002: designated as “International Year of Ecotourism” Letter signed by Twenty NGOs signed letter to send to UNEP => oppose this UN promotion of Ecotourism · (-) “likely to cause more harm than good” : Ecotourism requires mass travel, tourism industry, construction, real estate etc to thrive · (-) selective benefit of large companies providing most infrastructure, facilities, and services ecotourism requires · Local ppl who most need the profit get little benefit · Even more access to remote nature -> increased vulnerability of virgin nature · “Trojan horse to gain entry to areas otherwise denied” · Solution: system of independent auditing & certification · (-) unclear of standards…who pays examiners? · 400 certification labels, few globally recognized, few familiar to tourists

Examples of certification label · Green Globe: established 1993-> set up by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) · Affiliation fee: $220. No inspector, no self-declaration, just willingness · Benchmark sticker: $395 (small ~9 staff), $1610 (medium, 50+ staff), $7500 (large, airline size) · Certification fee: ? go figure. · Only for large-scale group hotel groups · “greenwash for few companies –largely western owned” · “Green globe symbol means that a company is committed to environmental improvement…not…that a company has achieved it” · “diagnostic and self-fitness program, not an accreditation program”

· UNWTO, UNEP,TIES, Rainforest Alliance etc made accreditation body called Sustain Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) · (-) only regional network up · annual operational costs of STSC network $250,000~400,000 · accreditation status $850,000

Criticism of Certification efforts · Critics of current certification efforts: until there is real demand for certification from tourists, tour operators, and small businesses, then these efforts are likely to be doomed. · Ron Mader, founder of Planeta.com, website dedicated to debating ecotourism issues: “a flawed and self-serving concept dreamed up and implemented by First World interests, often to the detriment of its Third World practitioners” · Awards given to hotels and tour operators that only super-rich can afford=> X role models · Richard Sharpley, prof of tourism at the U of Lincoln · In essence, ecotourists-> egotourists · Tourism is essentially egocentric, escapist activity-> don’t want to be burdened with adopting responsible behavior or optimizing the benefits of tourism to the destination · Personal needs given higher priority than demonstrating positive concern for consequences of their actions

Social Impact of Ecotourism · Positive: increas in local awareness of their env · Negative:“eliticist construct”=> patronizes local communities · Dr. Erlet Cater, senior lecturer in geo at U of Reading · “ecotourism is an elitist construct that often patronizes host communities and largely fails as a tool for sustainable development” · many Western-constructed ecotourism impose an artificial, “zooified” lifestyle on local populations · tends to ignore local peoples’ aspirations for higher living standards founded on a clear understanding of the costs and benefits of development” · Wade Davis=> Harvard trained ethnobotanist and anthropologist, think differently · “the idea of seeking knowledge through travel can only be beneficial for the world” · “ecotourism as a term is kind of a conceit…it invariably becomes a form of voyeurism” · “Contacting unknown peoples”=> extraordinarily problematic and exploitative in its essence”

Env Impact of EcoT · Growing evidence that some animals are adversely affected by ecotourism=> may end up destroying the very thing that ppl came to see o Stress for bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand o Restless polar bears in Canada o Underweight yellow-eyed penguin chicks o Heavy tourist traffic in area could ultimately spark the failure of colony · Big hotels inevitably require large facilities, energy, and produce waste

Econ Impact of EcoT · Positive: Increased employment · Increased foreign investments · Negative: Increase in real-estate prices due to foreign operators and investors 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 :(-) national parks need at least 300 extra rangers to protect them more effectively · Guidelines for building in sensitive areas · Certification becoming mandatory from voluntary · Ethical code among companies bringing ppl to costa rica need to be made agreeing on visitor limits · Need guidelines for building in sensitive areas, like coastlines · Ex) buildling higher than trees, areas where turtles nest

· Carlos Manuel Rodriguez => former minister for env and energy, now director of Conservation International’s Mexico and Central America programme · We need to stop promoting mass tourism and get few tourists who pay more · Rules about density and capacity need to be st · Foreign operators and investors generating problems by causing real-estate prices to go up · Big hotel chains shouldn’t’ be allowed=> casinos, sex tourists instead of families · · Is Costa Rica’s reputation as world’s leading ecotourism destinations justified? · (+) law that says local residents living close can enter free · (+) farmers are paid not to touch the rainforest areas of their land due to benefits of their “environmental services” · Many parks exceed max. number of visitors=> burden need to be reduced · Poor handling of natural resources to blame · Deforestation rate that is among the fastest in the world => 4% per year · Everything in tourims should be env certified, but at the moment that is voluntary in costa rica = = = **2009 Notes** = • Trails o Through the tropical rainforests o Little maintenance → used including trash o Pedestrians, Bikes, Horses • 4x4’s o Many of the roads aren’t paved o Need for infrastructure • Many tourists either come to Costa Rica by plane or by boat on cruises
 * Major Modes of Transportation:**

• Zip- wires in the jungle o Take up a lot of space o Need maintenance o Very loud → scare wildlife away • Affects experiences of true eco-tourists • A hectare of land is more expensive than a hectare of land for pasture o Change of land use seen through land value o Change in real estate o Also increased awareness to locals about forests • Hotels o Placement of resorts o Golf-courses o Amount of water and maintenance needed o Example of change in use of land
 * Environmental Impacts:**

• Cultural traits o Traditional music is disappearing o Individualism has increased with higher profits • Eco-tourism o Change in definition of eco-tourism • Competition within communities o Creation of unions • Regulate prices • One person or hotel doesn’t get more profit than another
 * Social Impacts:**


 * Economic Impacts:**

• Becoming largest economic sector o Soon to outgrow agriculture o Can become an issue because of dependency on outside factors o Inconsistent throughout the year → tourism seasons • Bank loans o Banks are willing to increase loans to local farmers to transform their houses into B&B to accommodate to tourists o Too many beds are available → some farmers are resorting back to agriculture for income • Rural tourism unions created • Certifications / Standards o Must be certified to accommodate tourists o Very little standards held o E.g. certification for tour guides → speaking English o Could create imbalance if these were tightened → creates a dilemma

• Expensive o Most of environmentally friendly resorts only available for elite society • Hotel Punta Islita o 2006 Tourism for Tomorrow ‘Investor in People’ Award o Employs 80% of local population → multiplier effect o Educates both locals and tourists about need for sustainability o First to incorporate responsible tourism with eco-tourism in Costa Rica • Ecotermales Fortuna o Use of natural springs o Contrast between natural and sustainable sites versus locations that are man-made in search of profit • Optimization o Number of tourists measured by profitability per square meter o Rules about capacity and density • Communication o Guidelines for building height & location o Ministry of agriculture & tourism
 * Sustainability:**

// Location // · Central America · Located between Nicaragua and Panama · Borders the North Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea · Natural Resources: tropical and sub tropical climate, coastlines (beaches such as Guanacaste),volcanoes (Arenal volcano), rainforest/ cloudforest (Alajuela, Heredia)/coffee plantations · Traditional Resources: Cartago City, small towns outside of city such as Sachi; traditional arts and crafts, mainly the oxcarts (important part of Costa Rican history)