A Framework for Sustainable Ecotourism: Application to Costa Rica

Name of Assessment A Framework for Sustainable Ecotourism: Application to Costa Rica Full Reference Courvisanos, J.; Jain, A. 2006. A Framework for Sustainable Ecotourism: Application to Costa Rica. Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development 3 (2) 131–142. URL http://www.cecc.com.au/clients/sob/research/docs/jcourvisanos/JTHMcostaricaFINAL.pdf Country Costa Rica Justification/Context of the Assessment Costa Rica has gained an international reputation as a leader in environmental conservation. This has formed the base for its highly successful and lucrative small-scale ecotourism industry. However, there are threats from high rates of deforestation and expanding large-scale tourism that is trading on strong environmental credentials, so it is appropriate to conduct this policy analysis on such a significant ecotourism area. Objectives of the Assessment An ecologically sustainable economic framework, drawing on the works of Adolph Lowe (1893– 1995) and Michał Kalecki (1899–1970), to examine the Costa Rican experience and then analyses lessons for general policy development of any ecotourism area. The analysis is conducted from a political economy (and not a tourism management) perspective on the trade-offs between small- scale and large-scale ecotourism. Abstract Costa Rica has gained an international reputation as a leader in environmental conservation. This has formed the base for its highly successful and lucrative small-scale ecotourism industry. However, there are threats from high rates of deforestation and expanding large-scale tourism that is trading on strong environmental credentials, so it is appropriate to conduct this policy analysis on such a significant ecotourism area. The paper develops an ecologically sustainable economic framework, drawing on the works of Adolph Lowe (1893–1995) and Michał Kalecki (1899–1970), to examine the Costa Rican experience and then analyses lessons for general policy development of any ecotourism area. The analysis is conducted from a political economy (and not a tourism management) perspective on the trade-offs between small-scale and large-scale ecotourism.

Questions 1. University of Ballarat and Deakin University, Australia 2. Yes 5. The paper develops an ecologically sustainable economic framework, drawing on the works of Adolph Lowe (1893–1995) and Michał Kalecki (1899–1970), to examine the Costa Rican experience and then analyses lessons for general policy development of any ecotourism area. 6. Costa Rican available environments 7. Costa Rica is a small Central American nation that has ‘gained an international reputation as a leader in environmental conservation, over the last thirty years. Is developed a system of national parks and other protected areas, which cover a quarter of land area. Costa Rica’s unique rainforest attracts tourists from all over the world. Costa Rica has been generating a trade surplus on the basis of earnings from tourism and has become the country’s most important foreign exchange earner. This is despite a growing current account deficit. The growth of ecotourism in Costa Rica has been greatly facilitated by the presence of institutions such as the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT), the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) and the National Institute for Biodiversity (INBio) which have helped to create Costa Rica’s image abroad. Other factors that work in Costa Rica’s favour include the presence of a peaceful democratic government, political neutrality, a good climate, a large proportion of educated middle class, a central location close to its largest market, North America, and a complete range of environment-based stakeholders (or interest groups) intimately connected with the ecotourism industry. 8. No 9. Rare 10. Eco-sustainable framework 11. The objective in this paper is to develop the framework in order to deliver a sustainable, equitable and ecologically supportive economic environment. This eco-environment is the stipulated end. 12. An ecologically sustainable economic framework, drawing on the works of Adolph Lowe (1893–1995) and Michał Kalecki (1899–1970), to examine the Costa Rican experience and then analyses lessons for general policy development of any ecotourism area. 13. - 14. Yes, summarized on the paper 15. Different literature 16. No 17. No 18. - 19. Different literature 20. Yes 21. Economics and ecological aspects of tourism 22. - 23. - 24. No 25. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 16th Annual Conference of the Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE 2006), 6–9 February 2006, Melbourne, Australia. Anonymous referees from Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development journal. 26. Yes 27. - 28. Paper. 29. English 30. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 16th Annual Conference of the Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE 2006), 6–9 February 2006, Melbourne, Australia; online access to the article. 31. Yes 32. Yes 33. Experiences in Costa Rica outlined in this paper, both positive and negative, serve as lessons in framing such short term evolving goals in an ecotourist plan. 34. Yes 35. Yes 36. Yes 37. Analysis of the Costa Rica experience using the eco-sustainable framework shows that, with the goal identified, and a strong broad local-based input into ecotourist strategies, policies can be designed to promote both economic and ecology-based sustainable ecotourism that address short-sightedness such as damage to the environment, high risk strategies and imperfect information. 38. - 39. Yes 40. Yes