Ecotourism and Sustainable living

Ecotourism and Costa Rica have sense, Costa Rica is a ecotouristic country for his own nature.

Ecotourism essentially means ecological tourism, where ecological has both environmental and social connotations. It is defined both as a concept-tourism movement and as a tourism sector. Born in its current form in the late 1980s, Ecotourism came of age in 2002, when the United Nations celebrated the “International Year of Ecotourism”.

Ecotourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy efficiency, water re-use, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities are an integral part of ecotourism.

Many global environmental organizations and aid agencies favor ecotourism as a vehicle to sustainable development.

 

Ideally, true ecotourism should satisfy several criteria, such as

  • conservation (and justification for conservation) of biological diversity and cultural diversity, through ecosystems protection
  • promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations
  • sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous people by having their informed consent and participation in the management of ecotourism enterprises.
  • increase of environmental & cultural knowledge
  • minimization of tourism’s own environmental impact
  • affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury
  • local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions

For many countries, ecotourism is not so much seen as a marginal activity intended to finance protection of the environment than as a major sector of national economy and as a means of getting currencies. For example, in countries such as Kenya, Ecuador, Nepal, Costa Rica and Madagascar, ecotourism represents a significant chunk of foreign revenue.

Definition and Ecotourism Principles

TIES defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following principles:

  • Minimize impact
  • Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
  • Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
  • Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
  • Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
  • Raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate
  • Support international human rights and labor agreements

Sustainable Living

Sustainable living is an approach to social and economic, indeed, all activities, for all societies, rich and poor, which is compatible with the preservation of the environment. It is based on a philosophy of interdependence, of respect for life as well as non-living parts of Nature, and of responsibility for future generations.

There is no single path towards a sustainable future — quite the contrary. Each person, community, ethnic or religious group, region, country, or culture should search for its own unique approaches based on historical roots, technologies, population dynamics and specific natural conditions.

 

Definition and Sustainability Principles

IUCN, UNEP and WWF. Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living. Geneva, Switzerland, 1980. Caring for the Earth set out a range of principles for the achievement of a sustainable society. In summary they are:

  • respect and care for the community of life;
  • improve the quality of human life;
  • conserve the Earth’s vitality and diversity;
  • minimize the depletion of non-renewable resources;
  • keep within the Earth’s carrying capacity;
  • change personal attitudes and practices;
  • enable communities to care for their own environments;
  • provide a national framework for integrating environment and conservation;
  • create a global alliance.

In all those ways Costa Rica is a Ecotouristic country and we wants contribute to grow the ecotourism in the corcovado and drake bay area.