No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveEnvironmentally Conscious Tourism Businesses Win

Environmentally Conscious Tourism Businesses Win

Latin American travel-related businesses see tangible benefits when they invest in sustainable environmental and social practices, according to a new study.

The study – “A Cost and Benefit Analysis of Best Practice Implementation in Tourism Businesses” – was conducted by Rainforest Alliance (RA), an international conservation organization, with 14 tourism businesses in Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Ecuador.

RA released the study to coincide with the 30th anniversary of World Tourism Day on Sunday.

For example, just by cutting water consumption, 71 percent of business owners saved an average of $2,700 per year, according to the study.

“All of the hotel owners surveyed believe that their quality and appeal to tourists has improved, thanks to biodiversity conservation,” said RA Technical Manager Silvia Rioja. “The preservation of natural areas has also made them more competitive and has improved their tourism destinations.”

This year’s theme for World Tourism Day, “Tourism – Celebrating Diversity,” was aimed at reminding participating countries of their roles in seeking a balance between the financial benefits of globalization and the importance of protecting a country’s identity.

Taleb Rifai, secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, said, “Certainly globalization is something that can improve the economy, but it should not be at the cost of a diluted cultural diversity. In this sense, tourism plays a key role and is responsible for promoting the positive aspects of globalization while at the same time encouraging sustainability and balance.”

–Sean O’Hare

 

Trending Now

Panama Removed from EU High-Risk List, but Tax Haven Status Remains

The film The Laundromat, starring Meryl Streep, damaged Panama's reputation by drawing inspiration from a real-life story: the global scandal that erupted a decade...

Costa Rican Lottery Official Investigated in Money Laundering Case

Another money laundering case has shaken Costa Rica. Following a series of raids that dismantled a laundering network operating through legal and illegal lottery...

Costa Rica’s Olympic Hero Claudia Poll Alleges Abuse by Famed Swim Coach

Claudia Poll, Costa Rica's only Olympic gold medalist, and two other former swimmers from the country, alleged on Monday that they suffered psychological, physical,...

Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat

Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship,...

Algal Bloom Detected in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya

A noticeable change in watercolor has been reported across several zones of the Gulf of Nicoya and coastal areas adjacent to the Nicoya Peninsula....

US and Panama Begin Joint Exercises to Protect Panama Canal

US forces teamed up with Panamanian police for fresh military drills focused on safeguarding the Panama Canal, starting amid ongoing debates about foreign influence...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica