EcoTourism 3 (Troubles seen with EcoTourism)

With 5% of the world's biodiversity and 6 different types of ecosystems present in CR, the pressure to preserve these regions is very high. Is Ecotourism the solution to preserving these areas while also allowing Costa Rican citizens to prosper off the land? With 1.5 million tourists a year and Costa Rican Government wanting to double that figure by 2012, the future of ecotourism seems strong, but what is to become of the areas it is supposed to protect and preserve? Costa Rica is a world leader in the developement of the ecotourism industry and should make sure to preserve its number one asset, the natural surrounding people come to see.

With demand so high, more and more Costa Ricans are converting their farms and other businesses into something that has to do with ecotourism. Whether it is a lodge, natural springs spa, or an adventure offering business, an end to expansion is not in sight. All these things are being built in an effort for local people to benefit from the ecosystems that surround them.

The question being posed now, according to Leo Hickman an author of Guardian Books is "should tourists be allowed to access some of the most extreme and sensitive wildlife habitats on the planet? Wouldn't it be better if such places were restricted to all but a few scientists and indigenous communities in order to better protect them? " Although cutting tourism out of the picture might not be totally neccasary, the qoute does raise questions of regulations being placed on ecotourism developement. Costa Rica's former environment and energy minister, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, believes that "At first, it was only tourists interested in wildlife who came here, but this has changed. We need to stop promoting mass tourism and get fewer tourists who pay more. I would set rules about density and capacity." Diego Bermudez, Costa Rica's president of tour guides union and a professor at Rice Learning Institute, explains some of the detrimental results of over-tourism in his quote, "Ten years ago, I would see five pairs of quetzal [one of the region's most treasured birds] a day in some parks, but now I have to walk for hours off the trails to find them. You never see mammals any more from the trails, either. The tourists aren't to blame - they don't come across the sea just to destroy our habitats. We need to have an ethical code among the companies bringing people here to agree on visitor limits."

The main reason that the system CR presently has in place is not sustainable is the fact that it is largely voluntary. It is time that the entire ecotourism industry become environmentally certified as sustainable. Setting limits to future ecotourism developement ensures that both Costa Rican citizens investment and the environment can begin to grow in a manner that will allow both to be sustainable forever.