On the other side of the divide, Costa Rica´s more left-leaning and traditionally egalitarian, academic, social and conservationist elements have been working together to pursue an alternative model for growth and development, capitalizing on the country’s bountiful natural resources to link environmental protection, economic growth and local development by creating innovative markets for ecotourism and environmental services. Again, its historical commitment to social welfare and infrastructure investment have been instrumental in enabling the country to promote itself as a ‘green’ destination.
Offering both tourists and scientific researchers a glimpse of a way of life very distinct from the western world while largely avoiding the realities of poverty in the Third World.
The concept of ecotourism has, to a large extent been pioneered in Costa Rica and the industry is now the country’s second largest source of income and foreign exchange, after the electrical-components sector, attracting over 1.5 million visitors in 2005 and generating almost $1 billion for the economy annually.
In fact, in recent years Costa Rica has understood, perhaps more than any other country in the world, the opportunities offered by adopting creative, market-based approaches in order to achieve economic development through the conservation, as opposed to exploitation, of its environmental assets.
In recognizing the potential economic value of its extensive biodiversity, primarily through ecotourism; and in seeking to protect the resources that facilitate this market, the country has implemented a series of unique and extensive mechanisms and created a revolutionary economic incentive strategy that makes conservation good business.
The concept of ecotourism has, to a large extent been pioneered in Costa Rica and the industry is now the country’s second largest source of income and foreign exchange, after the electrical-components sector, attracting over 1.5 million visitors in 2005 and generating almost $1 billion for the economy annually.
In fact, in recent years Costa Rica has understood, perhaps more than any other country in the world, the opportunities offered by adopting creative, market-based approaches in order to achieve economic development through the conservation, as opposed to exploitation, of its environmental assets.
In recognizing the potential economic value of its extensive biodiversity, primarily through ecotourism; and in seeking to protect the resources that facilitate this market, the country has implemented a series of unique and extensive mechanisms and created a revolutionary economic incentive strategy that makes conservation good business.
