Ecotourism and Sustainable Rural Development in Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica

Authors

  • Josephine Howitt University of Ottawa
  • Courtney W Mason Thompson Rivers University

Abstract

This article explores the contributions of ecotourism to sustainable community development in a predominately rural area of Costa Rica’s southern interior, away from the country’s more concentrated touristic regions. An ethnographic case study was undertaken in the village of San Gerardo de Rivas, the entry point for tourists who climb Costa Rica’s highest peak. Here, tourism has become a complementary source of income to agriculture. Drawing on local perspectives, an understanding emerges of how this industry has shaped environmental perspectives and practices, as well as how local people are negotiating the direction of tourism development to optimize the benefits to their community. The potential opportunities and limitations for further ecotourism industries in Pérez Zeledón are also explored, along with an assessment of other sustainable rural development options. Keywords: ecotourism; rural livelihoods; sustainable development; environmental practices; local perspectives. -------------------------------------------------------- Résumé Cet article explore les contributions de l'écotourisme au développement durable des communautés dans une zone principalement rurale du centre sud du Costa Rica, loin des régions denses en tourisme du pays. Un cas d'étude ethnographique a été entrepris dans le village de San Gerardo de Rivas, le point d'entrée pour les touristes qui escaladent le plus haut sommet du Costa Rica. Ici, le tourisme est devenu une source complémentaire de revenu dans l'agriculture. D'après les perspectives locales, une compréhension émerge sur la manière dont l'industrie a façonné les perspectives et les pratiques environnementales, ainsi que la manière dont les personnes locales négocient la direction du développement du tourisme pour optimiser les bénéfices de leur communauté. Les opportunités potentielles et les limites d'avoir plus d' industries d'écotourisme à Pérez Zeledón sont aussi explorées, en même temps qu'une évaluation d'autres options de développement durable en milieu rural.

Author Biographies

Josephine Howitt, University of Ottawa

Josephine Howitt graduated in 2012 with an M.A. in Globalization and International Development from the University of Ottawa. Her thesis examined local perspectives of ecotourism and agriculture in a rural Costa Rican village. She currently works as the Sustainability Program Coordinator for the City of Kamloops, British Colombia.

Courtney W Mason, Thompson Rivers University

Courtney W Mason is a Canada Research Chair in Rural Livelihoods and Sustainable Communities (Tourism Management Department) at Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia. His research examines how Indigenous communities negotiate pressing health and education issues in the backdrop of enduring colonial legacies. His collaborative research, with both urban and rural communities, identifies the barriers to and facilitators of local subsistence practices and supports community-driven initiatives that enhance food security and tourism development, while supporting cultural continuities.

Downloads

Published

2018-02-21

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2018): General Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.