Costa Rica’s tourism industry has become the core tenet of its economy for the last couple of decades, being the main engine that powers national development. Ever since its name came into the forefront and its paradisiacal sights were highlighted on the cover of international magazines, the small Central American nation has seen an important increase in visitation and infrastructure around it. However, unlike many booming destinations, Costa Rica has remained committed to a sustainable tourism model.
No matter the government at hand, the country has built a structure that at least promotes responsible travel practices that benefit both visitors and local communities. This approach has been at the heart of the country’s tourism strategy, ensuring that natural resources, local livelihoods, and environmental health are mostly prioritized by all sanctioned participants. During the recent World Tourism Day celebrations, many countries took the opportunity to reflect on the impact of mass tourism and the growing need for sustainable alternatives. Costa Rica was a highlight due to its still-standing avoidance of mass, uncontrolled tourism.
The Tico tourist model implements tools over time to accommodate increased visitation, but it’s still centered around sustainability on multiple fronts: environmental, economic, and social. Companies in the tourism sector are trained and certified to ensure that Costa Rica’s natural wonders are preserved, as they are well understood to be the reason most people come to this lush natural oasis. The National Tourism Plan is built on three key pillars: sustainability, innovation, and inclusion, with a strong focus on maintaining long-term environmental and social health.
Challenges will always emerge as nations readjust, be it in rising costs, pollution, or overcrowding. So far, Costa Rica’s policies have managed to at least safeguard the country’s tourist success, in its continued expectation of growing as a global destination, while also preserving its national ethos in the process.