Costa Rica’s tourism model was developed with sustainability, innovation, and inclusiveness in mind, and part of their key to success has been to target a demand that can adapt to the conditions the country has to offer. The country’s tourist attractions focus on activities that respect the environment and offer travellers opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to conservation and cultural heritage.
New research by the International Union for Conservation of Nature suggests that job cuts in nature reserves and environmental rollbacks by governments during the Covid-19 pandemic are undermining conservation efforts. Recovery measures need to be planned in a way that avoids negative impacts on biodiversity and charts a more sustainable and equitable way forward.
Adumu Safaris is a social impact safari company working in partnership with local communities to harness tourism’s potential to protect cultural and natural heritage. They successfully combine cultural immersion experiences with traditional safari itineraries, and have the ultimate aim of restoring thousands of hectares of Maasailand. Rebecca talks to husband and wife team David and Danielle to find out more.
The Costa Rican National Park, Manuel Antonio, has been awarded with the Certificate of Sustainable Tourism (CST) in the top category. The award measures aspects of business management and social, environmental, cultural and economic impacts, as well as work with communities in the surrounding areas.
