... Costa Rica Travel ... |
... Costa Rica Rural Based Tourism ...
by Infocostarica staff
One sector of Costa Rica's tourism industry that has been steadily
growing over the last few years is rural based tourism. According
to experts, close to 90,000 foreign and local tourists participated
in rural tourism programs during 2004, a 15% increase from the
year before. Increasingly, visitors to Costa Rica are choosing
to stay with families located in rural areas, to work as volunteers
in nature conservation projects and to visit farms to participate
in activities ranging from milking cows to picking coffee.
Rural tourism is defined as any tourist activity based in rural
areas (natural regions, coasts, etc), as opposed to urban regions.
Rural tourism looks out for the interests of tourism, the environment
and the local community. One of the central themes within rural
tourism is its emphasis on sustainable tourism, that is, encouraging
the sustainable use of resources and renewal of the local economies.
This rising demand in rural tourism activities has spurred a
number of organizations and business to begin to offer rural based
activities. Leading the way is Cooprena R.L., a Costa Rican organization
founded by a group of small cooperatives dedicated to organize,
promote and commercialize the rural tourism initiatives offered
by its members. Among the goals of this organization is to provide
visitors with worthy enriching experiences, to enhance the quality
of life of the local population and to maintain a high quality
natural and cultural environment.
According to its promotors, rural based tourism offers visitors
the unique opportunity to observe and participate in cultural
and educational activities set in Costa Rica’s rural countryside.
Among the diverse services offered are: restaurants offering regional
and Costa Rican typical food, tours through private reserves and
suspension bridges, wild life rescue centers, zoo farms and local
crop planting techniques. One business, located in San Antonio
de Escazú, offers visitors a wide variety of activities
and entertainment that includes transportation from San José,
traditional band music, typical handicraft sale, fruit refreshment,
panoramic tours, scenic walks, a typical food lunch, masks workshop,
organic sugar mill tour, organic coffee tour and local guide.
Scattered across the country, a variety of moderately priced
lodges are now offering tourists the opportunity to delve into
nature as well as into the daily lives of the region’s inhabitants.
El Silencio, located near Quepos on Costa Rica’s mid Pacific
coast, offers visitors 10 rooms, a center for environmental education,
and activities designed to immerse visitors in the daily life
of rural farmers. From planting and gathering crops to becoming
involved in animal rescue projects, visitors learn first hand
the various agricultural methods used on a typical local farm.
The benefit to local economies is significant and includes:
- Increased local job opportunities in the tourist and services
sectors
-The expansion of local domestic industries
-Bringing foreign income to the country and investment to the
local economy
-Helping expand the local economy, particularly in rural areas
where agricultural employment might be irregular or deficient
-Motivating the improvement of local transportation, communications
and other basic infrastructure
-Helping to preserve Costa Rica’s historic and cultural
heritage.
With the anticipated increase in rural based tourism over the
coming years, government officials as well as community leaders
are anxious to continue to improve on all aspects of this rapidly
growing tourism niche. Communities are taking the lead. According
to Costa Rica’s Tourism Ministry, over 40% of the 500 businesses
that offer rural tourism services are owned by families or communal
organizations. This activity in turn, generates approximately
1000 permanent and 700 part-time jobs. Stimulated by the sight
of tourists and growing support from development agencies, communities
are developing the infrastructure and services required for rural
based tourism.
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