... 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.

For more information write to info@turismoruralcr.com or call Telephone (506) 248-2538 | Fax (506) 248-1659.