Brazil vs. Costa Rica Essay

With the growing orbiculate concern for the environs, new products, industries, and flummoxable practices restrain emerged across a get of industries. The exertion of touristry on an inter raceal and domestic scale is no different. Over the past a few(pre nominal phrase) decades, the global tourism industry has witnessed an immense increase in travelling ground on milieually good practices, devised to be sustainable . soundlers ar proper increasingly interested in inbred environments, cultures, and adventures.For this new market comp iodinent activities such as wilderness viewing, wildlife observation and hiking/trekking opportunities have get going to a greater extent than than popular to a wider base of customers within the tourism and travel industry . This new form of tourism, to a fault cognize as ecotourism, has also make out an integral part of a reduce of provinces environmental and economic practices . According to Rual Goueva in his article Manag ing the Ecotourism persistence in Latin AmericaChallenges and Opportunities, ecotourism is a detail kind of tourism that fosters, emboldens, and acts as a catalyst for environmental protection .It is in his view that ecotourism strategies must knuckle under a great deal of attention to the following (1) economic reading, (2) environmental protection, (3) heathen protection, (4) fond development and, (5) political development. As a more sustainable form of tourism, ecotourism offers an alternative and highly effective means for develop and developed economies to blend their economies into the global scrimping and often nominates incentives to establish sustainable development strategies .In summary, ecotourism should concentrate on sweats to maximize the realizes of tourism temporary hookup minimizing the environmental, economic, political, mixer, and cultural impacts of tourism. Additionally, policies have to be devised to optimize the allocation of resources from ecot urism revenues to preserve and sustain the resource base. It is, however, classic to note the lack of a homogeneous interpretation of eco-tourism activities within the tourism industry and thus difficult to assess its impacts. low their functional definition, the World touristry Organization/OMT concluded in 1998 that ecotourism plays closely 2 to 4 percentage of total global tourism. However, this percentage is viewd to be a lot larger as the industry has grown al or so exponentially in the past few classs and the parcel of ecotourism broadly outlined as tourists that travel to observe and enjoy temperament has been expanding steadily during the terminal decade.An new(prenominal)wise source with a similar functional definition, the Inter study Ecotourism social club (TIES), estimated that ecotourism is expanding by 20% annually, comp ared with 7% expansion for the tourism industry as a whole. The specific part of ecotourism generated around USD 154 billion in revenue s for the course 2000 . Continuing, TIES also estimates that betwixt 40%-60% of travel around the world is nature-related and that amongst 20%-40% of tourists are specifically wildlife related tourists .Furthermore, it should be say that this segment of tourism toilet have profound affects on a nations economy. It has been noted that ecotourism is primarily led by supply brass economics rather than demand. In other words, the quality of the ecotourism experience is positively correlated to the direct of environmental protection the topical anaesthetic anaesthetic ecosystem enjoys. Ecotourism is therefore assort as a normal good or service. Additionally, it is critical that eco-ventures apply specific attention to the level of environmental disturbance and disruption that ecologic and social systems can sustain .As it has been noted, any level of fundamental interaction and/or intervention with a local ecosystem may have environmental impacts, which must be minimized in o rder to preserve the nature organism enjoyed via ecotourism . As the do of tourism within natural and/or preserved areas can hinder or help a specific ecosystem, many policy makers around the world are paying much more attention to the regulation of natural areas. Several countries that are nerve-wracking to find a compromise amongst economic development and environmental protection are becoming the leaders in Ecotourism.Countries that are bounteous in natural resources but that are not yet implementing sustainable development strategies are being encouraged to progress activities such as ecotourism . Ecotourism must be approached as a part of a number of initiatives to protect local ecosystems. At the macro level, a nation fall out ecotourism should include as many federal, state, and local agencies as possible. It has also been noted that ecotourism must be a part of the country all general economic development and harvest-tide as headspring .This paper was intented to examine the economic, environmental and social aspects of two countries currently take part in the industry of ecotourism, costa Rica and brazil. However before an analysis can begin, it is necessary to review the establishment of ecotourim in each country and examine how, when, and why ecotourism came more or less. rib Rica is cognize as country with rich and robust biodiversity. However, in the past few decades, it has experienced an increase in amount of de woodation within the country . Like a number of developing countries, such as brazil, speak toa Rica has been steadily loosing its lush forests to agricultural uses.Between 1950 and 1990, it was estimated that the country lost more or less half of its total forest cover due to agricultural development . Furthermore, b the early to mid 1990s, only about 6 percent of the countrys land area (not including parks and matterly know protected areas) remained in intact primary forest . However, this rapid exasperate in for est covering has slowed in recent twelvemonths with the egress of an internationalistly renowned national park system which has preserved over 10 percent of the countrys total primary forests .As of today, costa Rica has secured land through with(predicate)out the country for over 25 national parks, reserves, and wildlife refuges for endangered species (as shown in Figure 1. 1, adopted from SOURCE). Along with the organisations formal protection of the land, ecotourism has been said to hinder the rate of deforestation as well. Ecotourism in rib Rica began in the mid-1980s as a way to substantiation the deforestation and to generate needed inappropriate transpose for the economy. Tourism in general in rib Rica has been one of the most dynamic heavenss of the economy.In 1992 tourism earnings totaled $421 jillion, making it the second largest foreign exchange earner after bananas. Moreover, ecotourism has been rapidly expanding as well accounting for 36 percent of net tourism earnings in 1989. In sum, tally to Stacy Small, Production Editor of Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine, Costa Ricas tourism industry has been increasing in size for many years now, and one reason for this upsurge is the appeal of and demand for ecotourism . Costa Rica has been promoting and expanding its ecotourism industry.The environmental secretariat and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute have expire largely trustworthy for the development and coordination of ecotourism policies in the country . Due to a high level of political relational involvement and the formation of societal institutions such as The environmental Secretariat, Costa Rica has become the primary example of country in Latin America with a successful ecotourism industry. Their rich ecosystem, accounting for an outstanding 5% of the worlds biodiversity, offers the country a natural competitive vantage in the industry .Additionally, ecotourism has become the main motivation for tourists within the country. In the early 1980s, an estimated 370,000 tourists traveled to the country of Costa Rica. By 2002, about 1. 1 million tourists arrived in Costa Rica, with the vast majority, 830,000 people, being ecotourists or individuals participating in nature related travel . The ectourism sector of Costa Rica has become quite diverse, from bird watching to volcano climbing and kayaking. To date, Costa Rica has approximately 25% of its grunge under regimenal protection, 1. million hectares, with 12% of its territory composed of national parks and privately owned reserves . It should also be noted that the private reserves of Costa Rica utilized for ecotourism are the areas that develop and generate the most income. Take for example the Monteverde Biological Preserve, the habitat of the exotic golden toad, has become famous worldwide and is internationally ac familiarity as one of the best areas of ecotourism in Latin America. Over the come through two decades, the Monteverde reserve has earned more income than all other national parks unite with its main source of financing coming from entrance fee fees and grants .Rara Avis is another private reserve that has turned to ecotourism. Rara Avis was opened in 1983, and contains 3,000 kingdom of primary and secondary forest. It borders on the Braulio Cariilo issue Park and the Zona Protetora La Selva, a investigate station. Private banks financed Rara Avis, and it was the first of its kind in the country. Rara Avis has shown that ecotourism can become a net incomeable way to manage tropical forest resources. However, in more recent years, Costa Rica has witnessed injurious side effects of overcrowding in its forest reserves as a result of increase ecotourism.Take for instance the increasingly popular Manuel Antonio Park. Heavy interest in this area has led developers to overbuild, which has threatened the diverse monkey population and other wildlife in the park. On the other hand, ecotourism has been a successful dodge f or Cost Rica. Due to its consistency in approach, Costa Rica has successfully promoted an environmentally sound ecotourism industry over the past few decades. Additionally, ecotourism has had an inclusive macroeconomic strategy that benefits local communities, generates jobs as well as revenues, and has inspired further research in the areas of ecology and biodiversity.As a whole, Costa Rica offers a panoramic and pristine view of exactly how ecotourism can benefit a soceity, local communities, and the environment. Beginning of ecotourism in brazil-nut tree Ecotourism was first introduced in Brazil, on the governamental level, in 1985, when the Brazilian Institute of Tourism (Embratur) started its Ecological Tourism send off. The first conception to put things in order was made in 1987 by creating the National Technical Commission, consisting of experts from both the Brazilian Institute for the Enviroment and Renovable Natural Resources (Ibama) and Embratur.The main destination of the commission was to monitor the Ecological Tourism project, as a reaction on ecotourism observed at that time, which was little organized and not at all sustainable. Although, the efforts made by govermnent were not sufficient to end with barriers between theory and practice of ecotourism. The principal problem was the lack of a merge concept of a segment, i. e. no existing criteria, regulation and incentives that would direct firms and investors and the government itself to promote and use effectively the natural assets of a country, and to protect them at the same time.As a consequence, the ecotourism in Brazil employ to be an bodily process without any mark of order and very confused, where the main object lens was to generate a profit, totally ignoring its other aspects, like socioeconomic and environmental benefits for the country. The brazilian ecotourism in the late 80s and early 90s was more likely the secureness tourism which used the ecologic aspect just to sel l better. Environmental experts referred to it as an eco-opportunism. Creating level-headed framework for ecotourismIn 1994, a workgroup of experts of all ministries knobbed (Ministry of Environment, Imdustry, Commerce and Tourism) met in Goias Velho, Goias, to create a document Directives for National Ecotourism insurance policy. With this document, they set a legal framework for ecotourism in Brazil, which was defined Ecotourism is a segment of tourism activity which uses, in a sustainable way, natural and cultural assets, incentives their conservation and looks for a creation of an ervironmental consciousness throught the interpretation of an environment and promoting the welfare of communities involved at the same time.This definition and all the other directives were created with favourable to a profitable tourism connected to environmental and cultural peculiarities of Brazil. The effort was made to assure product of this particular branch of tourism all over Brazil, with the following criteria what ecotourism should do -Provide better life conditions for communities in the areas of ecotourism. -Promote valuation of the environment -Create wealth and promote employment To make an fortune to learn about natural and cultural assets in order to promote knowledge of new generations. Another important decision was made at the meeting the government should start to cooperate with various NGOs and, together, educate likely employers in the sector of ecotourism. The opinions of NGOs were often accepted by government in the process of building adequate infrastructure to promote sustainable growth of ecotourism in Brazil. Setting the principlesLast but not least, the main concerns regarding ecotourism in Brazil were defined and published as a list of actions recommended to promote the sector in the whole country. 1. Regulation of ecotourism The necessity of its own legal framework, harmonized with both state and federal laws. 2. Institutional Interaction Intensification of exchanging development and experience between governamental institutions and private sector. 3. Human Resources man Education and raising of personnel to work in an area of ecotourism. 4.Quality control Creation of tools for observation, evaluation and improvement of ecotourism including both public and private sector. 5. Distribution of education Creation of a database with the access for all national and various international institutions involved, including indicators monitoring the evolution of ecotourism. 6. Incentives to develop ecotourism Promotion and stimulation of economic activity in the sector together with infrastructure in order to provide high quality services, especially in priority ecotourism destinations. . Information for tourists providing the tourists knowledge about the destination they visit to make them respect the local environment. 8. participation of communities Make people living in major ecotourism destinations participate in the sector and modify their lifestyle to increase sustainability of the area. With the help of mentioned governamental regulation and cooperation between state institutions and many NGOs, the ecotourism grew by 15 % a year until 2000, time the tourism as a whole only grew 3 % anually.thither were created ecotourism destinations in all brazilian states and the rigorous control has contributed to a sustainability of the sector and to protection of natural assets of Brazil. Costa Rica Present part The tourism shell in Costa Rica began in 1987 (Crist Inman, 1997) with the number of visitors up from 329,000 in 1988, through 1 million in 1999, to 1. 9 million foreign visitors in 2007, allowing the country to earn US $1. 9 billion in that year (World Tourism Barometer, 2008). By 2002, about 1. 1 million tourists arrived in Costa Rica, with about 830,000 of them being ecotourists (Saenz, 2001).Thus, tourism in Costa Rica has since 1999 been one of Costa Ricas most important industries exemplified by the fact that it earns more foreign exchange than traditional commodities such as pineapples, banana and coffee combined (Departamento de Estadisticas ICT (2006) (need statistics on that ). In 2001, ecotourism accounted for an annual growth rate of 20-30 percent (Dasenbruck, 2001). Today, being the nations principal industry, ecotourism contributes an estimated US $825mn to the economy annually as well as a 19 % increase in the number of tourists visiting in 2005 (Ecotourism can be good business , 2006). frugal impact The Travel Tourism industry in Costa Rica encompasses transport, accommodation, catering, sport and services for visitors. Below are presented some macroeconomic indicators in carnal knowledge to the industry. GDP The Travel Tourism industry is expect to contribute straight off 5. 3% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 (CRC778. 8 bn or US$1,466. 2 mn), rising in nominal basis to CRC2,005. 5 bn or US$2,639. 2 mn (5. 8% of total) by 2018. Additi onally, accord to WTTC the real growth of TT in Costa Rica is computeed to reassure a real rise of 1,2 % (US$ 3,769) in the economy GDP in 2008.Moreover, real GDP growth is pass judgment to grow at an sightly of 4,7 % per annum over the coming 10 years. Employment The TT economy contribution to employment is expected to rise from 258. 000 jobs in 2008, which represents 13,1 % of total employment, or 1 in each 7. 6 jobs to 359. 000 representing 14,4 % of total employment or 1 in every 6. 9 jobs by 2018 (WTTC, 2008). Visitor exports trade earnings from international and visitors are expected to generate 17,1 % of total exports (US $ 2,270,8 mn) in 2008 growing, in nominal basis, to 16,8 % (US$ 4,369,3 mn) of total exports in 2018 (WTTC, 2008).Investment Travel Tourism Capital Investment is estimated at CRC515. 0 bn, US$969. 5 mn or 15. 1 % of total investment in year 2008. By 2018, this should reach CRC1,225. 1 bn, US$1,612. 2 mn or 15. 6 % of total (WTTC, 2008). Foreign inve stment has had a major role to spell in the development of the Costa Rican ecotourism industry. It was both politically and fiscally back up by the IMF, The World Bank and USAID. For instance, in 2001 the World Bank sanction a US $40 mn loan of which most of it center on ecotourism (Dasenbruck, 2001).Given that Costa Rica has a solid credit rate with international lenders along with international support from the abovementioned institutions gives the country a class of financial stability in handling substantial costs in the development of the ecotourism industry. Government Government Travel Tourism operating expenditures in Costa Rica in 2008 are expected to total CRC122. 9 bn (US$231. 3 mn), or 6. 2% of total government spending. In 2018, this spending is forecast to total CRC396. 1 bn (US$521. 3 mn), or a 6. 4% share (WTTC, 2008). Ill add more here about government institutions and initiatives, laws, regulations.Ecotourism and the environment Behind ecotourism lies the i dea of preserving a nations natural resources succession profiting from them (Dasenbruck, 2001). Similarly to Brazil, ecotourism is overall considered to be beneficial to the environment compared to conventional forms of tourism e. g. mass tourism, exemplified by Cancun in Mexico with 4,000 room hotel resorts. One of the reasons that ecotourism in Costa Rica enjoys such high importance economically is because there exists a firm environmental manse based in the green industry (Dasenbruck, 2001. This lobby recognizes the long-term benefits of aintaining an environmentally friendly image and therefore it supports most of the governments conservation initiatives. Some, however, argue that ecotourism is an oxymoron, since travel at its base is detrimental to the environment. Airplane fossil fuels and the pollution coming from jet airplanes are used as examples of evidence, that international travel and environmental protection are mutually exclusive by nature (Dasenbruck, 2002). Ecot ourism in Brazil Current egression Brazilian ecotourism began to grow exponentially after the country woke up to its eco- voltage during the 1992 dry land Summit in Rio de Janeiro.Still, ecotourism in Brazil continues to grow at a rapid pace. While the tourism industry overall grows at a rate of 3% annually, ecotourism is up by 15%. Other areas such as the city of Bonito are experiencing bigger growths of 20-30%. (Planeta) Furthermore, it is estimated that by the year 2010, ecotourism could make up as much as 50% of the travel industry according to Dorival Bruni, professorship of the non-profit Biosphere society. Considering that one of the largest ecotourism destinations in the world is the amazon, this estimate is considerably probable.It is estimated by the World Tourism Organization that ecotourism may represent 2-4% of the worlds tourism. In 2000, ecotourism accounted for 10% of Brazilian tourism revenues (Bioesfera, 2001). The contiguous three economic markers show Brazil s travel and tourism industrys contribution toward total GDP, employment, and exports. GDP The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) research findings reported that the Travel & Tourism industry is expected to contribute directly 2. 5% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 BRL 70. 6 or US$36. 1bn), rising in nominal terms to BRL157. bn or US$53. 2bn(2. 6% of total) by 2018 (WTTC). Employment Brazils Travel & Tourism Economy employment is estimated at 5,500,000 jobs in 2008, 5. 9% of total employment, or 1 in every 16. 9 jobs. By 2018, this should total 7,634,000 jobs, 6. 6% of total employment, or 1 in every 15. 2 jobs (WTTC). Exports Export earnings from international visitors and tourism goods are expected to generate 5. 9% of total exports (BRL22. 5 bn or US$11. 5 bn) in 2008, growing (nominal terms) to BRL65. 4 bn or US$22. 1 bn (5. 4% of total) in 2018 (WTTC). Ecotourism and the environmentOne of the core benefits of ecotourism is the sustainability of the environment thus ec otourism is an economically productive way to protect Brazils natural wonders. Consequently, Brazils continued growth of ecotourism is also generating a positive social impact. Local skilled and semi-skilled populations are benefiting the most from this current growth. According to Joao Mireilles Filho, president of the Peabiru Ecotourism Institute and of the Brazilian Ecotourism Institute (IEB), one of the most visited contributions in Brazil for ecotourism is the Pantanal role, which is a vast series of wetlands in the upper Paraguay River Basin.The capital of this region, a town called Bonito is the main launching spot for ecotourists. Socially, Bonito accounts for about 2,000 jobs in the sector out of a population of less than 20,000 people. (Planeta) Investments As ecotourism continues to grow, it will provide investment opportunities for private and foreign investors who see the set in this industry. One region of such potential is The Ribeira de Iguape River, one of the mo st important rivers in the Brazilian southeastern state of Sao Paulo.The Ribeira de Iguape Valley is cognize for its complex geology and natural riches with a number of limestone caves and important mineral resources. Currently it is still characterized by poverty and underdevelopment however ecotourism in the region has now a US$ 15 million financing US$ 9 million from the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) and US$ 6 million from the government of Sao Paulo for improvement in infra-structure, training and organization. The Monetary International Fund (MIF) provided a $1. 7 million grant to improve the quality and competitiveness of microscopical to medium sized enterprises in the tourist sector.By the year 2010, more than 5,000 firms are in the tourist sector are expected to pursue certification. It is estimated that ecotourism will receive a considerable amount of this grant. (IDB) In February 2006, the IDB ratified a loan of $9 million toward improvements in infrastructure , including highways and productive systems in the Atlantic Forest region of the state of Sao Paolo. This project will benefit six parks which will benefit by retaining their visitors and acquiring financial sustainability while protecting their natural wonders. OpportunitiesOne of the biggest areas of opportunity for Brazil is the virago region. This region is home to some 20 million people and is known for the biological diversity of its ecosystem and the great diversity of flora and fauna. It has the potential to become one of the largest ecotourism attractions in the world. As a matter of fact, it is 98 time larger than Costa Rica. Unfortunately in 2000 it only earned US400 million in exports which is less than half of Costa Ricas total revenues during that time. This equates to a meager . 05% of the worlds ecotourism revenues in 2000.One of the biggest challenges facing this region is the lack of infrastructure such as energy power, communication, and transportation. The gover nment taken some steps to ameliorate the situation by launching PROECOTUR (The platform of Development of Eco-Tourism in the amazon) with the help of the IDB to develop and improve the infrastructure of selected areas in the region. It includes surveying best practices for ecotourism, financing ecotourism projects, developing tourist infrastructure, and assisting investors with technological and financial aid (SCA).Since deforestation has already affected large areas of the Amazon, Proecotur should bring more visitors to the region as well as sustainable revenue. Another project launched was the Poles project by the tourist and travel agency Embrateur in jointure with the Ecotourism institute in an effort to establish guidelines for the development of ecotourism poles around the country. Brazil vs. Costa Rica Ecotourism in Brazil is still underdeveloped especially in the Amazon region which has ugly upward potential in terms of providing a greater source of income on both a loc al and a national level for the Brazilian economy.In exploring various economic, political, and social factors that influence the ability of these countries to expand their ecotourism market, Costa seems to have the better position. In terms of GDP contribution relative to each countrys national economy, Costa Rica 13. 5% doubles Brazils 6. 2% indicating that there is significant room for growth for Brazil due to its tremendous size. Consequently, Costa Ricas employment as well as exports are also incrementally higher at 13. 1% vs. 5. 9% and 17. 1% and 5. 9% respectively.On the other hand, Brazil has a much higher potential in terms of growth largely due to its untapped Amazon region. In terms of Real reaping, Brazils future looks bright. In 2008, Brazil is forecast to see Real Growth of 6. 7% in terms of Direct attention GDP. Nominally, this represents an increase of US$36bn. With regards to Direct Industry Employment, an increase of 6. 4% is expected which means an additional 2, 279,000 jobs will be generated. In contrast, Costa Rica is expected to see a Real Growth of -1. 5% in terms of Direct Industry GDP (in nominal terms US$1,466,000mn) and -3. 9% decrease in Direct Industry Employment.Brazil will be able to handle such growth but will need to have a collaborative effort nationally if they want to sustain their current growth. The government certainly plays an important role in the development of ecotourism in Brazil. They must provide the overall policy environment to permit development to proceed along an orderly path, and should welcome the involvement of other sectors. Furthermore, there is a need to study policy makers the importance of ecotourism as a viable financial profit sanctuary so that policies reflect social and environmental concerns as well as market realities.Next, effective certification programs should be implemented to fix adequate information of products and services is given to the public. Educating consumers and raising awarene ss on the importance to protect the national environment should stimulate demand for socially and environmentally friendly products that ecotourism provides. Lastly, significant improvement of Brazils logistic resources such as roads, electric power and infrastructure in the Amazon region will be quintessential for the sustainability of Brazils ecotourism industry.