Author(s) Jing Li

Affiliation(s)
CNTIC International Contracting & Engineering Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China.

ABSTRACT

This dissertation chiefly examines the difficulties and principles of establishing sustainable ecotourism based on local communities. Furthermore, mainly address management techniques of sustainability in Costa Rica, a country with a growing reputation as an ecotourist destination; meanwhile, throw light upon that effective management and setting up Green Certification Program could improve efficiency. It have been noted that the importance of establishing ecotourism in promoting sustainable maintenances, cultural preservation, and biodiversity conservation within indigenous communities. However, widely management methods to identify the potential and gauge the progress of ecotourism sites have yet to emerge, which is due to there have been few practical assessments of the status of ecotourism at specific locations. In addition, putting ecotourism theory into practice would be much more complicated than originally thought. As far as I am concerned, practical principles combining the most integrated approach would considerably bring mutual benefits between ecotourism and local communities, as appropriate management could help to achieve a balance between conservation and development. With regard to the overall research approach, a case study in Costa Rica will gain prominence in the establishment of sustainable ecotourism since previous research and experience would be highlighted and explored in depth. To some extent, it could be predicted that some gaps between theory and practice of ecotourism would be improved by promoting its sustainability based on communities, resources and economics. As a whole, establishment of benchmark for assessing sustainable ecotourism would be explored as a broader conservation strategy and offers suggestions for further improving the potential of ecotourism.

KEYWORDS
Biodiversity; Ecotourism; Sustainability, Pollution

Cite this paper
J. Li, "Sustainable Ecotourism Established on Local Communities and Its Assessment System in Costa Rica," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 4 No. 1, 2013, pp. 61-66. doi: 10.4236/jep.2013.41006.

References
[1]   P. Wight, “Ecotourism: Ethics or Eco-Sell,” Journal of Travel Research, Vol. 31, No. 3, 1993, pp. 3-9. doi:10.1177/004728759303100301

[2]   R. Harris, T. Griffin and P. Williams, “Sustainable Tourism: A Global Perspective,” Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, 2002.

[3]   G. McIntyre, “Sustainable Tourism Development: Guide for Local Planners,” World Tourism Organisation, Mad rid, 1993.

[4]   S.-M. Cheong and M. L. Miller, “Power and Tourism: A Foucauldian Observation,” Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2000, pp. 371-390. doi:10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00065-1

[5]   H. Martha, “Protecting Eden: Setting Green Standards for the Tourism Industry,” Environment, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2003, pp. 8-21.

[6]   D. B. Weaver, “Magnitude of Ecotourism in Costa Rica and Kenya,” Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 26, No. 4, 1999, pp. 792-816. doi:10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00044-4

[7]   C. Ashley and D. Roe, “Enhancing Community Involvement in Wildlife Tourism: Issues and Challenges,” International Institute for Environment and Development, Lon don, 1998.

[8]   B. Ness, E. Urbel-Piirsalu, S. Anderberg and L. Olsson, “Categorising Tools for Sustainability Assessment,” Ecological Economics, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2007, pp. 498-508. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.07.023

[9]   M. A. Z. Angelica, E. N. Broadbent and H. William, “Social and Environmental Effects of Ecotourism in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica: The Lapa Rios Case,” Journal of Ecotourism, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2010, pp. 62-83. doi:10.1080/14724040902953076

[10]   W. T. Hipwell, “Taiwan Aboriginal Ecotourism: Tanayi ku Natural Ecology Park,” Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 34, No. 4, 2007, pp. 876-897. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2007.04.002

[11]   D. Lawrence, “PROFILE: Integrating Sustainability and Environmental Impact Assessment,” Environmental Management, Vol. 21, No. 1, 1997, pp. 23-42. doi:10.1007/s002679900003

[12]   M. L. M. Graymore, N. G. Sipeb and R. E. Ricksonb, “Regional Sustainability: How Useful Are Current Tools of Sustainability Assessment at the Regional Scale?” Ecological Economics Vol. 67, No. 3, 2008, pp. 362-372. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.06.002

[13]   A. K. Dikshit, R. K. Singh, H. R. Murty and S. K. Gupta, “An Overview of Sustainability Assessment Methodologies,” Ecological Indicators, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2009, pp. 189 212. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2008.05.011

[14]   P. F. J. Eagles, S. F. McCool and C. J. Haynes, “Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management,” IUCN Publications Unit, Cambridge, 2002. doi:10.1079/9780851995892.0235

[15]   N. Stoeckl, D. Walker, C. Mayocchi and B. Roberts, “Douglas Shire Sustainable Futures: Strategic Planning for Implementation Project Report,” CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra, 2004.

[16]   G. Richards and D. Hall, “Tourism and Sustainable Community Development,” Routledge, London, 2000. doi:10.4324/9780203464915

[17]   P. Berke and M. Manta, “Planning for Sustainable Development: Measuring Progress in Plans,” Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1999.

[18]   E. Adinyira, O.-S. Samuel and A.-K. Theophilus, “A Re view of Urban Sustainability Assessment Methodologies,” Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2007, pp. 1-10.

[19]   C. B. Alan and C. Labuschagne, “An Appraisal of Social Aspects in Project and Technology Life Cycle Management in the Process Industry,” Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2007, pp. 413-426.

[20]   B. M. Wilson, “Costa Rica Politics, Economics and Democracv,” Lynne Riemer, Boulder, 1998.

[21]   T. K. Zeremariam and Q. Nevil, “An Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment in Eritrea,” Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2007, pp. 53 63. doi:10.3152/146155107X190604

[22]   R. Costa, “Reglamento Sobre Pmcedimientos de la SETENA, NO. 25705,” La Gaceta, Vol. 156, 16 January 1997, pp. 12-16.

[23]   R. Scheyvens, “Tourism Development: Empowering Com munities,” Prentice Hall, Harlow, 2002.

[24]   D. Waldron and P. Williams, “Steps towards Sustainability Monitoring: The Case of the Resort Municipality of Whistler,” Sustainable Tourism: A Global Perspective, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2002, pp. 180 194. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7506-8946-5.50015-0

[25]   C. M. Hall, “Tourism Planning: Policies, Processes and Relationships,” Prentice Hall, Harlow, 2000.

[26]   S. Singh, D. J. Timothy and R. K. Dowling, “Tourism in Destination Communities,” CABI, Wallingford, 2003. doi:10.1079/9780851996110.0000

[27]   R. Sharpley, “Tourism and Sustainable Development: Exploring the Theoretical Divide,” Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2000, pp. 1-19. doi:10.1080/09669580008667346

[28]   J. Popp, D. Hoag and D. E. Hyatt, “Sustainability Indices with Multiple Objectives,” Ecological Indicators, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2001, pp. 37-47. doi:10.1016/S1470-160X(01)00006-1