Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve: links between forest preserve, the local community and tourism
Tourism has been increasing in Costa Rica since 1986. Most tourists visit protected wild areas during their trip. This increasing number of nature-oriented and scientific tourists (researchers and students) can be attributed to: the peaceful nature of this country; the positive social situation (in comparison with other Latin American countries); the immense biological diversity, and finally; the protected areas system (State and private) that was initiated in 1913. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is one of the most frequently visited protected areas in the country, generating 40,132 person-days in 1991. Tourists support approximately 70 different services in the area: lodging, restaurants, guides, slide shows, horse renting, art galleries, packed food, laundry, gas station, butterfly farm, private trails, and transportation. These services are owned by approximately 54 local families. There are approximately 250 employees working in these businesses, most of them from the local community. These business generate most of their income during the high tourist season (December-April), although some of these services are used by local people throughout the year. It has been said over and over that nature-oriented tourism is benefitting the tropical forest as well as the rural communities which are adjacent to them. However, there are few examples in the world where these benefits have been proven. (Especially the economic benefits for an importing country like Costa Rica). How much of foreign currency generated by tourism "goes out" of the country again?. This paper examines the Monteverde case in order to explore the links between the Preserve, the local community, and tourism, and attempts to ascertain where the tourism money goes. Ideally, part of that money should directly benefit the resource that is being used to generate it, in this case, the protected forest at the Preserve. One would also hope that this money would improve the standard of living in the community beside the preserve.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
San José (Costa Rica)
1994
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| Subjects: | BOSQUE NUBOSO, PROTECCION FORESTAL, PARTICIPACION CAMPESINA, TURISMO, ZONAS RURALES, DESARROLLO DE LA COMUNIDAD, MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA, |
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