Tourism in Costa Rica: initial modifications of land tenure in the marine terrestrial zone
An ecotourism boom affects the local economy in four ways: by generating employment other than agricultural employment; by increasing the inflation in land prices; by creating changes in soil use; and by creating incentives for local producers under the socalled diversification and expansion of production themes (O'Ferral, 1991). Costa Rica's ecotourism boom, which began at the end of the 1980's, has turned tourism into the highest earner of foreign currency in this country. The lack of planning and coherence by the Costa Rican State - which wasn't ready for the new direction that the economy has taken - is reflected in a series of tourism vs. environment conflicts, in cases like Tambor, Gandoca-Manzanillo, and Papagayo. The daily number of visitors to several national parks has exceeded their carrying capacities. As a result, travel operators are heading for new areas that are being opened for tourism. Until now, research which evaluates the effects of ecotourism on different activities in this country (environmental, social, cultural and economic) has been scarce. This study evaluates the present state of land tenure in the marine-terrestrial zone and provides possible explanations about its development. The land-titles in 40 counties in the marine-terrestrial zone are evaluated. Nationally, Costa Ricans hold 90.6 percent of all the land-titles in the marine-terrestrial zone, compared to 4.1 percent in the hands of foreigners. However, foreigners own some key areas in the marine-terrestrial zone, particularly the areas which are close to protected areas, or to areas that need to be protected, demonstrating a tendency for local people to lose control of the land.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
San José (Costa Rica)
1994
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| Subjects: | TURISMO, ZONAS RURALES, TENENCIA, COSTA, COSTA RICA, |
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| Summary: | An ecotourism boom affects the local economy in four ways: by generating employment other than agricultural employment; by increasing the inflation in land prices; by creating changes in soil use; and by creating incentives for local producers under the socalled diversification and expansion of production themes (O'Ferral, 1991). Costa Rica's ecotourism boom, which began at the end of the 1980's, has turned tourism into the highest earner of foreign currency in this country. The lack of planning and coherence by the Costa Rican State - which wasn't ready for the new direction that the economy has taken - is reflected in a series of tourism vs. environment conflicts, in cases like Tambor, Gandoca-Manzanillo, and Papagayo. The daily number of visitors to several national parks has exceeded their carrying capacities. As a result, travel operators are heading for new areas that are being opened for tourism. Until now, research which evaluates the effects of ecotourism on different activities in this country (environmental, social, cultural and economic) has been scarce. This study evaluates the present state of land tenure in the marine-terrestrial zone and provides possible explanations about its development. The land-titles in 40 counties in the marine-terrestrial zone are evaluated. Nationally, Costa Ricans hold 90.6 percent of all the land-titles in the marine-terrestrial zone, compared to 4.1 percent in the hands of foreigners. However, foreigners own some key areas in the marine-terrestrial zone, particularly the areas which are close to protected areas, or to areas that need to be protected, demonstrating a tendency for local people to lose control of the land. |
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