In order to evaluate the role that ecotourism plays in the development of remote areas, it is crucial to ask the question: “is any development sustainable?” In the modern world, development tends to be directly related to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. However, many nations are still developing, and deserve the opportunity to grow in a way that benefits the health and happiness of citizens. The United Nations has a set of sustainability goals, which speaks to either a recognition by the U.N. that development can be sustainable, or an acceptance that development will continue and therefore needs a set of standards to make it as sustainable as possible. “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The SDGs interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030” (United Nations). In the interest of recognizing the reality that development is to continue, the goals put forth by the U.N. will be used as a framework for analyzing the ways in which tourism development impacts remote areas. The specific goals are shown in figure one. Ecotourism initiatives occurring since the early 1990s in Costa Rica and Zanzibar engage the Sustainable Development Goals in analyzing the impacts of development, as well as make clear the need for alternatives assessment when it comes to developing areas with the goal of social and environmental thriving rather than gentrification.
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| Figure One. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html |
Before using the SDGs as a framework, it is crucial to note the problems that may arise in using the goals to fuel development. Mainly, the SDGs can serve as a helpful guide, but it must be recognized that some of them may contradict one another if used without a holistic view of all of the goals. This is apparent in the disconnect between ecological action and social and human rights action in some developing nations. With this being said though, the goals do serve as a way to analyze development as it pertains to ecotourism with a concrete framework to work with. The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as: "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities" (WTO). This definition hosts overlap with the Sustainable Development Goals put forth by the U.N., and ties economic and social development into the development caused by implementing tourism in remote areas. Adding or expanding tourism opportunities into a developing nation can be a tool in spurring the local economy, but can also serve as a detriment if not done in accordance with the framework laid out by the U.N., as well as the definition of sustainable tourism by the World Tourism Organization. This brings us to Costa Rica, an ecotourism hotspot that holds many examples of both positive and negative development at play.
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| White water rafting in Costa Rica, an example of one of the many activities popular in this ecotourism hotspot. https://www.riostropicales.com/costa-rica/pacuare-river-1-day/ |
In the late 1980s and moving into the 1990s, Costa Rica gained popularity and a reputation as an ecotourism hotspot, which caused an influx of travellers. “In 1922, the U.S. Adventure Travel Society dubbed Costa Rica the “number one ecotourism destination in the world,” and a survey conducted by Costa Rica’s government showed that most tourists were entering Costa Rica for eco-tourism related reasons” (Honey 160). In some ways, this influx improved the economy and gave locals a chance to start up businesses that relied on the budding tourism industry. However, the increased tourist interest in Costa Rica caused chain hotels and other luxury accommodations to start to move in, especially along the coast and in Monteverde, a biodiversity hotspot. Today, an estimated 65 to 70 percent of Monteverde’s income comes from tourism (Honey). In the 1990s, chains began moving to Costa Rica to capitalize on the profitable tourism. These chains outcompete and replace small businesses, making it difficult for local business starters in Costa Rica to start and maintain small businesses that would fit the criteria for ecotourism.
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Poco A Poco Hotel in Monteverde, Costa Rica. https://www.hotelpocoapoco.com/ |
“While ecotourism has brought more income and opportunities, it has also increased social and economic inequality” (Honey 190). This quote speaks on the difficulty for local people looking to take advantage of the ecotourism industry to get their foot in the door and compete with larger corporations run by more experienced business people. Often, large corporations will edge local businesses out of the picture by buying out their land, or simply offering better and more broadly distributed marketing. Though Costa Rica is not perfect in ecotourism practices, the country remains a trailblazer for ecotourism, and maybe even sustainable development. Costa Rica receives 1.7 million tourists per year, 80% of which participate in ecotourism activities. The economic benefits of this tourism add up to over 1.7 billion U.S. dollars per year (Embassy of Costa Rica). Tourism has greatly contributed to the development of Costa Rica. This development can be analyzed through the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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| A mob of tourists blocks a group of nesting turtles in Costa Rica. https://inhabitat.com/mob-of-tourists-blocks-sea-turtles-from-their-nesting-ground-in-costa-rica/ |
The most relevant Sustainable Development Goals in the case of Costa Rica’s ecotourism have to do with human rights and environmental impact. Environmental impact is covered in many of the Sustainable Development Goals. Impact is a slippery slope when it comes to ecotourism in Costa Rica. On one hand, ecotourism promotes environmental awareness and protects local wildlife and natural areas. On the other though, as tourism in general becomes more popular, more people come to the area, which boosts the economy. This economic boost inevitably burdens the environment due to heavy traffic. There is also an issue of enforcement as well as overdevelopment. “Scant official attention is paid to the need for low-impact construction. Without enforceable zoning regulations and environmentally strict construction standards, few of Costa Rica’s hotels have been built with an overall rigor intended to limit impact” (Honey 210). Some say that this overdevelopment is turning areas that were once remote and unheard of by the masses into “the road more travelled”.
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| JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort on Playa Mansita Beach, Costa Rica. https://mytanfeet.com/hotels-in-costa-rica/jw-marriott-guanacaste-resort-spa/ |
This brings in the question of authenticity, and is development negates the values of the travel remote areas as a key goal of ecotourism. Dave Seminara, a journalist for the New York Times discusses his experiences with development in a remote town Costa Rica, Santa Theresa. The roads in Santa Theresa remain unpaved, and as the area becomes more developed and frequented by tourists, the dust becomes more of a burden. There are major debates in the area about whether or not to keep the rustic integrity of Santa Theresa by keeping the dirt roads, or paving over them to tackle the dust issue. “Despite a decade of explosive growth, the region’s natural beauty remains intact, but Santa Teresa is no longer the undiscovered surfer’s paradise it once was. The town’s unpaved road, which feels very much like a simple path through a jungle, is now lined with eco-friendly lodges, yoga retreats and trendy restaurants serving organic food” (Seminara). This is a small debate in a sea of similar issues occurring across the country as the coasts become more developed and palatable for tourists in search of upscale and modern accommodations. Development brings in tourists, but can also cause tourism-entrepreneurs to forego the eco-tourism model in favor of the more profitable option. Reconciling the need for modern comforts while maintaining ecological integrity is a difficult balance to strike. However, in order to comply with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals relating to impact, these issues must be addressed.
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Dusty roads in Santa Theresa.
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Seminara hints to the need for development to be carefully thought out so that the word “development” itself does not become a synonym for gentrification. The SDGs can be used as a basic framework in this respect, but do not serve as a simple solution. Alternatives assessment is needed in order to truly make changes that will benefit people and the environment. In her book “Making Better Environmental Decisions”, Mary O’Brien discusses alternatives assessment: “An alternatives assessment involves consideration of the pros and cons of a decent range of options. The process should include the public whenever they might be harmed by activities considered in the assessment” (91). This means that before conducting any new development in any areas, significant research and public polling must be done to weigh impacts and gauge public opinion. It also means that instead of thinking just of a single means to the desired end that more options are considered. In the case of Santa Theresa, could there be other solutions to the dust issue? How does the public feel about possible solutions? How will each solution impact the environment? With these questions being asked and alternatives assessment becoming commonplace, developing areas can continue to positively change while still considering people and the planet.
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| Downtown Santa Theresa, known to locals as known to locals as “Mal Pais” or “bad country", because of the dry Summer conditions making farming near impossible. https://vivatropical.com/costa-rica/santa-teresa |
Despite the downfalls of development fueled by ecotourism in Costa Rica, the future looks bright. Costa Rica is a resilient country with ambitious sustainability goals being worked toward at this very moment. Tourism has positively impacted their economy, and with some work, could have significant positive impacts on the wellbeing of local citizens. Not every example of development spurred by tourism can say the same. In Zanzibar, tourism began to gain exponential popularity in the early 2000s. As development occurred in the interest of capitalizing on this newfound tourism industry, it became clear that the tourism occuring was not necessarily benefitting local people, the environment, or the economy in most cases. “Zanzibar’s booming tourism industry is rife with stories of corruption, greed, and loss -- of land, control, and opportunity” (Honey 256).
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| Feeding turtles in Zanzibar, a unique ecotourism experience. https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/travel/heritage-zanzibar-black-travel-vibes/ |
It seems that nearly every story of positive development in Zanzibar regarding tourism comes
with a "but". “Over the last decade, one of the positive developments has been the successful designation of a number of national parks and marine reserves. But despite these important achievements, the growth of tourism has led, outside the protected areas, to environmental damage, the undermining of social and cultural norms, and the very uneven distribution of economic impacts” (Honey 289). Zanzibarians have felt these negative impacts immensely. Economically, unequal distribution has occurred in part due to lack of employment opportunities. Most tourism operations provide benefits to large corporations and profits do not go back into Zanzibar’s economy. One example of negative economic and social change caused by tourism is the fishing industry. Fish is in high demand by tourists, and therefore the hotel and commercial tourism industries cause overfishing. This means less yield for local fishermen. Also, Zanzibaris rely on fish as a source of protein. The healthy fish options once available have now become too expensive for the average family and Zanzibaris must subsist on cheaper, less healthy fish. Fishing is just one example. The impacts of development and the expanding tourism industry can be analyzed by taking a look at some of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
with a "but". “Over the last decade, one of the positive developments has been the successful designation of a number of national parks and marine reserves. But despite these important achievements, the growth of tourism has led, outside the protected areas, to environmental damage, the undermining of social and cultural norms, and the very uneven distribution of economic impacts” (Honey 289). Zanzibarians have felt these negative impacts immensely. Economically, unequal distribution has occurred in part due to lack of employment opportunities. Most tourism operations provide benefits to large corporations and profits do not go back into Zanzibar’s economy. One example of negative economic and social change caused by tourism is the fishing industry. Fish is in high demand by tourists, and therefore the hotel and commercial tourism industries cause overfishing. This means less yield for local fishermen. Also, Zanzibaris rely on fish as a source of protein. The healthy fish options once available have now become too expensive for the average family and Zanzibaris must subsist on cheaper, less healthy fish. Fishing is just one example. The impacts of development and the expanding tourism industry can be analyzed by taking a look at some of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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| Zanzibari fishermen bringing in their catch. https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g616016-d1634559-i29318402-DoubleTree_by_Hilton_Resort_Zanzibar_Nungwi-Nungwi_Zanzibar_Island_Zanzib.html |
When it comes to the environmental and social benefits of ecotourism in Zanzibar, the SDGs reveal a double-edged sword. There has been much progress relating to ecological conservation, such as the designation of national parks and marine reserves in Zanzibar. This adheres well to the “Life Below Water” and “Life on Land” goals, but when it comes to “Climate Justice”, “No Poverty”, and other socially-focused goals, ecotourism in Zanzibar falls short. This speaks to the incongruence within the goals, and proves the need to look at the goals as a whole when developing, rather than picking and choosing based on immediate need or preference. This is another case in which alternatives assessment could be utilized in partnership with the SDGs. If the public was involved in the decision-making process regarding conservation and development in Zanzibar, then the initiatives would have been far more successful. In the creation of nature reserves, fisherman and locals were largely left out of the conversation. Local fishermen claim that they “were not adequately consulted”. (Honey 291). This type of non consideration for local people continues as a trend in the tourism industry, with Zazibaris being forced to sell their land, continuing to be oppressed by their government, and ultimately holding little stakes in the tourism industry. Had public opinion and alternatives assessment been prioritized, then Zanzibaris may have been able to build a tourism industry that benefited both local people and the environment. With use of alternatives assessment, citizens could become more involved and begin to profit, participate in conservation efforts, and contribute to the positive and just development of Zanzibar.
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| On Fundo island, fishing for octopus has been reimagined to conserve the species and localize costs. Octopus fisheries are periodically closed to allow the population to rebuild, and during the closing period, costs of catch are agreed upon by locals and buyers so that the costs will not go down as more octopuses are caught. This keeps profits localized and supports community and environmental health. https://blog.blueventures.org/en/villages-working-together-cooperative-approach-fishery-closures-zanzibar/ |
Development is part of the human condition. We have a seemingly insatiable need to further our species, and we do this by “conquering” the world around us to make living conditions more convenient and comfortable. This raises the question of how development can be sustainable, or if the term “sustainable development” is an oxymoron. According to the United Nations, sustainable development can be achieved by adhering to their “Sustainable Development Goals”. Though there are some concerns with the realistic potential of these goals, they do serve as a framework in analyzing ecotourism activity as it relates to the development of remote areas. When it comes to ecotourism and the rising popularity of eco-focused travel, there is a tug-of-war between tourists seeking an “authentic” and “untouched” experience, and the desire to have a luxurious vacation with modern amenities. This conflict materializes in the form of infrastructure needed to accommodate the desire for modern comforts, as well as to keep up with the traffic of an influx of new travellers. When it comes to developing remote areas, corporate greed often takes a hold of projects, leaving locals to never see the profits of new projects. In developing remote areas, it is crucial to analyze more than just profits. This is why alternatives assessment is needed. Alternatives Assessment leaves space for locals to decide what happens in their areas, and for the environment to be considered in any decisions made. Without this consideration, remote areas such as Costa Rica and Zanzibar at at risk of being developed in the name of capitalism, with the end goal of profits over the wellbeing of local people and the environment.
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| Ecotourism is not possible without conservation. Without beautiful, natural places to travel to, a key point of ecotourism is lost. We must advocate for community conservation not just for the environment, but for the people. http://www.jodariadventures.com/package/zanzibar-paradise-island/ |
Works Cited
“About Costa Rica: Embajada De Costa Rica En DC.” About Costa Rica | Embajada
De Costa Rica En DC, Embassy of Costa Rica, 2019,
www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node%2F19.
De Costa Rica En DC, Embassy of Costa Rica, 2019,
www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node%2F19.
“About the Sustainable Development Goals - United Nations Sustainable Development.”
United Nations, United Nations, 2019,
www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.
United Nations, United Nations, 2019,
www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.
Honey, Martha. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?
Island Press, 2008.
Island Press, 2008.
O'Brien, Mary.
Making Better Important Environmental Decisions: an Alternative to Risk Assessment.
London, 2000.
Making Better Important Environmental Decisions: an Alternative to Risk Assessment.
London, 2000.
Seminara, Dave. “In a Costa Rican Beach Town, the Road Less Paved.”
The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 Sept. 2013,
www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/travel/in-a-costa-rican-beach-town-the-road-less-paved.html.
The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 Sept. 2013,
www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/travel/in-a-costa-rican-beach-town-the-road-less-paved.html.
“Sustainable Development of Tourism.”
Definition | Sustainable Development of Tourism,
World Tourism Organization, 2019, sdt.unwto.org/content/about-us-5.
Definition | Sustainable Development of Tourism,
World Tourism Organization, 2019, sdt.unwto.org/content/about-us-5.
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