Community-led sustainable tourism in protected areas
Community-led sustainable tourism in protected areas
Business Model Description
Community-led Inclusive sustainable tourism value chain models with international standards that operate in protected and high environmental value areas that generate income not only by hosting tourists but by offering local high-quality gastronomy, cultural experiences, and handicrafts to visitors.
Expected Impact
Promote tourism alternatives for communities in protected areas, while enhancing women's empowerment and the protection of natural resources.
How is this information gathered?
Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.
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Country & Regions
- Costa Rica: Quepos
- Costa Rica: Uvita
- Costa Rica: Parrita
Sector Classification
Services
Development needs
Although tourism has become one of the most dynamic economic activities in the country with a strong influence on the generation of jobs and wealth, the socioeconomic policies applied have not been sufficient to ensure a more equitable distribution of the dividends of economic growth among sectors and communities.
Policy Priority
Costa Rica has had as a priority the development of tourism. Since 1955 when it founded the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) in order to promote tourism based on international trends, until today, the country has been executing actions such as substantial legislation to ensure constant and regulated growth of the activity.
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
There are more women working in the hospitality industry, but this does not mean that they occupy positions where decisions are made and, even less, that they obtain equal or higher salaries compared to the salary received by their male peers for the same work.
Investment opportunities introduction
Coastal corridor, Brunca-Caribbean corridor, Puerto Quepos are hot regions that have gained teh reputation for offering international standard eco-tourism offerings.
Key bottlenecks introduction
4.07 km of roads in poor condition, 247.9 square km with access problems to energy substations, 18.27 square km without 4G connectivity, 45.02 km with gaps in social development.
Hospitality and Recreation
Development need
Develop actions to enhance cultural heritage value and improve competitiveness and social cohesion in tourism-oriented areas (14).
Policy Priority
Promote sustainable cultural tourism.
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
COVID-19 impacted women, especially in cultural, recreational, and artistic services (27.1%) (11).
Investment opportunities introduction
gastronomic tourism, handicrafts, art and museums, visits to communities and traditions.
Key bottlenecks introduction
Disarticulation of cultural tourism ventures with the main tourist nodes of the pole.
Hotels and Lodging
Pipeline Opportunity
Community-led sustainable tourism in protected areas
Community-led Inclusive sustainable tourism value chain models with international standards that operate in protected and high environmental value areas that generate income not only by hosting tourists but by offering local high-quality gastronomy, cultural experiences, and handicrafts to visitors.
Business Case
Market Size and Environment
> USD 1 billion
2017-2019: 59.8% of tourists visited Costa Rica for cultural reasons: museums, theaters, galleries, art, rural community, traditions and lifestyles, churches, villages, agricultural farms, dance or cooking classes, enjoyment of local gastronomy, visit botanical garden/butterfly/gardens/zoos, attend religious activities or missions, attend concerts or sports activities (8, 9, 10).
Indicative Return
> 25%
According to the Nielsen study on the ROI of sustainability, about 55% of consumers are willing to pay more for products and services from companies that demonstrate to generate impacts social and environmentally positive.
Investment Timeframe
Short Term (0–5 years)
The time it takes to open a commercial establishment depends on the nature of the business since the requirements vary. Permits usually include Land use permissions, operating licenses and patents, registration in the Taxpayers Registry and CCSS, policies, and insurance, health permits.
Market Risks & Scale Obstacles
Business - Supply Chain Constraints
Capital - Requires Subsidy
Training
Market - High Level of Competition
Impact Case
Sustainable Development Need
Diversify the tourism hotspot towards orange and knowledge-based economic activities.
Gender & Marginalisation
Promote women's empowerment and economic autonomy. 55% of workers in the tourism industry are women but only 16% decision-making jobs are occupied by women.
Expected Development Outcome
Generate foreign exchange, jobs, income and business opportunities, helping to solve social problems such as poverty.
Contribute towards conservation and preservation of natural resources and promotes stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
Gender & Marginalisation
Contribute towards gender equality by promoting women economic and decision-making participation
Primary SDGs addressed
1.1.1 Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographic location (urban/rural)
Despite tourism being an engine of development, poverty by income level in Costa Rica soared by 5.2 percentage points after Covid, reaching 26.2% of the population.
Reducing multidimensional poverty (MPI) at least by half of current levels by 2030.
Secondary SDGs addressed
Directly impacted stakeholders
People
Gender inequality and/or marginalization
Planet
Corporates
Indirectly impacted stakeholders
People
Corporates
Gender inequality and/or marginalization
Planet
Outcome Risks
Exceed the limits and disrespect the autonomy of native peoples and exceed the natural limits allowed for people in an ecosystem.
Failure to achieve linkages and sustainable added value to everyone involved in the value chain.
Exceeding the natural limits allowed for people in an ecosystem.
Impact Risks
Publicize and coordinate actions to make available cultural tourism more visible.
Cultural inventories of gastronomy, music, and other expressions of identity are needed.
Impact Classification
What
Promoting sustainable cultural tourism.
Who
Entrepreneurial women and local producers of associated services.
Risk
Weak linkages, limited business knowledge and challenges to distribute wealth among value chain participants.
Impact Thesis
Promote tourism alternatives for communities in protected areas, while enhancing women's empowerment and the protection of natural resources.
Enabling Environment
Policy Environment
Territorial Economic Strategy for an Inclusive and Decarbonized Economy 2020-2050 in Costa Rica: Transform agriculture through R&D&I towards technological innovations (1).
National Policy for Effective Equality between Women and Men 2018 -2030: Strengthen women's economic autonomy through inclusive quality employment and the use, access, and control to income, resources, and benefits (2).
Costa Rica Creative and Cultural Strategy: Develop actions to enhance cultural heritage value, improve competitiveness, and social cohesion of territories with a tourist vocation (7).
Financial Environment
Financial incentives: Banca para el Desarrollo and the MCJ establish an alliance to support and promote artistic and cultural enterprises (15). Fondo PROPYME del MICITT offers a call for creative economy projects (15).
Fiscal incentives: Income Tax Law that gives differentiated treatment to MSMEs.
Other incentives: Meetings such as "Plan Nacional de Gastronomía Costarricense Sostenible y Saludable" (National Plan for Sustainable and Healthy Costa Rican Gastronomy), cultural guides launched by the ICT and the MCJ. In turn, the ICT provides training. INA's Traditional Costa Rican Cuisine Rescue Program.
Regulatory Environment
Law 7440, Law on Public Spectacles, Audiovisual and Printed Materials: For this Law, a public spectacle shall be understood as any function, representation, transmission, or public capture that gathers, in any place, people to witness or listen to it.
Law 4788, Law that Creates the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Law 5412, Organic Law of the Ministry of Health: to exercise control and oversight of the activities of natural and legal persons, in health matters, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and relevant standards.
Marketplace Participants
Private Sector
FUCOGA, Osa Academy of the Arts and Gallery, companies that make up the Integral Program of Culture and Art for the Osa Peninsula, National Chamber of Tourism, Costa Rican Chamber of Restaurants and Related Industries.
Government
MAG, ICT, INA, MCJ, Ministry of Health, Finca 6 Museum - Diquís World Heritage Site, Manuel Antonio National Park, Marino Ballena National Park.
Target Locations
Costa Rica: Quepos
Costa Rica: Uvita
Costa Rica: Parrita
References
- (1) MIDEPLAN (2021). Estrategia Económica Territorial para una Economía Inclusiva y Descarbonizada 2020-2050 en Costa Rica
- (2) INAMU (2018). Política Nacional para la Igualdad Efectiva entre Mujeres y Hombres 2018-2030, PIEG
- (3) MCJ (2020). ESTRATEGIA COSTA RICA CREATIVA Y CULTURAL 2020-2030. Mesas sectoriales.
- (4) Asamblea Legislativa (1994). Ley 7440, Ley de Espectáculos Públicos, Materiales Audiovisuales e Impreso.
- (5) Asamblea Legislativa (1971). Ley 4788, Ley que Crea el Ministerio de Cultura, Juventud y Deportes
- (6) MCJ (2021). Fondo PROPYME del MICITT ofrece convocatoria para proyectos de economía creativa
- (7) ICT (2020). Distribución de los pisos de demanda Unidad de Planeamiento Turístico.
- (8) ICT (2020). Cantidad de visitas de residentes y no residentes a las áreas silvestres protegidas (ASP) por categoría de protección.
- (9) ICT(2020). Principales actividades realizadas por los turistas. Período 2017-2019
- (10) INEC (2021). Encuesta Continua de Empleo al primer trimestre de 2021 RESULTADOS GENERALES.
- (11) BCCR (2019). Cuenta Satélite de Turismo 2018 Y 2012.
- (12) BCCR (2019). Cuenta Satélite de Cultura.
- (13) MCJ (2021). ICT y MCJ lanzan seis guías de destinos turísticos del país para invitar a los viajeros a descubrir sus rincones
- (14) MCJ (2020). Banca para el Desarrollo y el MCJ establecen alianza para apoyar y fomentar emprendimientos artísticos y culturales.
- (15) PROCOMER (2021). PERÚ: DE LA PROMOCIÓN DE LA GASTRONOMÍA A LA INTERNACIONALIZACIÓN DE SUPERFOODS.