Ecotourism and rural tourism wins new followers in Costa Rica

©image: Alexander Steffler

"Just last year alone some 733,000 individuals carried ecotourism, an activity which promotes the conservation and sustainability of natural resources, as well as the inclusion and active participation of the local populations," Canatur explained.
Ecotourism in Costa Rica generated earnings of $986 million in 2007 and the development of rural tourism has fostered opportunities for local communities to experience economic growth and job creation, the Chamber pointed out.

Source: Hosteltur.com

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Agro-Tourism promoted in Panama

September 2008

Panama is seeking to develop agro-tourism and incorporate tourism activities related to the agricultural sector, thereby improving rural tourism.

To successfully implement the agro-tourism plan in the country, some agreements of cooperation have been signed with the Agronomy Faculty of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and with the National Learning Service of Colombia which have experience in coffee farming.

OAS and IICA impart course on Agro-Eco-Tourism

September 2008

The course is given entirely over the Internet using the Virtual Classroom teaching model established and recognized by the Educational Portal of the Americas.

The Organization of American States (OAS), via the Educational Portal of the Americas (www.educoas.org), and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), via its Distance Training Center (CECADI), are currently training the first 96 participants of the "Agro-eco-tourism: Basic elements for implementing an innovative tourism project" course. The group is made up of citizens form various member countries of the OAS and include those individuals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Barbados, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Uruguay y Venezuela.

$1 million invested in Agro-tourism Fair Grounds in Costa Rica

January 2009

The first Agro-Tourism Fair Grounds will be built in a 25,000 m2 area located in Puntarenas.

Elfinancierocr.com reports: "Construction will begin this semester and will include the surveying of the land for buildings and the fair grounds. Later, it is expected that the earth works will begin, along with the fencing of the area, as well as the internal and external divisions of the property."

Tourism developments in protected areas canceled

November 2008

The development of properties in protected areas for ecotourism development was canceled after a resolution from the Constitutional Court.

"The claims of accumulated unconstitutionality are declared to be admissible, and as a result, the Executive Order No. 31750-MINAE-TUR of March 30, 2004 is canceled.