Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

Purposes
Promote the knowledge of students in the area of ecotourism, focusing on the situation in Costa Rica. Demonstrate that the development and promotion of ecotourism is an important tool for nature conservation acting in many different ways:
1. Direct funding towards nature conservation projects and protected areas.
2. Developing alternative sources of income for local communities, increasing their capacity to
develop high-quality services, thus decrease the pressure on nature.
3. Encouraging sustainable local development of the rural communities within natural areas (e. g.
sound land use, planning that considers natural conservation, and responsible use of protected
areas).
4. Promoting the better environmental practices of tour operators and guest houses.
5. increasing the awareness of local people and tourists towards nature conservation, less energy
consumption and proper ecological waste disposal.

Course Guidelines
1. Classes start on time. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy. Three
tardies equals one absence. Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates four (4) or more absences fails the course.
2. All assignments must be handed in on the due date.
3. Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented
emergencies. If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the
professor and make arrangements. There is a 14,000 colon charge for make-up tests/activities
which require the professor’s presence.

Themes
1. Ecology and tourism
2. Ecotourism and communities
3. Commercialisation of ecotourism
4. Current status ecotourism in Costa Rica
5. Analysis of 3 different models of ecotourism

Evaluation
First Exam 20%
Second Exam 20 %
Case Studies and Exercises 20%
Final Exam 20%
Final project 20%

Bibliography
El Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación de Costa Rica, Ministerio del Ambiente y Energía
(http://www.sinac.go.cr
El Ministerio de Planificación Nacional y Política Económica
(http://ns.mideplan.go.cr/?sidesamb/sides/ambiental/biodiver.htm).
El Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (http://www.inbio.ac.cr/es/default.html).
http://www.infoweb.co.cr/turismo/parques/parquesnac.htm, relación de los Parques Nacionales y Áreas
Protegidas de Costa Rica Ecoturismo en Costa Rica
La Cámara Nacional de Turismo de Costa Rica (http://canatur.org) o bien (http://www.tourism.co.cr.
En la Guía turística de Costa Rica (http://laguiahotelera.com/guiaturistica/costarica/HomeCR.htm).
COOPRENA R.L. Consorcio Cooperativo Red Agroecoturística Nacional de Costa Rica. Red Nacional
de Turismo Comunitario. (http://www.turismoruralcr.com)..
El Ministerio del Medio Ambiente y Energía de Costa Rica (http://www.minae.go.cr