Ecotourism,sustainable development,and conservation education: Development of a tour guide training program in Tortuguero,Costa Rica |
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Authors: | Susan K Jacobson Rafael Robles |
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Institution: | (1) Conservation Education and Natural Resource Management Program Department of Wildlife and Range Sciences, University of Florida, 118 Newins-Ziegler Hall, 32611-0304 Gainesville, Florida;(2) Tortuguero Coordinator of Environmental Education, Ecotourism, and Extension, Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Apartado 246-2050 San Pedro Montes de Oca, San Jose, Costa Rica |
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Abstract: | A tour guide training program was developed for rural communities near Costa Rica's Tortuguero National Park to respond to
the impacts of the 24-fold increase in park visitation in the past decade, to involve local communities in resource management,
and to provide regional environmental education. The development of the training course involved a survey of scientists and
park managers to ascertain resource management needs, priorities for information to be disseminated, and impacts of tourism
on the resource base. Current and potential tour guides were surveyed to identify their information needs, solicit their input
in the training program, and to determine their knowledge and skills. Written questionnaires were developed and given to 400
tourists to determine their activities and environmental information needs, and hotel owners were censused to examine the
economic feasibility of a local guide program. A pilot training course and guide program involving 12 Tortuguero residents
demonstrated that a tour guide program: (1) helped mitigate negative tourism impacts on Tortuguero National Park's natural
resources, particularly by regulating tourists on the park's 35-km beach used for nesting by endangered sea turtles; (2) provided
environmental education to an important segment of the local community not traditionally reached through school or government
development projects; (3) provided environmental information to tourists, thus enhancing their visit; and (4) provided local
economic benefits through lucrative part-time employment, thereby allowing local people to participate more fully in the tourism
system. An extended training course is being planned to provide further environmental education programming and to increase
year-round employment opportunities for the tour guides. |
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Keywords: | Ecotourism Park interpretation Conservation education Sustainable development Costa Rica |
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