A Framework for Sustainable Ecotourism: Application to Costa Rica

Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 131–142, August 2006

12 Pages Posted: 29 Aug 2012

See all articles by Ameeta Jain

Ameeta Jain

Deakin University - Faculty of Business and Law

Jerry Courvisanos

University of Ballarat

Date Written: August 28, 2012

Abstract

Costa Rica is a small Central American nation that has gained an international reputation as a leader in environmental conservation. This has formed the base for its highly successful and lucrative small-scale ecotourism industry. However, there are threats from high rates of deforestation and expanding large-scale tourism that is trading on strong environmental credentials, so it is appropriate to conduct this policy analysis on such a significant ecotourism area. The paper develops an ecologically sustainable economic framework, drawing on the works of Adolph Lowe (1893–1995) and Michał Kalecki (1899–1970), to examine the Costa Rican experience and then analyze lessons for general policy development of any ecotourism area. The analysis is conducted from a political economy (and not a tourism management) perspective on the trade-offs between small-scale and large-scale ecotourism.

Suggested Citation

Jain, Ameeta and Courvisanos, Jerry, A Framework for Sustainable Ecotourism: Application to Costa Rica (August 28, 2012). Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 131–142, August 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2137985

Ameeta Jain

Deakin University - Faculty of Business and Law ( email )

Burwood, Victoria 3215
Australia

Jerry Courvisanos (Contact Author)

University of Ballarat ( email )

Australia

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
179
Abstract Views
917
Rank
303,525
PlumX Metrics