Our Commitment to Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica

Our Commitment to Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica

Tourism in Costa Rica is very different than other countries; usually tourism involves the exploitation of the country’s resources, it is important to do it in a responsible and sustainable way. The CRT Team is committed to design and develop exciting vacations to Costa Rica in which we actively involve the local community in: Sustainable Tourism.

According to World Tourism Organizations (WTO), “Sustainable Tourism development meets the needs of tourist and host regions, while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future”.

CRT Team believes that both Costa Rica travelers and locals will benefit from the interaction of learning how to support Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica. Residents learn that their customs may be of interest to foreigners, and visitors obtain more in depth knowledge about Costa Rica including the awareness of environmental, cultural, conservational and economic issues.

This new way of doing tourism in Costa Rica is adding tangible value to the common structure of tourism services. The environmentally friendliness of tourism products is indeed building a competitive new market even in Costa Rica luxury vacations creating consciousness about the components in tourism services that do make a positive difference in the destination they visit.

Certification programs and other Costa Rica voluntary initiatives provide guidance for responsible business practices, and could be used by these proactive entrepreneurs as a tool to communicate their sustainable tourism commitment in the marketplace. For this reason, CRT Team is one of the first Costa Rica Tour Operators achieving the official certification and is the only tour operator, which was evaluated at its four branch offices, its own car fleet, and its own mechanic garage.

Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST)

The Costa Rica Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program consists of the categorizing and certification of tourist companies according to the degree to which their operations approach a model of sustainability in terms of a lesser impact on the natural, cultural and social resources of the country. In order to achieve this objective, four fundamental components of performance are evaluated:

1. Physical-biological Parameters
Evaluates the interaction of the company with its immediate environment, takes into consideration emissions, damage and pollution generated, as well as measures of conservation and management of risk to the environment.

2. Infrastructure and Services
Evaluates companies internal systems and processes, from the handling of waste to the use of efficient technologies, to save water and electricity and to the type of products or consumer goods their purchase and use.

3. External Clients
Considers the companies actions to urge, train and make guest aware of the importance and need to contribute to the efforts made by the establishment to: use water and electricity wisely; to respect ethical standards or codes of conducts when clients are visiting protected areas or communities.

4. Socio-economic environment
Evaluates the identification and interaction of the company and the areas it influences. It also includes evaluation of the business efforts to develop new projects and to achieve benefits for its communities. The Costa Rica Certificate for Sustainable Tourism program has been a model and example for other Latin America countries, which have developed their own certification programs according to the Costa Rica CST’ s structure.

The Costa Rica Certificate for Sustainable Tourism program has been a model and example for other Latin America countries, which have developed their own certification programs according to the Costa Rica CST��s structure.

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What does the certificate reflect?

The certificate reflects the level to which a company dedicated to tourism in Costa Rica complies with the parameters of sustainability established in the CST standard. There are five levels; when a company achieves level 1 show that it has made the first step toward sustainable tourism. The following levels correspond to more advanced status, culminating with level 5; to achieve it would be considered a model of sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.

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Who grants the CST?

The National Accreditation Commission in Costa Rica grants CST certification. The commission in comprised of representatives from multiple sectors: the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), the Costa Rica Ministry of the Environment and Energy (MINAE), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE), the National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR), the Earth Council and the World Conservation Union (UICN).

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List of Certified Hotels

The following Costa Rica Hotels have achieved the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism; they are classified by number of levels:

Level Five (The hotel is considered a model of sustainability)

Finca Rosa Blanca Hotel
Si Como No Hotel
Harmony Hotel
Villa Blanca Hotel
Lapa Rios Lodge

Level Four

Almonds & Corals Lodge
Parador Hotel
Best Western Jaco Beach Hotel
Belmar Hotel
Punta Islita Hotel
Four Seasons Resort
Gaia Hotel & Reserve
Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Level Three

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
La Quinta de Sarapiqui Hotel
Cariblue Hotel
Xandari Resort & Spa
Villas Sol Hotel & Beach Resort
SarapiquiS Rain Forest Lodge
Rara Avis Lodge
Selva Verde Lodge
Hotel 1492
Rosa del Paseo Hotel
Borinquen Hotel
Ocotal Beach Resort
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel
Doubletree Resort by Hilton Puntarenas
El Establo Hotel
El Rodeo Country Inn Hotel & Rest.
Buena Vista Hotel
Sanchiri Hotel y Restaurante
Wagelia Hotel
Heliconia Hotel
Caño Negro Natural Lodge
Parque del Lago Hotel
Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel
Hilton Papagayo Resort
Esquinas Rain Forest Lodge
Gran Hotel Costa Rica
Presidente Hotel
Arenal Springs Resort
Barcelo San Jose Palacio Hotel
Sleep Inn San Jose Downtown Hotel
Bougainvillea Hotel
Mountain Paradise Hotel
Balmoral Hotel

Level Two

Montaña de Fuego Hotel
Punta Leona Hotel
Villa Caletas Hotel & Villas
Barcelo Palma Real Hotel
Peace Lodge
El Bambu Hotel
Clarion Amon Plaza Hotel
Villa Baulas Hotel
Casa Camarona Hotel
Casa Turire Hotel
Sugar Beach Hotel
Corteza Amarilla Art Lodge & Spa
Las Tortugas Hotel

Level One (It shows the first step towards sustainability)

Amapola Hotel
Villa Lapas Hotel
Casa Conde Hotel & Suites
Divisamar Hotel
Volcan Turrialba Lodge
Tulemar Bungalows Hotel
Best Western Irazu Hotel
Trapp Family Lodge
Hacienda Guachipelin Hotel
Vesuvio Hotel

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Projects and Initiatives

1. Environmental - Carbon Offset

The National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO) was legally constituted in 1996. In 1997 the Fund launched the Environmental Services Payments Program (ESPP), a financial mechanism implemented by the State, through FONAFIFO, to compensate owners of forest plantations for the environmental services that they provide, aiming to promote conservation and recovery of the country's forest cover.

In 2006, CRT joined this initiative for the following reasons:

- to protect and regenerate forest in the Tempisque River Basin,
- to protect the water resources in this area
- and to offset carbon dioxide produced by

Its fleet of vehicles.

www.fonafifo.com

2. Environmental

Jaguar Conservation Project

In 2006 the University of Costa Rica presented a project to several private companies, amongst them CRT, which pretended to study the health and genetic variability of jaguars (Felidae: Panthera onca) in wild populations and captivity populations in Costa Rica. One of the most important objectives is to obtain data of the genetic variability of the jaguars in these populations in the country (basic investigation).

Based on this information, a model will be developed on the adequate handling and conservation of this specie (applied investigation).

CRT commitment to the conservation of endangered species is reflected in its sponsorship of the Jaguar Conservation Project.

3. Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is a project of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism) International, funded by UNICEF and supported by the World Tourism Organization. It seeks the participation and commitment of the tourist industry to discourage and sanction the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents associated with travel and tourism.

The Costa Rican program is supported by the PANIAMOR Foundation in conjunction with the Costa Rican Association of Tour Operators (ACOT), the Costa Rican Association of Professionals in Tourism (ACOPROT) and World Vision funded by Fundecooperación.

CRT was the first company in Costa Rica in signing the Code of Conduct in 2003. Our clients are informed through our websites, brochures and signature in our email that we actively support the Code of Conduct. CRT also counts with a company denouncement policy.

www.thecode.org

www.protegiendoles.org/english.htm

4. Educational, cultural & environmental

The prestigious Ecological Blue Flag Program, for beaches in Costa Rica, incorporated in year 2004 a new program directed to educational facilities, with the objective to teach children how to protect and enjoy nature at the same time.

The program motivates students, teachers and community members to improve the school’s infrastructure, to practise recycling, and to develop different educational initiatives and projects to protect the environment. Schools are rewarded with a Blue Flag and a star classification system.

CRT is supporting the School of Herradura (in the Mid Pacific area), that has over 700 students, with resources, advice and organisation of the different entities involved, to help it to get the Blue Flag recognition. The project has begun on June 2007.

www.aya.go.cr/informacion/laboratorio/banderaazul

5. Environmental & Educational

Established in 1961, the WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries.

WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

a. Conserving the world’s biological diversity.

b. Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable.

c. Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

It is important to mention that WWF involves local communities, who depend on natural resources to survive.

Since 2003 till date, CRT operates a program together with one of our clients which supports the marine turtle conservation projects in Costa Rica and CRT makes a direct $50.00 donation per participant to the WWF Costa Rica program!

www.worldwildlife.org
www.wwfca.org/php/proyectos/maresycostas/mares02.php

6. Sustainable Tourism - Best Management Practices

The Rainforest Alliance works with people, whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travellers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, they involve businesses and consumers worldwide in their efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily.

Since April 2006, CRT and Rainforest Alliance established an alliance to work with the operator’s suppliers in Best Management Practices in Sustainable Tourism.

The agreement allows us to apply new policies in our company and to move forward with the commitment that both parts have acquired concerning the implementation of sustainable practices that are shared and promoted among our suppliers.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism.cfm?id=operators

7. Environmental & Educational

In April 2007, CRT presented a project proposal called “Protection and Conservation of the Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macaw)” to representatives of:

- National Ministry of Environment (MINAE),
- Carara National Park,
- LAPPA Association,
- Community Development Association of Herradura,
- Elementary School of Herradura and
- Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort.Target group of this project are the students of the Elementary School.
The principal objectives of the proposal are:
- to create environmental awareness,
- to invite the community to protect the Scarlet Macaw,
- to start a tree nursery and reforestation project with species benefiting the Macaw (food and shelter)

The proposal was accepted and teachers and park rangers will be supervising all activities. The rest of the entities involved will be giving environmental education and supplying the necessary resources.

Donations

1. Environmental

Carara & Manuel Antonio National Parks

Both parks count with amazing biodiversity and are home to endangered species like the Scarlet Macaw, Squirrel Monkey and American Crocodile.

For years, CRT has been collaborating with various national parks to:

1. Maintain optimal conditions of the infrastructure (trails, bridges & restrooms).

2. Provide a better service by offering neat park facilities.

3. Improve working conditions of park rangers and administrative personnel.

2. Educational & Cultural

The National Dance Company (NDC) is part of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCJD), Costa Rica’s most important institution for promoting Costa Rican culture. This important institution promotes its activities all around the country and seeks to encourage the participation of communities to benefit from cultural activities.

CRT supplied free transportation to the Company’s dancers when visiting various communities to promote its show “DIGALO” (“Tell it!”), an educational presentation denouncing the child sexual abuse and giving advice to detect it and stop it.

3. Sociocultural & Patrimonial

The National Biodiversity Institute of Costa Rica is a private research and biodiversity management center, established in 1989 to support efforts to gather knowledge on the country’s biological diversity and promote its sustainable use.

The institute works under the premise that the best way to conserve the biodiversity is to study it, value it and utilize the opportunities it offers to improve the quality of life of human beings.INBio and ACOPROT (Costa Rican Association of Professionals in Tourism), in combination with other institutions, are responsible for the design and implementation of the course of General Naturalist Guide, required to get a guide license.

CRT supplies free transportation for students of History, Heritage and Folklore Units to visit different areas in Costa Rica.

4. Solidarity Programs

At the beginning of 2005, the Sarapiquí Area on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica was affected by heavy rains and floods, and unfortunately many families lost all they had during this natural disaster.

CRT staff collected during several days clothes, food and water and sent this to Sarapiquís Red Cross as a token of our solidarity with this community. This initiative consolidated as the “Sarapiquí Solidarity Campaign, 2005”.

Recently, the Community of Belén (near the CRT Head offices) was affected by a similar natural disaster, again CRT organised a solidarity campaign amongst its employees “Belén Solidarity Campaign, 2007”.

5. Celebrations - World Tourism Day

September 27th, 2006 CRT celebrated World Tourism Day with kids, lots of kids. For the celebration CRT provided to children of the Elementary School of Herradura, transportation to the INBioparque in Heredia, meals and activities.

Through interpreted nature trails with multimedia technology, children experienced living samples of Costa Rica’s ecosystems.

The next day CRT brought a group of young Scouts from San José, the capital city, down to Herradura in the Mid Pacific Coast to clean up the beach and help classifying & recycling waste. The day ended with a visit to the Mangrove Forest of the Tarcoles River.

The activity was coordinated in conjunction with the Costa Rican Association of Professionals in Tourism (ACOPROT).

6. Celebrations - Christmas Gifts

The Toys for Tots initiative in Costa Rica, organized by Continental Airlines, received 2 donations from CRT this year to support their efforts.

The attendance fees charged at last years MPI presentation, given by Karen Garcia-González Managing Director for the Multicultural Initiative and Jim Skiba, Director of World Incentives Nexus, organized by CRT and ACOPROT, was donated to this cause.

CRT also contributed an additional $800 as promised when teeing off at the night tournament during USTOA’s annual “Out of the Country Meeting”.

These donations will not only purchase Christmas toys but also school uniforms and school desks.

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