Costa Rica, Tourism Model"Towards a Sustainable Tourism” CANAECO hosted the First International Conference: Planet, People, Peace: P3, in October 2009, in Costa Rica, with the participation of over 200 people from Bhutan, United States, Japan and Central America, joined by the Costa Rican tourism sector. This conference brought together national and international leaders in responsible tourism, thus presenting multiple sustainability policies and achievements for the future of sustainable tourism. It was the platform on which Costa Rica showed other countries the important role and leadership it has assumed in sustainable tourism and it was used as a tool to facilitate change in the definition of sustainable tourism in the world. Costa Rica continually demonstrates its leadership by being one of the more advanced responsible tourism destinations, not only regionally but also internationally, acting as a model for any country wishing to implement a real development of this tourism. Costa Rica also managed to provide evidence that tourists continue to increase their concern about these matters, and what governments, corporations and organizations should comprehend is that tourists are consistently choosing tourist destinations using these models of sustainability. As a result, the conference reinforced the model that Costa Rica has innovated, creating a responsible destination where tourists can contribute to solutions and sustainable tourism. As a result of the great success that we experienced in 2009 with the First International Conference, Planet, People, Peace, CANAECO has decided to host this important event again in 2010 with The Second International Conference; Planet, People, Peace, II.
Costa Rica is recognized by the world as the leader in sustainable tourism; it is an intrinsic aspect of the country’s culture, government and policies. Planet, People, Peace: The Second International Conference, from the 1st to the 3rd of November, 2010 will be a platform by which Costa Rica and its extraordinary sustainable model will build upon the profound information absorbed and learned from the first International Conference in 2009 and continue to implement those tools. Sustainable tourism is maturing rapidly in Costa Rica, having learned well from its past successes and failures, its participation in world events, and the added value of its continued support from the tourism ministry (ICT) which has kept Costa Rica at the forefront of redefining responsible tourism globally. Again, The Republic of Costa Rica will be presenting its myriad of sustainable policies and successes and will host experienced and sometimes controversial representatives from the international community to debate and share ideas about the future of sustainable tourism and to understand the current tendencies of the global tourist, the expansion of the tourist’s demands for responsible tourism and solutions for improving its financial viability.
This forum will again reunite national and international leaders in responsible tourism to share strategies, best practices, global certification programs, new challenges and innovative solutions to create opportunities for the tourist industry based on the history and real time experiences of Costa Rica. It is a conference specifically created for professionals, pioneers, innovators and experienced participants in this endeavor and offers a great opportunity for students and those newly involved in this important work.
The conference will investigate rural and community based tourism, water management, protecting the cultures of a people and a country, social responsibility and future tourism and sustainability trends and the implementation of the Climate Conscious Traveler program (VCC- Viajes Con Ciencia) a CANAECO project which debuted during the last conference; an innovative program which will place Costa Rica as a carbon neutral destination. Governments, corporations and nongovernmental organizations need to grasp the obvious fact that travelers are now consciously choosing tourist destinations that employ some kind of contemporary model of sustainability.
Costa Rica has been both a pioneer and an innovator and has shown great leadership in responsible tourism and as such, this second conference will again present the country as the viable model for creating a responsible destination where tourists can contribute to solutions and participate in responsible tourism.
As president of CANAECO, the hosts for this important conference for the sharing of information, we look forward to seeing you again participating in this unique and historical event.