Of course, keeping the environment at a minimum is almost impossible with increased number of tourists flocking to the place. Increasing number of hotels constructed, more lights on the streets and on the houses and increased visitors coming in and out of the country are observed to affect the sea-turtle nesting and the sea-turtle itself by changing its pattern of nesting.
It is therefore imperative that ecotourism minimizes these adverse effects by focusing on low-impact construction, controlling the number of visitors in a certain area and using great care when interacting with the fauna and flora.
A concrete example of the problems from the environmental impacts of ecotourism is best exemplified by the Manuel Antonio National Park. The park often experienced overcrowding, lack of planning and over-development of the affected community. This resulted in improper waste disposal which caused a number of the resident monkeys in the area to feed on garbage. In this instance, it is important to point out that conservation measures should be put in place ahead of generating profit in order to protect the environment and to make it sustainable.
The deterioration of the environment will affect tourist visits in the long term. Therefore, to make the area not only sustainable but also income-generating for a long time, conservation measures must be firmly in place.
Social Impacts
To make ecotourism beneficial to the locals, the people should actively contribute to the planning and implementation phase of the project. This area leaves a lot to be desired of since communities did not form part of the decision-making process and private operators particularly foreigners did not consult the community about their plans for the place. Since the local communities have the biggest stake in the consequence of the ecotourism program, their voice should be heard or ideas should be solicited in establishing sustainable ecotourism.
The involvement of the local community to the project could spell its success or failure. The support of the local community is very important because they create the kind of environment that tourists want. Their participation is also essential in identifying the impacts, whether positive or negative, of ecotourism to the affected area. The involvement of the community could also lessen future conflicts.
Ecotourism could possibly lead to the collapse of social and cultural structures. Therefore, it is important that tourists be aware of the cultural dynamics at work in a particular community to make ecotourism work. By using the skills and knowledge of the local people, ecotourism could encourage the native culture. The good news is ecotourists are found to appreciate the local tradition, customs and cuisine compared to other offerings.
The dangers of associating isolated communities with rich foreigners could also be high. A situation called “commofication” could occur which is the erosion of the culture and community structure. Locals may change their practices to accommodate the foreigners.
Conclusion
The overall impact of ecotourism industry to Costa Rica has been very positive. It also helped that the local government and organizations worked hand in hand to promote the environment. Guidelines have been established and followed to be able to facilitate the growing need for ecotourism.
As ecotourism will grow - so will the need for accommodations. This, of course, will have a direct impact on the environment. They may need more places to develop, more space for the tourists. That is why strict implementation of environmental guidelines is essential to minimize the social impact on Costa Rica environment.
The local people should be at the center of the ecotourism development. This is to encourage them to devote their time and full support to ecotourism undertakings thus minimizing the likelihood of negative impacts of ecotourism.
