MAIN CHALLENGES TO IMPROVE VISITOR SERVICES WHILE MINIMIZING TOURISM IMPACTS ON PROTECTED AREAS ANA L. BAEZ TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA SEPTEMBER, 2006

CONTENT TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS MUST BE COMPETITIVE TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS MUST BE COMPETITIVE BENEFITS MULTIPLY WITH CLEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS BENEFITS MULTIPLY WITH CLEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS STEPS CAN BE CAREFULLY GUIDED STEPS CAN BE CAREFULLY GUIDED

MASTER PLAN MUST BE IN PLACE MASTER PLAN MUST BE IN PLACE ZONING IS REQUIERED ZONING IS REQUIERED VISITOR MANEGEMENT PLAN IS VISITOR MANEGEMENT PLAN IS STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH VISION TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

APTITUDEATTITUDEKNOWLEDGE HUMAN RESOURCES

NEED FOR TRAINING UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY DYNAMIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY DYNAMIC PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR MONITORING PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR MONITORING KNOWLEDGE OF LEGAL ISSUES AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS KNOWLEDGE OF LEGAL ISSUES AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS

LONG TERM PROJECTS ARE A WAY OF LIFE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS ARE REQUIRED PROMOTE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL PATRIMONY INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT EARNINGS HAVE TO BE REINVESTED IN PROTECTED AREAS, AND PROFITS MUST CREATE INCENTIVES FOR PERSONNEL TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

ADMINISTRATIVE STRATEGY CHANGING FROM A LINEAR BUSINESS APPROACH TO A MULTISECTORIAL ONE   PROTECTED AREAS MUST BE PART OF THE LOCAL OFFER (CLUSTER/P.A.FOCAL POINT) TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL STRUCTURE AND MECHANISMS CONCESSIONS CONCESSIONS CO-MANAGEMENT CO-MANAGEMENT PERSONAL/INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT PERSONAL/INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT CLEAR MECHANISM ARE ESSENTIAL FOR: SELECTION MONITORING ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

INVESTMENTS REQUIRE BUSINESS PLAN (clear parameters can be established with respect to risks and opportunities, and investments can be made with greater safety and confidence) BUSINESS PLAN (clear parameters can be established with respect to risks and opportunities, and investments can be made with greater safety and confidence) STRATEGY FOR MAINTENANCE STRATEGY FOR MAINTENANCE TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS CRUCIAL, PROTECTED AREAS MUST LEARN HOW TO NEGOTIATE LACK OF TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR BUSINESS NEGOTIATION THE STRATEGY IS “WIN – WIN” LACK OF CLEAR “GAME RULES” AND REGULATIONS TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN PROTECTED AREAS ARE MAINLY BASED ON: AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT GUIDED RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES UP-TO-DATE INTERPRETATION A COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

MAIN COMPONENTS OF TOURISM IN PROTECTED AREAS TRAIL SYSTEM ECO-FRIENDLY/GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE EXCELLENT GUIDES CLEAR COMMUNICATION (BEFORE- DURING AND AFTER VISITS) TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

BEST PRACTICES MUST BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF SERVICES THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS BEEN MOVING FASTER THAN PROTECTED AREAS TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

COMMUNITY INVOVEMENT MAINLY PROMOTES SMALL AND MEDIUM- SIZED INVESTMENT INICIATIVES FALSE HOPES FOR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, SHOULD NOT BE CREATED THE MARKET IS HIGHLY DYNAMIC, AND THE EVOLUTION OF PRODUCTS TAKES PLACE QUICKLY NATIONAL TOURISM IS A VERY IMPORTANT NICHE TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES – COSTA RICA

“The natural scenariums are the most important facts to chose Costa Rica as a tourism destination, as well as, the national parks remain as the most attractive activity for tourists that visit Costa Rica, no matter of age or origen”. (Menlo, 2004) MUCHAS GRACIAS Turismo & Conservación Consultores S.A

ANA L. BAEZ TURISMO & CONSERVACION CONSULTORES Tel/fax: PO. Box Costa Rica MONTEVERDE COSTA RICA, 2006