Nature Air

Businesses in Costa Rica committed to sustainability can now get a boost in their efforts to compete in the lucrative global tourism market.  The Best Management Practices Program, under the leadership of the international conservation group the Rainforest Alliance helps these businesses take advantage of marketing opportunities, capture new clients and benefit local communities and ecosystems. 

Through this initiative, tourism entrepreneurs participate in workshops that explain what steps they can take to reduce operation costs, increase the business’s overall efficiency, maintain positive relationships with local residents and minimize negative impacts on the environment.

The workshops can also help business people qualify for sustainable tourism certification, awarded by one of the member programs of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas, like the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) in Costa Rica. This network brings together certification programs, public and private entities that promote certification and other environmental, tourism-related and academic organizations, all aiming to share information, reach out to other relevant programs, identify training needs and define a progressive market strategy.Businesses involved in the program must sign a contract with the Rainforest Alliance that establishes both parties’ commitments. For example, the participants agree to make the changes needed to ensure their businesses are.  The Rainforest Alliance and partner organizations commit to evaluating the businesses and outlining what changes are needed to guarantee sustainability and qualify for tourism certification.  Participants may also qualify for co-financing to be used to fund changes identified by program auditors.

The Rainforest Alliance has developed several guidebooks and manuals that are available at no cost and can aid businesses that participate in training workshops. For more information, see a list of 2008 workshops (in Spanish) or contact Raquel Morales.

Natureair is one of the sponsors of the seven regional sustainable tourism workshops scheduled throughout the country.