From September 23^rd to the 25^th, Costa Rica’s National Ecotourism and Sustainable Chamber (Spanish acronym: CANAECO) hosted the International Conference: Planet, People, Peace (P3) at the Children’s Museum in San Jose. P3 was sponsored by Costa Rica Tourism Board (Spanish initials: ICT), and it focused on addressing issues including social development through tourism, climate change adaptation, water management, innovation and competitiveness in tourism.

 

The conference hosted over 300 invited guests including dignitaries, media, industry sponsors and public institutions such as the Environment and Energy Ministry (MINAE) and Costa Rica Institute for Water and Sewage. Exhibitors from the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as well as experts in business development, sustainable tourism, and water and energy management from Costa Rica, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, El Salvador, Jordan, Sweden, Uruguay, England, and the United States shared ideas and drafted collaboration agreements.

 

ICT Marketing Director Alejandro Castro Alfaro remarked:

 

“As a world leader in sustainable tourism, we are deeply committed to constantly striving to be in the forefront of the latest programs and developments that support our planet and improve the experience for travelers who visit Costa Rica. P3 provides us with this perfect forum to discuss challenges, share solutions, innovations and raise the bar even higher in the industry.”

 

Costa Rica is known for its public and private investment in sustainable tourism. Due to the ICT’s promotional work in key tourism markets, over 300 companies, including hotels, restaurants and tour operators, receive the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). These businesses demonstrate their commitment to sustainability through proper waste management, rational use of resources, environmental protection, respect for local culture, and their contribution to the development of communities.

 

Ban Ki -Moon, General Secretary to the United Nations, stressed that the tourism industry, the world’s largest service provider and one of its major economic players, is particularly well placed to promote environmental sustainability and combat climate change through its relationship with energy.

 

CANAECO President Diego Gonzalez explained:

 

“The UNWTO expressed that tourism is one of the 11 key sectors that can promote the transition to a green economy. Tourists’ decisions highly influenced by sustainability considerations. In 1997, Costa Rica cemented its dedication to a sustainable tourism model with the development of the CST program. The model is recognized by the UNWTO and is studied by governments in many countries.”