Sustainable Rural Tourism Management: Upgrading eco-friendly and self-sustainable hotels in Costa Rica

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48132/uniebr.376

Keywords:

Sustainability management, Rural tourism, Green hotels, Environmental certifications, Costa Rica

Abstract

Rural tourism represents a social innovative approach with a goal to conserve natural biodiversity where local communities showcase their cultural heritage and biodiversity. Though, it entails more than just visiting an all-inclusive hotel, it requires a holistic business approach that is conscious of the current tourist market demands. These approaches must make the best use of internet-connected gadgets to transmit data, which is translated into transformative actions, with the objective of improving systems adaptability. However, in Costa Rica, tourism accounts for over a quarter of its total export revenue, especially ecotourism as the most significant form of economic tourism activity. This research analyzes the administrative model of eco-friendly-self-sustainable hotels in rural areas of Costa Rica. Additionally, rural tourism also helps to protect the environment and improve livelihoods of communities. Costa Rica has enormous and innumerable opportunities to develop eco-friendly tourism. There are many reasons why we can think of developing this kind of business within the country’s strategic development plans, such as geographical location, natural resources, social and political factors.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Accorsi, R., Baruffaldi, G. & Manzini, R. (2020). A closed-loop packaging network design model to foster infinitely reusable and recyclable containers in food industry. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 24, 48–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.06.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.06.014

Amer, M. & Alqhtani, A. (2019). IoT applications in Smart Hotels. International Journal of Internet of Things and Web Services. 15 December. Retrieved from https://www.iaras.org/iaras/journals/ijitws

Blackman, A., Naranjo, M. A., Robalino, J., Alpízar, F. & Rivera, J. (2014). Does tourism eco-certification pay? Costa rica’s blue flag program. World Development, 58, 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.12.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.12.002

Brazytė, K., Weber, F. & Schaffner, D. (2017). Sustainability Management of Hotels: How Do Customers Respond in Online Reviews? Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism, 18(3), 282–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2016.1230033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1528008X.2016.1230033

Carvache-Franco, M., Víquez-Paniagua, A. G., Carvache-Franco, O., Perez-Orozco, A. & Carvache-Franco, W. (2019). Motivations, intentions to return and to recommend protected areas: A study in Costa Rica. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 27(4), 1173–1183. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.27405-424 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.27405-424

Chen, J., Innes, J. L. & Tikina, A. (2010). Private cost-benefits of voluntary forest product certification. International Forestry Review, 12(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1505/ifor.12.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1505/ifor.12.1.1

Courvisanos, J. & Jain, A. (2006). A framework for sustainable ecotourism: Application to Costa Rica. Tourism and Hospitality, Planning and Development, 3(2), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790530600938378 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14790530600938378

Damm, A., Greuell, W., Landgren, O. & Prettenthaler, F. (2017). Impacts of +2 °C global warming on winter tourism demand in Europe. Climate Services, 7, 31–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2016.07.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2016.07.003

Geetha, M., Singha, P. & Sinha, S. (2017). Relationship between customer sentiment and online customer ratings for hotels - An empirical analysis. Tourism Management, 61, 43–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.12.022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.12.022

Howitt, J. & Mason, C. W. (2018). Ecotourism and Sustainable Rural Development in Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 13(1). 1712-8277.

Hunt, C. A., Durham, W. H., Driscoll, L. & Honey, M. (2015). Can ecotourism deliver real economic, social, and environmental benefits? A study of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(3), 339–357. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.965176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2014.965176

Jones, G. & Spadafora, A. (2017). Creating Ecotourism in Costa Rica, 1970-2000. Cambridge University Press, 18(1), 146–183. https://doi.org/10.1017/eso.2016.50 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/eso.2016.50

Lai, I. K. W. & Hitchcock, M. (2017). Local reactions to mass tourism and community tourism development in Macau. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(4), 451–470. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2016.1221413 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2016.1221413

Little, M. E. & Blau, E. (2020). Social adaptation and climate mitigation through agrotourism: a case study of tourism in Mastatal, Costa Rica. Journal of Ecotourism, 19(2), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2019.1652305 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2019.1652305

Luijendijk, A., Hagenaars, G., Ranasinghe, R., Baart, F., Donchyts, G. & Aarninkhof, S. (2018). The State of the World’s Beaches. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24630-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24630-6

Merli, R., Preziosi, M., Acampora, A. & Ali, F. (2019). Why should hotels go green? Insights from guests experience in green hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 81, 169–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2019.04.022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2019.04.022

Mora-Alvarado, D. A., Vega-Molina, J. & González-Fernández, A. (2019). Evaluación de riesgo sanitario de las playas de Costa Rica Periodo 2010-2017. Revista Tecnología en Marcha. https://doi.org/10.18845/tm.v32i10.4884 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18845/tm.v32i10.4884

Moro, S., Rita, P. & Coelho, J. (2017). Stripping customers’ feedback on hotels through data mining: The case of Las Vegas Strip. Tourism Management Perspectives, 23, 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2017.04.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2017.04.003

Mosedale, J. & Voll, F. (2017). Social Innovations in Tourism: Social Practices Contributing to Social Development (pp. 101–115). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0_6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0_6

Mura, P. & Khoo-Lattimore, C. (2018). Locating Asian Research and Selves in Qualitative Tourism Research. In P. Mura, & C. Khoo-Lattimore (eds), Asian Qualitative Research in Tourism (1–20). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7491-2_1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7491-2_1

Mylan, J. (2018). Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica: Aligning Tourists’ Interests with Local Development. PURE Insights, 7(1). 122-324.

Nielsen, S. L. & Rimpiläinen, S. (2018). Report on International Practice on Digital Apps - Strathprints. https://doi.org/10.17868/66139

Rajeswari, K. & Sathishkumar, M. K. (2019). Developments in the Hospitality Industry-An Overview of Tamil Nadu Hotels. Journal of Development Economics and Management Research Studies (JDMS). 16 December. Retrieved from http://www.cdes.org.in/http://www.cdes.org.in/journal/

Reid, J. L., Wilson, S. J., Bloomfield, G. S., Cattau, M. E., Fagan, M. E., Holl, K. D. & Zahawi, R. A. (2017). How Long Do Restored Ecosystems Persist? Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 102(2), 258–265. https://doi.org/10.3417/2017002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3417/2017002

Santidrián-Tomillo, P., Robinson, N. J., Fonseca, L. G., Quirós-Pereira, W., Arauz, R., Beange, M., Piedra, R., Vélez, E., Paladino, F. V., Spotila, J. R. & Wallace, B. P. (2017). Secondary nesting beaches for leatherback turtles on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 45(3), 563–571. https://doi.org/10.3856/vol45-issue3-fulltext-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol45-issue3-fulltext-6

Sarı, E. B. (2018). Reflections of Industry 4.0 To Management of Service Enterprises: Smart Hotels Article in International Journal of Contemporary Tourism Research. International Journal of Contemporary Tourism Research, 2. https://doi.org/10.30625/ijctr.451722 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30625/ijctr.451722

Smith, A. (2018). “Pura vida”: A Costa Rican Cultural Expression from a Foreigner’s Perspective. Revista de Lenguas Modernas, 28, 1659–1933.

Tribago Business. (2019). Sustainable Hospitality: Eco-Friendly Industry Trends and Tips. Trivago Business Blog. 17 December. Retrieved from https://businessblog.trivago.com/sustainable-hospitality-trends-eco-friendly-hotel-tips/

ULI Americas. (2021). Sustainability in Hotels: Opportunities and Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality | ULI Americas. Urban Land Institute. 18 December. Retrieved from https://americas.uli.org/research/centers-initiatives/greenprint-center/greenprint-resources-2/best-practices-in-sustainable-real-estate/sustainability-in-hotels/

Downloads

Published

2022-06-01

How to Cite

Okot, T., Sanchez Quiros, J., & Castro Mejía, C. (2022). Sustainable Rural Tourism Management: Upgrading eco-friendly and self-sustainable hotels in Costa Rica. UNIE Business Research, 11(1), 2–14. https://doi.org/10.48132/uniebr.376

Issue

Section

Articles