That's how we can describe the position of the Costa Rican hamber of Hotels (CCH) and its members, assuming on thical commitment and determined action for the protection of childhood and adolescents facing commercial sexual exploitation associated to travels and tourism.
CCH and Paniamor Foundation announced the subscription to the Code of Conduct will be required for affiliation of current and future members of CCH starting on that date, last June 28th.
Since the year 2003, Fundación Paniamor, with financing from "Save the Children" Sweden and other sources, has coordinated the implementation of the Code of Conduct, world initiative impulsed by ECPAT International and the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The achievements attained with the Code in the country have led WTO to designate the Costa Rican experience as a good practice of Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, a concrete and effective expression of Social Corporative Responsibility, a special value to motivate similar initiatives in other countries of the Region and world.
It's significant to verify how CCH has acknowledged that the protection of rights and the optimal development of new generations in the country is an essential element of any tourism activity that prides itself of being sustainable. The commitment acquired today manifests its convince of facing this crime as a matter of national dignity and citizen security, convenient for the sector because its occurrence is a real threat to the positioning of the country as a destination of sustainable tourism," manifested Milena Grillo, Head of Fundación Paniamor.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, represented by its vice-president Mr. Gustavo Segura, commented of the firm commitment of this corporative group, as well as from its associates, with the guidelines established in the Code of Conduct for the protection of girls, boys and adolescents against commercial sexual exploitation associated to travels and tourism.
CCH currently unites 295 hotels, of which 6 1 % have subscribed the Code; the goal is 100% of the members subscribing it. Mr. Segura added that in this way "the hotel sector, firmly and decidedly says no to this scourge that so harms our childhood, adolescence and the country at large."
Costa Rica has in total 257 companies: hotels, tourism operators, taxi drivers and car rentals, have subscribed the Code of Conduct since its beginning 5 years ago.
