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Burgeoning Costa Rica sets Guanacaste zoning rules |
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Those worried that Costa Rica’s continued popularity as an ecotourism destination might ironically lead to overdevelopment can breathe a sigh of relief. During the annual Expotur national travel trade show, which took place recently in capital city San Jose, Costa Rica’s federal government announced regulations that will restrict construction in several tourist regions.
The first set of guidelines, which go into effect immediately, will restrict the height, size and location of buildings in Guanacaste, the province where development is proceeding at the fastest pace.
The federal government is soon going to announce similar measures for the central Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea coasts, according to Benavides.
According to the decree, developers may not build on more than 60 percent of their land along the shore; there is also a three-story limit on beachfront construction, and a nine-story limit for construction farther than about 2.5 miles from the coast.
The Costa Rica Tourist Board and the Certification for Sustainable Tourism program set up an information booth for tourism companies and international visitors during Expotur, to provide details about how companies can meet certification guidelines.
Costa Rica also recently hosted the Fourth Meeting of the International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development, led by the United Nations Environmental Program and the United Nations Initiative for Social and Economic Development. The meeting addressed issues such as protection of natural resources, promotion of sustainable production and consumption patterns in the tourism industry.
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Ecotourism and Nature 
