For the national tourism sector
At country level, the CST representa a brand distinguishing Costa Rica as a destination; offering a tourist product with sustainable characteristics. This aspect will have an effect, not only on the country's marketing policies, but also in the controla to elimínate practicas soma companies have of abusing of the concept "eco", "green" or "sustainable".
The Certification forSustainableTourism, known as CST, has been acknowledged by the World Tourism Organization as one of the programa which is modifying the way tourism is done. January 2000, San José, Costa Rica.
For the tourism entrepreneur
The program means having a new element for competitiveness, basad on a new classification of a product. This aspect will be fully reinforced and fostered by ICT in tourism promotion campaigns, national and internacional, as an incentivo to company efforts.
On the other hand, the CST incentivos adequate management and use of company resources, promoting savings and efficient utilization, so it will have a positive impact on corporate cost-benefit relationship. For example, using technologies for saving energy; to avoid the intensiva use of the resource without detriment in the quality of the service and at the sama time, a significant reduction on expenses for these resources.
For the tourist
A tourist choosing a tourism company with the CST brand can be sure it's implementing actions in all management processes, to avoid the negativa impacts on the environment, cultura and society.
For other productiva sectors
CST is a "state of the art" program opening opportunities for developing companies who provide goods and services with a sustainable outlook.
The need to use recyclable, reusable, natural products and devices for saving energy and water, waste management, information and others, will start opening doors through which a new market of environmentally friendly products will come to be; it is gaining social acceptance and will be serving other sectors of the economy, in the medium terco, increasing the dynamics and a positiva global balance in tercos of sustainability.
What does it mean for a tourism company to be CST classified
Obtaining the first Level means the company has taken the first steps towards the process of sustainability.
The following levels correspond to subsequent stages within the specific process studied; in Level 5, a company is considered an icon in tercos of sustainability.
The subsequent classification is done according to the following scheme.
Each of the different parameters is measured on its compliance to the concept of sustainability. For example, at Level 3 it's necessary to fuffill at least 60% of the conditions established for the creas: physical- biological parameters, facilities, management of the service (only for Tour Operator Agencies), external customer and socioeconomical environment.
The level occupied by a company corresponda to the lowest level achieved in one of the creas. The purpose is to make companies progresa towards a model of sustainability, considering the importante of the four aspects.
Level |
% Compliance |
0 |
0-20 |
1 |
20-39 |
2 |
40-59 |
3 |
60-79 |
4 |
80-90 |
5 |
95-100 |
Ecotourism and Nature 
