Costa Rica's CST program is recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as the model for sustainable tourism.
As the winter months approach, warm destinations beckon, tempting us with sunny skies and balmy temperatures, glorious beaches and family-friendly adventures to remember for a lifetime. But with so many places to choose from around the world, it has become more important than ever to look at what makes each destination truly unique: its natural resources, people, culture and traditions.
Costa Rica scores on all of these fronts and even goes a step further. With its internationally acclaimed Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, Costa Rica ensures that hotel and tour operators act responsibly with regard to both environmental and social considerations.
Established in 1996, the CST program was developed to help travelers choose hotels, resorts, and tour outfitters who demonstrate a strong concern for the environment and the community in which they operate. The program has allowed Costa Rica's tourism industry to grow and flourish while still protecting the natural beauty and authentic culture that are such huge draws for visitors worldwide.
In fact, Costa Rica's CST program is recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as the model for sustainable tourism in the region. As a result, Costa Rica has been not only to maintain the resources that have made it a dream destination for natural adventures, but also to enrich them.
Today there are 111 hotels and tour operators in the country that are certified by the CST program; many of these have been internationally recognized for their own innovative programs, which have nurtured the environment and in some cases literally rebuilt communities on the brink of extinction.
Through simple acts such as building a church, buying food from a local vendor and creating job opportunities, social sustainability is essential to the development of a tourism venue. Costa Rica's CST program not only allows for the growth and health of local communities, but also offers visitors a much larger and more enriching perspective into the country's amazing people and culture.
In this way, a visit to a small and remarkable country expands their view of the whole, wide world.
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