Research into ecotourism in Costa Rica has implications for the industry in BC according to researchers at the University of Northern British Columbia. UNBC Natural Resources and Environmental Studies graduate student Nick Ehlers and his supervisor, Geography professor Zoe Meletis, recently conducted the fieldwork for the first interdisciplinary study of motor boat use and its impact on Tortuguero, Costa Rica, a village economically dependent upon ecotourism.

Ecotourism is described as responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and small scale, and an alternative to mass tourism. "Like BC, Costa Rica's  brand is 'nature.' It has a well-established parks system, and is reliant on natural resources as key tourist attractions," says Ehlers. "When tourist destinations move from ecotourism into higher-volume resort tourism that's when problems can increase.”

“Since Costa Rica is an established leader in ‘green tourism,’ ecotourism, and nature-based tourism, it is a country for both BC and Canada to watch as we bank on our natural attractions as tourism draws,” says Dr. Meletis. “In both Costa Rica and Canada, even small isolated villages are drawing tourists and facing pressures, good and bad, from increased popularity.”

Initially, Ehlers and Dr. Meletis were responding to a request from residents of Tortuguero, a town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, who were concerned about increased tourist boat use. It is an area that is internationally famous for its rainforest and for having one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in the world. The tiny region, which can only be accessed by boat or plane, sees more than 134,000 visitors per year. Most of the visitors stay in luxury eco-lodges nearby and are shuttled to the village and turtle tours in motorboats.

“Even though local residents appreciate and live from tourism, many worry about potential negative impacts, and are seeking sustainable tourism development,” says Ehlers. "An increasing number of citizens were concerned about the roles boat traffic might be playing in local lagoon and canal erosion, the depletion of their sport fishing industry, and on the environment that houses the very turtles that tourists go to see in the first place.”

Ehlers recorded the number of boats coming through the area, the type of boat, their speed and horsepower, and the number of passengers on each vessel. He took water samples to measure the amount of material the vessels kicked up from the bottom and eroded from the banks, and spoke with local people about motorboat use. By the end of his study, he had recorded an average of one boat passing every two minutes.

"With such frequent boat traffic, sediments may not have time to settle. This can impede photosynthesis and cause declines in animal habitat and local fish stocks," says Ehlers. “Findings are reported regularly to park officials, the national government, and the community.”

"I see connections between Costa Rican tourism development and tourism development in BC in that both must learn to manage the resources that tourists come to see, without depleting their attractive environments," says Dr. Meletis. "For example, the recent proposed building of resort-style lodges on the Juan de Fuca trail on Vancouver
Island is not unlike what currently exists in many Costa Rican destinations. I think we can achieve greater sustainability through studying developments and outcomes abroad.”

“Also, whale and bear watching along BC’s coast has increased boat traffic in certain areas, so Nick’s study is relevant for new and growing tourism opportunities here,” says Dr. Meletis. “Investigating local perceptions also allows researchers to tap into resources about how to improve tourism management and conservation. One solution might involve creating a ‘no wake zone’ in sensitive areas to reduce sediment disturbance, impacts on wildlife, and address safety-related concerns both here and in Costa Rica.”