Costa Rica Adventure Vacations With 4CRV
With everyone and their dog proclaiming to be ecologically friendly, sorting through the BS to obtain the reality can be difficult. The definition of what environmentally aware actually entails varies and with that getting said... what country is the most "eco-friendly" on the globe?
As the experts in working their bit to take care of the globe, Costa Rica proceeds to tap this by providing on behalf of the target market of eco-friendly people.
The entire "green" mentality gave birth to a modern generation that are illuminated and cognizant to their influence on this Planet.
Trip Advisor just had a survey that set-apart an increasing trend showing travellers are becoming more aware of their effect on the Globe which also encompasses travel facilitators like hotels, tours, and various parts of their trip planning.
earth
Having been labeled most environmentally aware country in the world has positively affected other sectors outside the Costa Rica vacations industry.
Another group influenced positively by the global eco-awareness phenomena is the real estate market.
Not that long ago -- before the global economic crisis struck -- Costa Rica Properties was a thriving industry with record numbers in sales including getting labeled "One of the hottest real estate markets on the planet" by MSNBC. Though the ride on top was good, in the end the world crisis would hit Costa Rica.
And it hit like a ton of bricks.
That was then and this is now...
With all the buzz on environmentally aware there are increasingly more clever investors who're now looking seriously at the Costa Rica real estate market.
Imagine the advertisements value in having the liberty to market your hotel or resort as, "green eco-aware establishments" nestled in the heart of the rain forest while over looking the white sand beaches along the mighty Pacific Ocean.
All of this is possible here given the base has been planted thru years of advertisements by ICT and other influential companies seeking to lure clients to their establishments. Not to mention the natural elegance of this great country which helped it in becoming the most eco-friendly nation in the world.
Costa Rica facts from a talking three-toed sloth? That's just the subject of the recent tourism marketing campaign coming out of Costa Rica and 4CRV - Costa Rica Vacations has not fallen behind in this and they've implemented everything about this new campaign into their own.
The Costa Rica Tourism Board would be taken off guard -- in a bright way -- from the response and it would come from an unbelievable place.
In past attempts at marketing the country to other countries like the USA, Canada and Europe, Costa Rica has... well, not much to write home about. With the help of the US based marketing firm, 22squared, the Million Dollar Gift of Happiness campaign was successful in reaching the same demographic that aided significantly in turning Obama president.
As more people get onboard with the social web, we get to see the broad ability of social media marketing.
Mr. Sloth, the maven of the Gift of Happiness campaign, turned the social web on it's head.
Never has there been a better ambassador to the Costa Rica vacations and tourism market like Mr. Sloth.
Mr. Sloth represents Costa Rica and what it's all about... healthy and worry-free. This clearly shines through in the commercials already released. The furry fella is an international sensation now.
Don Halbert of the #1 Costa Rica vacations corporation, Costa Rica Vacations, said this about the movement. #links#
"We've been witnessing huge growth in the tourism in Costa Rica we offer however as of late (thanks in part to Mr.Sloth) we've seen outstanding exposure for our country throughout the international arena."
With the words of "pura vida" going viral across the Internet, Costa Rica's representative, Mr. Sloth highlights the reasons why so many North Americans and Europeans alike, travel here each year.
As the experts in working their bit to take care of the globe, Costa Rica proceeds to tap this by providing on behalf of the target market of eco-friendly people.
The entire "green" mentality gave birth to a modern generation that are illuminated and cognizant to their influence on this Planet.
Trip Advisor just had a survey that set-apart an increasing trend showing travellers are becoming more aware of their effect on the Globe which also encompasses travel facilitators like hotels, tours, and various parts of their trip planning.
earth
Having been labeled most environmentally aware country in the world has positively affected other sectors outside the Costa Rica vacations industry.
Another group influenced positively by the global eco-awareness phenomena is the real estate market.
Not that long ago -- before the global economic crisis struck -- Costa Rica Properties was a thriving industry with record numbers in sales including getting labeled "One of the hottest real estate markets on the planet" by MSNBC. Though the ride on top was good, in the end the world crisis would hit Costa Rica.
And it hit like a ton of bricks.
That was then and this is now...
With all the buzz on environmentally aware there are increasingly more clever investors who're now looking seriously at the Costa Rica real estate market.
Imagine the advertisements value in having the liberty to market your hotel or resort as, "green eco-aware establishments" nestled in the heart of the rain forest while over looking the white sand beaches along the mighty Pacific Ocean.
All of this is possible here given the base has been planted thru years of advertisements by ICT and other influential companies seeking to lure clients to their establishments. Not to mention the natural elegance of this great country which helped it in becoming the most eco-friendly nation in the world.
Costa Rica facts from a talking three-toed sloth? That's just the subject of the recent tourism marketing campaign coming out of Costa Rica and 4CRV - Costa Rica Vacations has not fallen behind in this and they've implemented everything about this new campaign into their own.
The Costa Rica Tourism Board would be taken off guard -- in a bright way -- from the response and it would come from an unbelievable place.
In past attempts at marketing the country to other countries like the USA, Canada and Europe, Costa Rica has... well, not much to write home about. With the help of the US based marketing firm, 22squared, the Million Dollar Gift of Happiness campaign was successful in reaching the same demographic that aided significantly in turning Obama president.
As more people get onboard with the social web, we get to see the broad ability of social media marketing.
Mr. Sloth, the maven of the Gift of Happiness campaign, turned the social web on it's head.
Never has there been a better ambassador to the Costa Rica vacations and tourism market like Mr. Sloth.
Mr. Sloth represents Costa Rica and what it's all about... healthy and worry-free. This clearly shines through in the commercials already released. The furry fella is an international sensation now.
Don Halbert of the #1 Costa Rica vacations corporation, Costa Rica Vacations, said this about the movement. #links#
"We've been witnessing huge growth in the tourism in Costa Rica we offer however as of late (thanks in part to Mr.Sloth) we've seen outstanding exposure for our country throughout the international arena."
With the words of "pura vida" going viral across the Internet, Costa Rica's representative, Mr. Sloth highlights the reasons why so many North Americans and Europeans alike, travel here each year.
This video is property of royshencr123 on youtube, I do not take credit for this as I'm only mirroring it.
Costa Rica Hosting International Forum Sustainable Tourism
The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – From November 3rdthrough 6th, Costa Rica will host the fourth edition of the international conference, Planet People Peace (P3), in which experts from 12 countries will have exhibits about sustainable tourism, organizers said Monday.
The P3, organized by the National Chamber of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism (CANAECO), will discuss key issues on green economies, sustainable destinations, national branding, and sustainable marketing.
CANAECO President, Glenn Jampol, told the press that the P3 conference objective is to bring experts together from these countries to demonstrate the successful model of sustainable tourism that Costa Rica has created.
The activity includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and on-site visits to several projects so that participants can see how companies apply sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.
The conference will feature American journalist Elizabeth Becker, the Brazilian specialist in sustainable business, Julio Bin, researcher and contributor to the development of community tourism projects in Bhutan, Damcho Rinzin, and Kenyan ecotourism expert, Judy Kepher-Gona, among others.
The P3 also will also have the participation of John Densmore of “The Doors” along with representatives from countries such as Peru, Australia, Norway, China, and the Netherlands.
“We have an opportunity through the international conference to position Costa Rica as a premier sustainable tourist destination,” said Costa Rican Minister of Tourism, Allan Flores. (EFE)
Credits to: The Costa Rica News Site (TCRN)
So as you can see, 4CRV has already moved in this direction and it now offers tons of eco-friendly vacations packages in Costa Rica so that the ecological tourism gets better and improves Costa Rica in the long run.
The P3, organized by the National Chamber of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism (CANAECO), will discuss key issues on green economies, sustainable destinations, national branding, and sustainable marketing.
CANAECO President, Glenn Jampol, told the press that the P3 conference objective is to bring experts together from these countries to demonstrate the successful model of sustainable tourism that Costa Rica has created.
The activity includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and on-site visits to several projects so that participants can see how companies apply sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.
The conference will feature American journalist Elizabeth Becker, the Brazilian specialist in sustainable business, Julio Bin, researcher and contributor to the development of community tourism projects in Bhutan, Damcho Rinzin, and Kenyan ecotourism expert, Judy Kepher-Gona, among others.
The P3 also will also have the participation of John Densmore of “The Doors” along with representatives from countries such as Peru, Australia, Norway, China, and the Netherlands.
“We have an opportunity through the international conference to position Costa Rica as a premier sustainable tourist destination,” said Costa Rican Minister of Tourism, Allan Flores. (EFE)
Credits to: The Costa Rica News Site (TCRN)
So as you can see, 4CRV has already moved in this direction and it now offers tons of eco-friendly vacations packages in Costa Rica so that the ecological tourism gets better and improves Costa Rica in the long run.
Costa Rica Aims to be the first carbon neutral country
"Because Costa Rica is so biologically intense, we recognize that we have a special responsibility," said Dobles, the environment minister.
Dobles predicts that greener business practices will ultimately lead to a greener bottom line, especially in the tourism industry.
"We have an opportunity to become the first carbon-neutral tourist destination," he said. "We want Costa Rica to be a guilt-free location to visit, and that will be good for business."
Some tourist areas of Costa Rica, particularly the northwest Guanacaste region, have suffered from overdevelopment in recent years (see a map of Costa Rica).
Many of the sleepy fishing villages that once dotted the country's Pacific coast have turned into sprawling beach resorts catering to thousands of mostly American tourists.
There are now three dozen nonstop flights from the United States to Guanacaste's provincial capital, Liberia.
Now the region is advertising itself as the next eco-friendly luxury hot spot, and several dozen high-end hotel chains are planning green resorts along the coast.
Ronald Sanabria, director of the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program in Costa Rica, says the country's carbon-neutral pledge is "courageous and forward-thinking."
"We have high hopes for this commitment."
But some observers worry that development is moving too fast for the region's infrastructure to handle and that regulations are not always followed.
"The current government knows mistakes were made in Guanacaste," said Jonathan Tourtellot, director of the National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations. (National Geographic News is part of the National Geographic Society.)
Many tourism companies have now begun measuring their carbon output and offsetting them through reforestation projects.
Oil Exploration
In addition to tourist development, deforestation has also taken a toll throughout the mountainous country, but the government has cracked down hard on illegal logging in recent years.
"Deforestation has halted mostly, or it is very low," said Ramirez, of Conservation International.
"The population has a stronger environmental awareness level than before."
As part of its quest for carbon neutrality, Costa Rica's government compensates landowners for planting and protecting trees on their property, since the trees help capture carbon, protect watersheds, and preserve scenic beauty.
The decade-old program is funded through a 3.5 percent tax on gasoline and pays about U.S. $15 million a year to around 8,000 property owners.
More than six million new trees were planted last year, surpassing a government target by more than a million trees, according to officials.
This year Costa Rica plans to plant seven million more, "almost two new trees for every person in the country," said Dobles, the environment minister.
The Costa Rican government also recently signed an agreement with the United States that results in one of the largest "debt-for-nature" swaps in history.
According to the agreement, the United States will forgive U.S. $26 million of Costa Rica's debt, freeing up that money for Costa Rica to invest in tropical forest conservation programs over the next 16 years.
(Read related story: "U.S. Forgives Multimillion-Dollar Debt to Aid Guatemala Forests" [October 10, 2006].)
Is "Carbon Neutral" a Cheat?
Some critics have dismissed carbon neutrality pledges such as Costa Rica's as publicity stunts, arguing that the only way to achieve climate neutrality is to eliminate greenhouse-gas emissions completely.
The Costa Rican government has also come under strong criticism recently for its plans to begin exploring for oil in its territorial waters.
This is an apparent reversal of a 2002 declaration by then-President Abel Pacheco that Costa Rica would become an environmental leader and not a "petroleum or mining enclave."
"There's a lack of strong political will to stop oil exploration in the country," said Ramirez, of Conservation International.
"Current governmental officials … are under extreme pressure to explore oil-dependent mechanisms. The general population could go back to the old days where oil-dependent energy was not seen as a problem."
For his part, Dobles says that increasing demand for energy means Costa Rica needs oil in the short term before more environmentally friendly fuels become readily available.
Unless it discovers oil at home, Dobles said, Costa Rica will be forced to import heavy crude from Venezuela that is expensive to refine and generates more pollution than lighter grades of oil.
"If we had hydrogen as a source today, we'd go for hydrogen," he said. "But we don't."
Credits go to National Geographic for this fantastic review of Costa Rica.
Dobles predicts that greener business practices will ultimately lead to a greener bottom line, especially in the tourism industry.
"We have an opportunity to become the first carbon-neutral tourist destination," he said. "We want Costa Rica to be a guilt-free location to visit, and that will be good for business."
Some tourist areas of Costa Rica, particularly the northwest Guanacaste region, have suffered from overdevelopment in recent years (see a map of Costa Rica).
Many of the sleepy fishing villages that once dotted the country's Pacific coast have turned into sprawling beach resorts catering to thousands of mostly American tourists.
There are now three dozen nonstop flights from the United States to Guanacaste's provincial capital, Liberia.
Now the region is advertising itself as the next eco-friendly luxury hot spot, and several dozen high-end hotel chains are planning green resorts along the coast.
Ronald Sanabria, director of the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable tourism program in Costa Rica, says the country's carbon-neutral pledge is "courageous and forward-thinking."
"We have high hopes for this commitment."
But some observers worry that development is moving too fast for the region's infrastructure to handle and that regulations are not always followed.
"The current government knows mistakes were made in Guanacaste," said Jonathan Tourtellot, director of the National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations. (National Geographic News is part of the National Geographic Society.)
Many tourism companies have now begun measuring their carbon output and offsetting them through reforestation projects.
Oil Exploration
In addition to tourist development, deforestation has also taken a toll throughout the mountainous country, but the government has cracked down hard on illegal logging in recent years.
"Deforestation has halted mostly, or it is very low," said Ramirez, of Conservation International.
"The population has a stronger environmental awareness level than before."
As part of its quest for carbon neutrality, Costa Rica's government compensates landowners for planting and protecting trees on their property, since the trees help capture carbon, protect watersheds, and preserve scenic beauty.
The decade-old program is funded through a 3.5 percent tax on gasoline and pays about U.S. $15 million a year to around 8,000 property owners.
More than six million new trees were planted last year, surpassing a government target by more than a million trees, according to officials.
This year Costa Rica plans to plant seven million more, "almost two new trees for every person in the country," said Dobles, the environment minister.
The Costa Rican government also recently signed an agreement with the United States that results in one of the largest "debt-for-nature" swaps in history.
According to the agreement, the United States will forgive U.S. $26 million of Costa Rica's debt, freeing up that money for Costa Rica to invest in tropical forest conservation programs over the next 16 years.
(Read related story: "U.S. Forgives Multimillion-Dollar Debt to Aid Guatemala Forests" [October 10, 2006].)
Is "Carbon Neutral" a Cheat?
Some critics have dismissed carbon neutrality pledges such as Costa Rica's as publicity stunts, arguing that the only way to achieve climate neutrality is to eliminate greenhouse-gas emissions completely.
The Costa Rican government has also come under strong criticism recently for its plans to begin exploring for oil in its territorial waters.
This is an apparent reversal of a 2002 declaration by then-President Abel Pacheco that Costa Rica would become an environmental leader and not a "petroleum or mining enclave."
"There's a lack of strong political will to stop oil exploration in the country," said Ramirez, of Conservation International.
"Current governmental officials … are under extreme pressure to explore oil-dependent mechanisms. The general population could go back to the old days where oil-dependent energy was not seen as a problem."
For his part, Dobles says that increasing demand for energy means Costa Rica needs oil in the short term before more environmentally friendly fuels become readily available.
Unless it discovers oil at home, Dobles said, Costa Rica will be forced to import heavy crude from Venezuela that is expensive to refine and generates more pollution than lighter grades of oil.
"If we had hydrogen as a source today, we'd go for hydrogen," he said. "But we don't."
Credits go to National Geographic for this fantastic review of Costa Rica.