Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A high rating from a legitimate sustainability index. In Costa Rica, the government-sanc-
tioned Certificado para la Sostenibilidad Turística (CST;
www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr
)
offers a 'five-leaf' rating system. Factors considered by the CST include physical-biologic-
al parameters, infrastructure and services, and socioeconomic environment, including in-
teraction with local communities. Its website has a complete directory.
Partnership with environmental conservation programs, education initiatives or regional or
local organizations that work on solving environmental problems.
Grassroots connections: sourcing a majority of employees from the local population, asso-
ciating with locally owned businesses, providing places where local handicrafts can be dis-
played for sale, serving foods that support local markets, and using local materials and
products in order to maintain the health of the local economy.
Wind turbines, Guanacaste province
KRYSSIA CAMPOS / GETTY IMAGES ©
