Costa Rica Research Paper

The negative effects of tourism in Costa Rica

While people often glamorize tourism, underneath it can introduce bad qualities to the country and destroy culture. Tourism does provide jobs for the people in Costa Rica which provides an income for the country as a whole, as well as, small business owners in selling souvenirs, teaching surf lessons and guiding tours. This is especially good for the people who are under qualified and might otherwise not have a proper work place. On the downside tourists are often not content with the things provided and sometimes bring their own bad habits into the country. Tourism also allows the people of Costa Rica to share their culture and country with others. Though tourists can also have trouble learning

But at the same time tourism can make a large impact in affecting the country’s landscapes and habitats in a negative way. So as a whole tourism sounds as if it could benefit the country by spreading wealth, and by getting a chance to learn the ways of the Costa Rican people and explore their country. The problem is that while we think we are doing good for the country we do not realize the negative effects on the country’s economy, society and ecology.

Tourism negatively affects Costa Rica’s economy by raising the cost of living as well as introducing negative and illegal jobs. The people who own the large grocery stores in Costa Rica have noticed the willingness the North American people have towards paying for expensive groceries. Unlike other central American countries that sell their traditional cheaper food, Costa Rica has taken to importing foods and raising their prices. They know that the tourists will pay the same amount for food that they do in their own countries and will even pay a little more for treats

From the pressure of tourism, the people of Costa Rica are losing their culture and making their country and people look a certain way. The people of Costa Rica are working so hard in getting tourists and providing them what they feel is expected they are starting to lose their own unique and different culture. It can be seen that in a few of the places in Costa Rica the people have stopped celebrating holidays in the more traditional way, and have now started picking up some of the ways people celebrate them in other countries. Along with the holidays, food and clothing and even the activities, are starting to change. Instead of tourists exploring the country, meeting new people and adapting to the culture; the people of Costa Rica have provided tourists with fancy resorts, regular internet, and activities like: renting jet skis, tubing and more. This changes the overall image of Costa Rica and how people see it. The people of Costa Rica also get effected by tourism. Because of tourism some of the people of Cost Rica have been pushed into doing certain things to get the attention and business of tourists. As mentioned before some of the people of Costa Rica have started advertising and participating in illegal businesses. Some of the people of Costa Rica have also been known to be overly friendly in an attempt, and sometimes successful attempt, to scam tourists. They will get tourists to pay more