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Green Travel in Costa Rica
At Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, we are 100% committed to the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST). This complete, and rigorous, certification system administered by the Costa Rican ministry of tourism awards hotels “leaves” on a scale of one to five based on their sustainability achievements (much like the Mobile star rating which evaluates hotel services). The CST bases its judgments on four factors:
1. Biological-physical:
How does a property impact and/or protect its surrounding environment?
2. Services and Infrastructure:
How do the property’s operations (including product use and disposal, water and energy management, etc.) affect the environment?;
3. Social - Economic environment: What impact does the property have on nearby communities to promote/provide education to its staff and community and to work with community service providers?
4. External client: How does the property promote and teach responsible tourism with guests who visit?
Many people have asked us why we feel the need to be “certified” as a green hotel when we are already implementing a number of sustainability practices. In response to this question, we point out that in the past ten years, the concept of “ecotourism”, going “green” and building “sustainably” in the tourism industry has exploded; especially in Costa Rica, where a number of rich natural sites are still in place, these terms are common place, appearing in practically every hotel, restaurant, tour operator’s office and street corner.
Finding truly “sustainable” tourism operations, however, has proven to be extremely difficult for consumers with the advent of “green washing”: the practice of using terms such as “ecotourism” or “green” simply as a marketing ploy to attract a more socially and environmentally conscious customers—and not necessarily as an operational plan or commitment. How, then, are customers supposed to know the difference between a hotel that is truly sustainable, making substantial contributions to the environment and surrounding community, and one that simply says that it is “green” for the sake of attracting customers?
And thats when a certification such as the CST comes in handy. Much like the certified “organic” seal in produce, the CST assures that tourism operators are being true to what they say. Currently, the CST is not mandatory for all properties in Costa Rica. For this reason, it is imperative that the consumer takes an active role in looking for properties that are indeed participating in the certification process. By supporting organizations that are CST certified, you not only know where your money is being spent, but are showing your support for fair, honest and, above all, truly sustainable business practices.
For more information on Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality and our certification system, visit www.cayugaonline.com.
