The First International Planet, People, Peace Conference will take place at the Ramada Plaza Herradura Hotel, Oct. 27 to 29. Practitioners of sustainable tourism will be on hand to discuss the ways that tourism can continue to positively impact the planet and its people. Presenters will include Bruce Poon Tip, CEO, G.A.P. Adventures; Dorinda Elliott, deputy editor of Conde Nast Traveler; Richard Bangs from Adventures with Purpose; and Rob Holmes, founder and president of Green Living Project, who will talk about the role the media plays in helping to promote experiential and sustainable travel and to highlight some successful environmental and social projects in Latin America.
"Our goal was to bring together some of the top sustainable tourism thinkers to Costa Rica, to not only showcase what we have done as a country but to explore and celebrate best practices from around the world," said Glenn Jampol, president of National Chamber of Ecotourism (CANAECO), one of the promoters of the event. "I am confident that what we accomplish this week will establish a solid platform for Planet, People, Peace in 2011."
Costa Rica has long been considered a pioneer in environmental conservation since the creation of its National Parks System in 1977. By declaring 26 percent of its land as protected territory, Costa Rica has been able to develop one of the most intense biodiverse places on Earth which, today, accounts for approximately 5 percent of the Earth's flora and fauna. In 1997, as a response to its booming tourism, the Costa Rica Tourist Board designed the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program to assure a healthy growth of its tourism offering without taking away from its main attraction, its environmental beauty. Today, the CST program is considered to be one of the strictest certification programs in the world and includes more than 130 operators and growing.
Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, and bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea and the west by the Pacific Ocean. It has given priority to the conservation of its natural resources, protecting 26 percent of its national territory through the creation of National Parks and other natural areas. The Costa Rica Tourist Board, created in 1955, is an autonomous institution of the State, responsible for regulating the tourism activity in Costa Rica and promoting Costa Rica's tourism attractions and destinations both at a national and international level. The Costa Rica Tourist Board creates tourism norms, regulations, incentives and grants the tourist declaratory for Costa Rica's hotels, travel agencies, rental cars and other tourism organization and service provider. For general travel or tourism information about Costa Rica, contact the Costa Rica Tourist Board at 866-267-8274 or visit www.visitcostarica.com.
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