Santa Juana Community-Based Rural Tourism Program

According to The Code.org, a non profit organization that promotes responsible tourism, in order to maximize economic, social and environmental benefits, while minimizing the impact to destinations, Responsible Tourism is tourism “that creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit”.

One of the most important values of sustainable or responsible tourism is the difference made when a tourist choses a destination and/or a company that will both guarantee their enjoyment and also benefit the local community and environment.  A dollar spent in this kind of destination will go farther.

When Greentique started their tour operation and conservation programs in Santa Juana over a decade ago, the local primary school had just one student that semester. Today, with the increase or growth of families, the student body has grown to 6 students.  That is less family migrating to find jobs.

At the same time that stable employment has been created and social benefits increased, so has the efforts to protect the biodiversity of the region of Fila Chonta as a showcase for eco-tourism. Trees have been protected and pastures re-forested with a Tree Adoption program.  A guest donation program for school supplies, and funds to repair school infrastructure and provide needed books and supplies for classroom learning tools, has been very successful.

We have found that the Greentique community programs in Santa Juana, as well as in other local communities where Greentique Hotel and Greentique Tours operate in Costa Rica, that by generating local employment, as well as supporting local schools and awareness of sustainable values, hotel management has won significant support by the very same employees whose own children are benefiting from these ongoing efforts.

Since opening the Santa Juana Lodge in November of 2014, the operation, run by community members, has given guests from around the world the opportunity to interact with their local hosts. When one reads all these guest reviews, it’s quite encouraging to see that Rural Tourism brings out the best in everyone who experiences the exceptional spirit of Costa Rican hospitality and the pride of families growing in many ways, including responsible initiatives in Rural Tourism conserving both the culture and the biodiversity of Costa Rica for generations to come.