Creation of Tourist Routes and Guidelines of Action in the Communities Subject to Resettlement, Hydroelectric the Diquis Project, as a Proposal of Implementation, Southern, Costa Rica

Juan Fernando Mendoza Ledezma^*

Vice Presidency of research and internationalization, University Corporation of Meta, Villavicencio, Colombia

Abstract

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) implements the project hydroelectric El Diquís (PHED) which will take place between the cantons of Buenos Aires, Osa, and Pérez Zeledón, located in the southern zone of Costa Rica, with the objective of ensuring availability of electrical energy, renewable and clean to meet electricity demand in the country. The elaboration of the guidelines of action focused on defining the area's present and potential attractions tourist level as a development alternative to resettlement. The objective of the guidelines was to prioritize tourist scenarios and use of resources according to previously identified human capabilities that allowed for a temporary projection step on how could be the development of the activities. Finally, they arose in the socialization of findings and a panel of experts where the objective was to evaluate it and enrich it. Thus, once completed the diagnosis, and considering the integration of several appreciations for a major approach to the understanding of reality and possible access to different dimensions of the same, allowed address and finally define the potential adoption of tourism based on the identified scenarios of the communities under study subject to the process of resettlement.

Keywords

Tourism, Tourist Scenes, Communities, Guidelines, Hydroelectric Project

Received: July 2, 2015
Accepted: July 20, 2015
Published online: August 6, 2015

@ 2015 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

1. Introduction

"Costa Rica, due to its geographical location has a humid tropical climate and precipitation between the 1300 and 7500 mm a year, which positions the country as one of the largest supply of fresh water in the world" (Executive, 2005). Situation which is intended to take advantage of to meet the electricity demand of the country each year is on the rise, so the Costarican Institute of electricity (ICE) develops the project hydroelectric El Diquís (PHED) which will take place between the cantons of Buenos Aires and Osa, Perez Zeledon, located in the southern zone of Costa Rica, with the objective of ensuring the availability of electric power renewable and clean to meet electricity demand in the country.

Within the activities developed by the PHED, is disclosure of information to the communities linked to the project both directly and indirectly. One of the benefits of the project is the contribution to the development of the southern part of Costa Rica, one of the poorest in the country and which has been characterized by the low profitability of productive activities, weak organizational capacity and land tenure problems, as it is the case of agriculture and livestock with a 11.5% displays as it is the lowest percentage of participation of persons with respect to trade and repair with a 20%; indicating the decrease in relative importance and absolute values with respect to the 2008 (around 6600 and 10700 people less respectively) (ICE 2009).

In addition, that these communities are located in one of the areas with the highest poverty rates in the country, given the facts found by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses - INEC to Costa Rica where there is a total of 1,103.522 poor people, of which 792,491 are not in extreme poverty and 311.031 if they are not at the country level. In the case of the Brunca Region which belongs to the 176.096 study area are "non-poor", however 71.933 are "not extreme poverty" and in "extreme poverty" 43.831 (INEC 2010).

Thus, it is important to discuss the options of current and potential tourist scenarios related to the strengthening of tourism, which makes it necessary to assess the probability of adoption of this productive activity as an alternative to the long term (considering that it should give priority to the resettlement of families in the new places where it will be resettled, whereas food sustainability in the first instance) , through the participatory analysis on the different scenarios of sustainable management at the level of landscape, culture, cosmovision, gastronomy, tradition, history and agricultural activities, as an alternative to improve the conditions of the region.

Therefore the possibility of tourism which is for communities as a possible long-term development option makes it necessary to consider in the process of identification, the real possibility of adopting this alternative through the analysis of the area, carrying out a participatory diagnosis, including the identification of key actors, institutions and their contribution to the different situations encountered.

2. Materials and Methods

Location of the study

The study was conducted in the southern zone of Costa Rica between the canton of Buenos Aires, Osa and Pérez Zeledón place where ICE is taking the environmental impact study to develop the PHED, which will flood approximately a total of 6.815 hectares. For this reason, the research was conducted in the area of reservoir taking into account the communities affected by this. For reasons of location is taken as reference the Canton of Buenos Aires, belonging to Puntarenas site of further development of the project activities, geographically located between the coordinates 09° 05'20 ' North latitude and 83 ° 16'07 "West longitude; given that there are movements to the communities involved due to the future reservoir (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Study area.

Source: PHED-relocation-GIS unit 2011.

The study was carried out in 3 stages, divided in the following way: 1) compilation of secondary data 2) collecting primary information (field work), 3) triangulation and analysis of information.

In order to obtain better knowledge of the territory and start an approximation of the scope of the investigation, proceeded to carry out a review of literature, which is to gather information from books, thesis, scientific journals, seminars, conferences, projects, gray and other literature available literature pertaining to economic, social and environmental aspects of the timely development of the PHED area community as the study of livelihood-related tourist activities, actual or potential and their interrelationships, their life strategies, institutional environment, potential and limitations of the community regarding the implementation of the rural tourism as alternative development activity.

In the same way were carried out visits to the place of research, with the aim of observing the conditions and have a better perspective of the situation of the communities and current status of the development of the project; In addition to the consultation of data important by key informants as the PHED resettlement unit and members of the communities.

Thus, having knowledge of the actors influencing the decision-making process, was to achieve the involvement of these, skewed towards the potential for change of traditional productive activity to the adoption of the tourism as an alternative to income and development.

Drafting action guidelines: completed the diagnosis, and considering the integration of several appreciations for a major approach to the understanding of reality and possible access to different dimensions of the same, were designed lines of action for the sector, based on the major fronts of action (access to the tourist market, linked to the sector, advocacy, strategic alliances (among others); It allowed address and finally define the potential adoption of tourism based on the identified scenarios.

The elaboration of the guidelines of action focused on defining the present and potential attractions of the area. The objective of the guidelines was to prioritize tourist scenarios and use of resources according to previously identified human capabilities that allowed for a temporary projection step on how communities present in the area of implementation of the hydroelectric project could be the development of the activities. Finally, they arose in the socialization of findings and a panel of experts where the objective was to evaluate it and enrich it.

The elaboration of the guidelines of action focused on defining the present and potential attractions of the PHED. The objective of the guidelines was to prioritize tourist scenarios and use of resources according to previously identified human capabilities that allowed for a temporary projection step on how could be the development of the activities. Finally, they arose in the socialization of findings and a panel of experts where the objective was to evaluate it and enrich it.

Socialization of finds: contributed to the participation of the communities, the PHED and CATIE experts table, as well as capacity building with the aim of providing solutions to problems or common situations; in the case of the PHED, action guidelines be socialized so as to achieve local development based on the importance of the actors and the interactions of these charge to articulate collective proposals for adaptation, one of them being the case of the tourism as an alternative in the future.

For the realization of the socialization of findings was the active participation of local stakeholders such as communities and the PHED. This meant to include actors affected and concerning their different points of view, so that the exchange of views was achieved through open, flexible and effective forums for communication, emphasizing the relationship between communities and executor of the project.

In this way, managed to obtain the views of stakeholders and went out in search of connections with organizations, associations, companies, etc. having practices on the issue, as it was convenient (GTZ, 2007).

3. Results and Discussion

The research was conducted in the specific area of the project, in which are located the 10 communities that should be resettled for the future construction of the reservoir and who becomes a brief description from the secondary information in the various studies conducted by the PHED, such as ethnographies, rapid social studies , Socio-political mapping, workshops of Local development, work plans of liaison committees, processes of Local development on resettlement (diagnostic phase); Biophysical characterization and economic analysis of orchards home (whirlpool and plots) and forms used in the Census 2010 - 2011.

Action guidelines

Based on the information gathered through visits and consultations to the communities located in the hydroelectric project area, which served to learn more about each community with regard to interests and holdings in tourism issues; and its subsequent analysis that facilitated the identification of the determining variables, which helped define the possible scenarios of tourism according to the conditions of each community; so are defined in more detail who are interested residents to develop tourism activities; allowing preparing guidelines for action.

Thus, once completed the diagnosis, and considering the integration of several appreciations for a major approach to the understanding of reality and possible access to different dimensions of the same, allowed address and finally define the potential adoption of tourism based on the identified scenarios of the communities under study subject to the process of resettlement.

The elaboration of the guidelines of action focused on defining the present and potential attractions of the area, the aim of these was to prioritize tourist scenarios and use of resources according to previously identified human capabilities that allowed for a temporary projection step on how could be the development of the activities. Finally, arose in the socialization of findings and a panel of experts where the objective was to evaluate it and enrich it.

The guidelines then faced and its consolidation depend on communities and the PHED to take into account the strategy that arises in the National Plan for sustainable tourism of Costa Rica 2010-2016, which seeks to be cheaper, different and more specialized; development-level consolidate current demand and supply, attract new resources with the same tourists, create new offer for new tourists, expand supply and demand; and at the level of growth, grow more and better (ICT 2010).

For the specific case of the communities in the study area, aims to achieve the vision in the following manner:

The development of tourism in the communities subject to resettlement for the construction of the PHED will have a component of tourist potential of the area-based development, offering variety and quality of services enabling tourists to enjoy a pleasant travel experience, always bearing in mind best practices, respect for the environment and welfare of the people.

To meet the goal, it is necessary to develop processes such as:

• Develop capacities at the local,

• Orderly growth as a community focused on the creation of tourist places,

• Diversification of the tourism offer profits maximizing the use of the variety of natural and cultural tourist attractions,

• Implement the creation of links between public and private companies, and

• Development of at least one route or thematic circuit that combines the different resources in the area.

• To achieve the objectives referred to above, it is key to build two components which are key areas of intervention.

COMPONENT 1. Development of the structure: where taken into account the current conditions of the site and the potential of this tourist space. Therefore, the studied communities must be integrated as part of its strategy the following components, where according to the national tourism Plan, some of those listed below are the basis of the image of tourist destination of Costa Rica in which it will continue building the future (ICT 2010):

Nature: Protection of ecosystems and their natural resources, promote environmental education at all levels, especially in the child population, continuing with scientific research.

Water: Use of the conditions of the construction of the Central America's largest dam and the mirror of water generated by the reservoir, according to studies by use of the reservoir.

Landscape: Panoramic views with the construction of the dam and the new location of the communities, which invite you to contemplation, rest and enjoyment.

Authenticity: Local communities identified and rooted in some aspects related to farming practices.

History: Indigenous ethnic and archaeological wealth in the area that retains some of its traditions, in addition to experience daily and related to all that implies for the communities the resettlement process.

Crafts: Taking advantage of the development of handicraft and non-indigenous population.

According to the above, Buenos Aires would be the center of tourism development that serves as support and distribution for the use of the attractions of the surrounding communities to the canton. Therefore, the structure proposed is made from two elements:

A differentiation of image: strategic local development must be based on the use and exploitation of the conditions and potentials of the place, so that promote new products and thus achieve a differentiation tourist strategically using resources such as the rich natural, historical, cultural, among others.

In the Table 1 is a summary of the main elements of tourist differentiation in the area.

Table 1. Elements of tourist communities differentiation.

According to the table above communities have rural tourism potential, but its attractions are considered low-priority for tourists, this is due to the ignorance and lack of publicity of the appeal, which means that they are considered less competitive condition, despite the potential that exists.

Therefore, the development strategy of tourism must be based according to the deadlines in which to develop any of the above activities as attractive tourist potential. These deadlines are defined according to the current state of local capacities for those interested in carry out both the attractions, and in addition a segmentation according to the priority depending on the market and facilities by villagers in implementing them, is thus establishing an order as the starting point of the attractions in each community.

Therefore efforts to be carried out, both the communities and the PHED for the development of tourism, in particular to the intervention measures (training, projects, incentives, works, workshops, programs, etc.) operators and chambers of tourism, private institutions must be made through agreements with specialists in education and training linked to tourism, as well as the tour and/or State to serve as accompaniment, control and improvement of the initiative. It is as well as in Figure 2 the attractions are presented in general according to deadlines that could be developed.

Figure 2. Timelines implementation of tourist activities from phase execution PHED.

The time limits referred to above for each of the types of tourism are defined taking into account all the data collected during the research process (Community requirements, interests, inhabitants features, among others) and State of the PHED which depends on the moment of the completion of the study of environmental impact (EsIA).

Development of complementarity: taking advantage of differentiation of image and the potential use of space tourism is promoting the creation of routes of tourism among the communities.

In addition to the above mentioned characteristics, and after thorough analysis through field work carried out by the interior of the communities under study, subject to the process of resettlement for the construction of the PHED, proceeded to design, consistent with the theme chosen, the layout of the tourist routes as a differentiation of services option In addition to serve as a comprehensive system strengthening tourism, allowing empower communities within the area of influence.

4. Tourism Routes Were Established in the Following Manner

In addition to the above mentioned characteristics, and after thorough analysis through field work carried out by the interior of the communities under study, subject to the process of resettlement for the construction of the PHED, proceeded to design, consistent with the theme chosen, the layout of the tourist routes as a differentiation of services option In addition to serve as a comprehensive system strengthening tourism, allowing empower communities within the area of influence.

4.1. Agricultural and Livestock Route

Speaking of the agricultural and cattle route for the inhabitants of the communities it is synonymous with tradition and history, these being its main productive activities.

The route would begin in Buenos Aires until the entrance to Térraba a distance of 19 kilometers with a time of 10 minutes, where visitors can take advantage of the trip to visit the Térraba indigenous reservation (point # 1) and know a little more of their customs as parties, handicrafts and artistic expressions, myths, beliefs and legends, being this characteristic by its diversity of communities reserve making it a territory of great diversity.

Figure 3. Agricultural and livestock tour.

Source: Modified from www.googlemaps.com

Developed by: Juan Fernando Mendoza Ledezma

Subsequently, it would be way to communities that have greatest potential both agricultural and livestock, such as batteries and hills via a secondary road of ballast, which is predominantly characterized by mountainous terrain. According to this, the route from Térraba to batteries which along the way other communities are located, has a duration of one hour via the current, however should be aware that with the construction of the PHED will continue with the improvement of the way which would decrease the time of arrival in the communities. In the community of batteries as point # 2 of visit, where the inhabitants would teach how the agricultural process of the different crops (rice, corn, tobacco, among others), both at the level of planting, harvest, use, preparation of products for commercialization, as well as the marketing of them.

Added to this, batteries account with other potential tourist level that could benefit with the visit of tourists, for example, being located in their new resettlement site which features viewpoints towards the dam generated peace and taking advantage of the scenic beauty. In addition, archaeological wealth that have is adequate to generate another tourist route, which makes it thanks to the mixture of attractive point potential of tourism development.

Subsequently, continues with the tourist route to point # 3 hills by the same type of road, at a distance of 1 hour 10 minutes approximately the current route, being one of the communities with more development within the study group, in which you could enjoy livestock potential with which they have, carrying out activities such as horseback riding by the community in its upper parts serving as lookouts toward the reservoir.

In addition, take the ring of bulls in which there are livestock activities which assist people from different parts of the area once a year and consume the typical foods that offer locals, enjoying the rural atmosphere, sharing experiences and learning from the customs with the locals.

Communities can be seen in Figure 3 to visit each one of the three points of the tourist route.

4.2. Archaeological Route and Scenic Beauty

This route starts from Buenos Aires, passing through Térraba, continuing to batteries, being the same route of the route of agricultural and livestock. Subsequently arriving at point # 1 of visit the archaeological richness with the account the place, can leverage what represents an approach by visitors to the cultural history of the area. Specifically the community of batteries has a variety of spheres which are an essential part of the Costa Rican archaeology and are considered unique in the world due to its size, perfection and unrelated to natural models (Fonseca 1992) abstraction. In addition to the above, currently the inhabitants of batteries has the idea in the long run, with the support of the PHED when they are located on the new resettlement site, to create a museum that allows you to display some of the spheres and other objects of archaeological value present in the community.

Figure 4. Scenic beauty and archaeological tourist route.

Source: Modified from www.googlemaps.com

Developed by: Juan Fernando Mendoza Ledezma

Continuing with the tour heading to point # 2 of visit, which makes part of the archaeological route and scenic beauty, it consists in starting from battery to the community of the comic, which is 45 minutes approximately by the current route with a distance of 8 km. In the community of the drawn you can visit the "petroglyph La drawn" which preserved by being a stone engraved with drawings and figures made by indigenous ancestors, which with the support of the PHED was organized so that this had a structure preservation and exhibition. Other activities to be carried out in the community are walks towards the points of viewpoints towards the reservoir since it is one of the sites with the best options to appreciate the scenic beauty of the area. And depending on the time of year that you visit, you can be part of the annual fair held the community that dances and typical food tasting are held.

4.3. Adventure and Nature Path

Buenos Aires as point of support and the city with further development regarding the communities subject to the process of resettlement for the construction of the PHED, it is the center of starting each of the routes, which means that to get to enjoy adventure and tourism route follow the same road mentioned in the previous routes i.e., starting from Buenos Aires to the junction of Térraba (point # 1), subsequently will continue along the current path during approximately for 1 hour to the community of La ink (point # 2), since this is one of the places with the largest presence of natural attractions both fauna and flora.

Therefore, the activities that could be developed would walks to the interior of the forest for observation of biodiversity, use of rivers and waterfalls to implement extreme tourism. Similarly, the ink has rich culture that allows the tourist to get to know a little more about the different uses of the local Palm for the construction of housing typical ranches; In addition to the use of medicinal plants as one of the aspects of the rich heritage that characterize it. Finally, as most of the other communities you can use viewpoints towards the dam and general environment to appreciate the natural richness of the place.

At figure 5 displayed below you will appreciate the location of tourist spots and route in general.

Figure 5. Tour of adventure and nature.

Source: Modified from www.googlemaps.com

Developed by: Juan Fernando Mendoza Ledezma

4.4. Religious and Cultural Route

Following the same initial tour of the former routes, passing through Térraba (point # 1) you can reach the Hills Community (point # 2) e start the tour; but it is also possible to visit her coming along the waterfront by entering through a secondary before reaching North Palmar traveling northbound.

In the community of hills you can visit the Catholic Church, from which you can meet and participate on the religious beliefs of the inhabitants.

Continuing the journey to the # 3 point of the route, it starts from hills to La Gloria, community that has various attractions within which is the strong religious belief of its inhabitants and that despite not having a church of similar hills infrastructure enables to learn and participate on their customs to visitors; as it is the devotion to the Virgin of the Angels. Being in the community of La Gloria is possible to also see the process of local sugar cane developed at the family level by one of the best-known families as founding and knowledgeable of the historical community background, in addition to practicing fishing activities, visits to the nearby pond to new resettlement site, taste the typical local meals and of course take advantage of the wonderful viewpoints towards the reservoir and the environment options.

As you can see in Figure 6, these would be the tourist routes.

Figure 6. Religious and cultural tour.

Source: Modified from www.googlemaps.com

Developed by: Juan Fernando Mendoza Ledezma

4.5. Ruta Interamericana Road

Create this route as a proposal like the previous ones, taking advantage of the geographical proximity of two of this communities in comparison with the other main. Within this group is Ceibo and plots, communities that have some potential for tourism and to which it can be accessed from different points, whether from Buenos Aires along 20 minutes during approximately five kilometers towards in Perez Zeledon to reach the community of Ceibo and 11 km to reach plots in your new website located at nearby Rancho Coco resettlement; either travelling from Perez Zeledon at a distance of 45 km approximately with a close a 39-minute duration.

In this way, Ceibo community (point # 1) is can carry out actions as the knowledge of the activity of the processing of spicy Chile as educational proposal which would allow tourists understand and appreciate the operation; buy crafts from recyclable material made by locals, tasting typical food, besides the opportunity to have good points of vantage points to the reservoir and the new "bridge of the entrance to South", which will be built by the PHED and of which the inhabitants of Ceibo intend to do I use to promote tourism by creating adventure activities as well as the marketing of the activities above.

Continuing the route from Ceibo to plots, with an approximate distance of eight kilometres and seven minutes away, the inhabitants of plots (point # 2) possess skills for the management of nursery, and have different customs such as the use of Palm to develop ranches. Within the new characteristics of plots is the proximity to a man-made Lagoon which was previously used as a tourist attraction, using boats and fishing within it, reason why is shown as an attractive potential for tourism.

Plots would be one of the communities that would not count with viewpoints towards the dam due to its new location, also has few tourist attractions in comparison with other communities, it is important to create links with the community of Ceibo, among whom over the years have had social and productive living neighborly relations joined the closeness between these; that allows them to take advantage of the new bridge applications altogether.

It is important to consider that many villagers Ceibo both plots have worked in enterprises of PINDECO cooperative agricultural and the General R.L (COOPEAGRI), which that have managed and technically experienced pineapple and sugar cane crops respectively; allowing tourist level create educational about the process of these crops tours for tourists to appreciate and understand its operation, e.g. "pineapple tour" or "cane tour", where residents can make use of their knowledge and links to generate tourism and development.

In Figure 7, which is shown below is achieved via inter-American tourism route to observe.

Figure 7. Tourist route Interamerican road.

Source: Modified from www.googlemaps.com

Developed by: Juan Fernando Mendoza Ledezma

It is important to mention that on each of the routes, tourists have a choice of all activities that has a community, i.e., for example on hills not only religious beliefs but also livestock and agricultural traditions. Mentioned this, because it would provide to the tourist information that is relevant so that they have the option to choose according to their interests.

In addition, the tourist receives in each of the communities additional information by the villagers about the entire process of resettlement that were involved, explaining about the location of their former home sites depending on the case, social experiences among inhabitants and with the PHED, change or not of customs and other activities that were generated around this interesting process being this fundamental support link of different committees (CdE) and the participation of the members which are the connection and communication with the PHED as community representatives.

Taking into account the characteristics of the routes, it is important that it strengthen capabilities in such a way that offered better service delivery, thus according to the specialization of each tour is the following program of training (table 2).

Table 2. Needs of training according to tourist routes.

The elaboration and implementation of these potential "Tourism routes" depends in great part of the strengthening of local capacities and the creation of technical capacity, both at the community level, organization and people interested in tourism; that will allow to design and operate the different uses of products and potential tourist, as well as the effective of these marketing, which finally generates value from the use of the theme in different areas and therefore concepts higher levels of productivity, resulting in the initial distribution of potential products as shown in table 3 which give way to the development of "Proposal of tourist paths in communities subject to the process of resettlement".

Table 3. Initial distribution of potential products in communities.

Some raised activities are ideal and optional for them in "All communities" according to the characteristics studied each of them, and current families; therefore are potential activities proposed and exposed to the people according to their interests and prioritization which they granted, the which is important to mention could change in the future or maintained. In the same way, with the creation of the "tourism routes" emphasis according to the greatest potential of each one of the communities.

To complement the tourist activities in what refers to potentially usable theme concepts of tourism by each community subject to the process of resettlement with the construction of the PHED, which were raised in each of the tourist routes, are presented in table 4 by subject, community and their respective potential.

Table 4. Tourism in communities potentially usable theme concepts.

According to Sharpley, quoted by Trejos (2006) if the interest of tourism is to play an effective role in rural development, the long-term financial and technical support is required (Trejos et al 2006). The future development of these products and their activities, which are potentially viable according to the characteristics of each community requires: building local capacity and access to the market through agreements with tour operators specialized in relevant subjects, in addition to the support of public and private organizations.

The aforementioned local capacity building refers to the definition of tourism in the area action guidelines, so as to achieve benefit from the differentiating characteristics of each community or as a whole, as the case may be (ICT 2009). Where the ultimate goal is route towards the design and future operation of products of quality and appropriate to the visiting population.

Therefore, it is necessary to work and create agreements with companies specializing in the subject (tour operators) to ensure a shared vision in the future and thus facilitate the access to the market and marketing of the same channels that allow you to capture the tourist demand. All this management must be accompanied with the support of the public sector and thus, forming alliances with the private entity and of course the inhabitants of the communities, laying down a center of tourist services in such a way.

It is the case of COOPRENA, according to Trejos et to the. (2006), has carried out various training programs in the communities interested in developing rural tourism practices looking for appropriate methodologies according to its terms, for the inhabitants of the rural area, the combination of their daily activities to economic activities of service the customer requires a specialization (Trejos et to the. 2006).

COMPONENT 2. The impetus to a system of integrated management of the destination: this diversity of actors mentioned above are potentially part of the tourist development of the area. This development must be based on the definition of the local strengthening and a management model.

In regards to the management model, it is key to create a working group between the municipal administration, the ministries of environment and Ministry of agriculture and livestock, the Costa Rican Institute of tourism, PHED, development associations and commissions of link allowing joining capabilities and efforts in the development of the "tourism management model".

This joint effort should focus its work in the resolution of community needs based on specific objectives, which are presented in table 5

Table 5. Needs and objectives of the communities of tourism management system.

4.6. General Guidelines to be Followed by the PHED

According to mentioned throughout the diagnosis and identification of tourist potential, then arise as proposed a set of guidelines that if possible the PHED in conjunction with the communities could be developed with the objective of strengthening the tourism in the area.

In concordance with the OMT, quoted by Gallego and Bueno (s.f.) should work in certain aspects, which are essential for good management in the process of strengthening the tourism (Gallego et al. s.f.), also considering some guidelines for communities subject to resettlement process, since they deserve considerations from the point of view of the impact the development, tourism being an option always and when you operate according to the context of the phenomenon according to Cernea (2004), IDB (1990), and discussions with staff of the UR, some of them related to the research consist of:

• Education is considered from the point of view of the tourism training relating to the social role of tourism and better coordination among the inhabitants of the communities, the PHED and educational institutions.

• Tourism must be seen as integrated option within the development strategies and generate sources of employment in order to mitigate the risk of impoverishment.

• Promote improvements and technological acquisitions within communities, in order to reduce the marginalization of the population to resettle.

• Ongoing research and promote the motivation to develop proposals that will contribute to the revival of the economy.

• Promote the union and creation of groups among communities identified in the tourism routes as joint Offers of attractions, supporting actions of restoration of economic, social and cultural networks through tourism; i.e. generate systemic competitiveness.

• In the long term, the growth of tourism competition considered a potential development, providing support in the supply of products and tourist destinations to the communities on the market.

• Assess the importance of the tourism resources for destinations, as well as its diversity in each of the communities.

• Evaluate the importance, both from the private sector and of public action in the tourism sector generating strategic alliances that allow the potential and sustainable development of the activities.

• Planning the tourism sector in the short, medium and long term, as part of one of the potential activities related to the development according to the vision of each community.

• Use the creation of infrastructures that will run through the constructive process of resettlement and seek support in relation to public and private services.

• Manage support from public spending, the Government provides capital needed for various tourism projects, in the case of the PHED benefit from inter-agency relationships through the Diquís Commission (Commission formed by people with decision-making power of some of the major ministries of the Government of Costa Rica in order to facilitate negotiations and partnerships around the PHED given its Decree of national interest).

• The process of relocation can help predict and diagnose risk of displacement and also lead to the resolution of problems; important information to keep in mind about the steps to be followed in the implementation of tourism as a development alternative.

• The process of monitoring the resettlement can be used as tools for the analysis of new projects, such as for example tourism, so that you can make a proper planning and decrease the risks of failure.

• Within communities that decide to implement tourism as a development option, it is important to develop previously before implementing any activity in relation to this, an analysis of cost-benefit of the tourism project.

• It is important for the development of alternatives related to tourism, involving young people in the communities where they are taking the role of promoters of the activity and made contributions such as local guides through the formation of youth groups, which also allows them to be rapporteurs of the historical process of the transformation of the communities.

• Perform the preventive management of potential environmental impacts of tourism, following the structure described below in Figure 8, where you want to propose tourism and the attractions evaluation underway, related impacts.

Figure 8. Methodological structure of the process of environmental impact for tourism.

Source: Own elaboration with information of (Pech et al. 2006)

Table 6. General actions of the PHED and communities to strengthen tourism.

To complement the already mentioned aspects, it is ideal for the PHED, in accompaniment of communities can perform required management as in table 6 to lead what would become the start of the process of implementation of the various programmes focused on tourism.

Finally, according to the projections of Costa Rica is important the PHED, communities and other actors who are involved in the process of 'Tourism development' in the object of study of the research communities, considered as a guide and ideally as steps and standards posed by the ICT for the development of future products, as well as the proposal of tourism for 2016 (ICT 2010). This does not mean that communities need to develop exactly these products, just that within the ICT plans, are some of them that have communities, which can be performed.

These standards are divided into four large groups, where it is explained for the development of tourism products they must be followed with the inclusion of topics such as:

• The continuation of the momentum in the diversification of products and new activities.

• Take the authenticity as a key factor in the offer of products.

• Sustainability as a factor of differentiation, which is consistent with the country's tourist image.

• Improve and promote products constantly (ICT 2010).

Figure 9. Mixture of tourist products to 2016.

Source: (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo 2010)

According to the previous graph, it is clear that communities do not have all posed by ICT products, however, the development of other tourism products to communities that decide to implement tourism activities could offer include within their specifications, currently the potential includes, adventure tourism and ecotourism, both potential identified in the communities. Posed by the ICT potential products, include Rural tourism, this being the most similar according to the conditions encountered in the study site; In addition to the date of the potential products (2016) agrees with the closeness of the beginning of the process of resettlement (2015) and the process of completion of the work of the PHED (2018), periods in which communities can prepare for this possibility of development already strengthened in the new places.

The important thing is that the communities have included potential within the development plans of the ICT, factor that would allow future make arrangements and facilitate the development of tourism in the area, according to the policies of the ICT at the national level.

5. Conclusions

In direct relation to the suitability of the tourist routes, stakeholders interviewed consider that Yes, based so that they are suitable provided part of its associate members or the community may interest in implementing sustainable tourism through the creation of a range of services to the incipient moment. This, associated with the creation of the offer considering the needs of demand within a planning process of sustainable tourism development with territorial approach. I.e., the routes feature attractive natural and cultural; However, so far there is with tourist products developed to the level required by the demand.

If it is true that tourism at present is the main economic activity in Costa Rica, compared to other traditional productive activities generating activity; It also means an increase in the cost of living, since it has an effect of growth in the economy, resulting in an increase in the price of goods and services, which are not accessible for some sectors of the population according to the behavior of the market.

The ecotourism potential of the zone could promote the conservation of natural resources, and various benefits, both direct and indirect resources are generated by having these attractions, also promotes the establishment of different forms of protection of the ecosystems.

The sustainable approach would affect different aspects of the dynamic rural citizen which together will contribute to improve the quality of life of families and communities in time. Proposal should contemplate the provision of comprehensive support services to individual or organized small producers so that they have real opportunities for participation within the tourism business. Hence, the importance of the creation of partnerships and constant innovation by communities with external agents so as to achieve a systemic approach.

There are different opportunities to develop tourism based on the creation of the partnership through a systemic approach with different organizations or institutions in Costa Rica which offer services of training and capacity-building as in the supply of resources of financing for the implementation of ideas in tourism.

Currently there is little certainty about the social reaction of populations to resettle, i.e., there is uncertainty of attitudes to take from the people involved in the process of resettlement in the future, since the process will involve various decision making at the family level, which could change the current interests; resulting in the lack of actors present in the area for the future development of the tourism.

The best way to analyze and assess the possibilities of a territory in terms of the true potential of tourism development, is through an exhaustive and detailed evaluation with active participation of the actors involved, taking into account the supply, demand, the attractiveness of the territory, competition and market trends.

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