Costa Rica

embarked on implementing ecotourism programs for two primary

reasons:  first, because tourism is one of the fastest growing

sectors of many economies in Latin America and because of its

ability to generate needed foreign exchangeþwhich is critical for

developing countries.  Second, ecotourism has been argued to be a

win-win situation for local inhabitants, the environment, as well

as the economy in general as the country moves toward achieving

sustainable development.