Untitled

afting and river cruising opportunities in its
interior. Despite having only 19,730 square miles,
Costa Rica boasts five per cent of the world's
species. Due to these natural advantages, its
ecotourism has soared in the last ten years.
Recent tourism arrival rates have been growing at
over 20 per cent a year, making tourism its leading
industry. Costa Rica has political advantages as
well. Its stable political environment, in contrast to
those in the region, has contributed to this growth.
The country has also taken steps to protect its
natural wonders while utilising them through
tourism for economic development. Over 10 per
cent of the country is covered by national parks,
where development has been kept to a minimum.
Outside the parks, logging and other activities
threaten to erode the natural attractions of the
country. In 1986 the government passed a major
incentives act to encourage tourism infrastructure
development. That began a period of
tremendous growth, well beyond the government's
capacity to monitor. Incentives have been cut back
so that growth can become more orderly. The
government owns none of the tourism infrastructure,
and the single four-year term of the country's
president does not encourage long-term initiatives.
Still, there is recognition that some of the
development, particularly at Playa Tambor resort
on the Pacific Coast, has been ecologically unsound
and in violation of laws.
Currently, the government is embarking on an
ambitious effort to rate the hotels and resorts in
terms of their social and environmental efforts.
Energy-saving efforts, recycling, unobtrusive design
and worker-friendly labour practices are
factors considered. The country is taking the lead
in this effort, with plans well underway to expand
this practice throughout Central America. Costa
Rica has taken several other measures to protect its
touristic riches. Its present challenge is coping with
the pace of arrival growth and the economic
pressures to expand without deliberate consideration
of the impact.
Further reading
Biesanz, M. and Richard, K. �1987) The Costa
Ricans, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. �A
study of the country's politics and culture.)
Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Education 117
Head, S. and Heinzman, R. �1990) Lessons of the
Rainforest, Sierra. �A collection of essays on the
biology, ecology and economy.)
LINDA K. RICHTER, USA
Council on Hotel Restaurant and
Institutional Education
The Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional
Education �CHRIE) was founded in 1946 as a nonprofit
association for schools, colleges and universities
offering programmes in hotel and restaurant
management, food service management and
culinary arts. CHRIE's mission is devoted toward
promoting and facilitating exchanges of information,
ideas, research, products and services related
to education, training and resource development
for hospitality and tourism industry. CHRIE
promotes continuous development of individuals,
education as the driver of quality, excellence in
service, cooperation, coalitions and global networks
and proactive change. It is governed by an elected
board of directors and a professional staff.
Currently the council has two federations and
eighteen chapters around the world. Standing
committees and special interest sections assist the
board in planning and administering programmes
and activities. Internationally, CHRIE advocates
the global hospitality and tourism education
through proactive professional development,
research, coalitions and networks for its members
and constituencies.
Membership in CHRIE is open to everyone
interested in impacting the future of the hospitality
and tourism industry through education and
training. With more than 2,400 members from
North America and worldwide, the organisation
has become a network of hospitality and tourism
educators. The majority of members are from
industry, education and associations. Membership
includes several benefits, ranging from conferences
and meetings to publications. Its two quarterly
journals are Hospitality and Tourism Educator and
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. CHRIE
also publishes a Guide to College Programs in Hospitality
and Tourism, HOSTEUR Magazine and CHRIE
Communique and Member Directory and Resource Guide,