Retos para la Gestión turística sostenible en el Sitio Patrimonio Mundial Binacional Reservas de la Cordillera de Talamanca- PILA (SPMRCT-PILA), sector Costa Rica

Abstract

World Heritage Sites (WHS) can be prized tourism assets. In world heritage sites where adequate tourism planning is not performed, the sites will be faced with threats which could have negative effects on its World Heritage Values. The article aims to establish the main challenges to achieve sustainable tourism management in the Binational World Heritage Site, Reserves of the Cordillera de Talamanca-PILA; Costa Rica sector. The base information of the study is the result of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process executed during the year 2021 in the World Heritage Site (WHS). The work methodology was based on the diagnostic analysis of the 8 protected wild areas that make up the WHS, these are Barbilla National Park, Chirripó National Park, Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve, La Amistad International Park, Las Tablas protective Zone, Río Macho Forest Reserve, Tapantí -Macizo de la Muerte National Park. The methodology included 55 telephone interviews, 23 face-to-face interviews, 20 online surveys, and 7 workshops (5 face-to-face and 2 virtual).  . Of the total number of visitors to the WHS, 86% correspond to Costa Rican residents. The results show that the main challenge facing the WHS is the lack of personnel and scarce resources for investment. It is considered that it is necessary to incorporate 16 people to the work team to overcome the current crisis, it is also necessary to carry out the territorial planning plans in the areas adjacent to the WHS and generate a vision of administration of the WHS as an integrated unit with the Zone of Direct Influence, an area that was defined in the SEA. Finally, it is recommended to appoint an administrator of the WHS, this person will be  responsible for the coordination of all the projects that will be developed in the World Heritage Site.