What CST is all about
It is a
program that seeks to categorize and certify each tourism company
according to the degree to which its operations comply to a model of
sustainability. To this effect, four fundamental aspects are evaluated:
Physical-biological parameters
Evaluates the interaction between the company and its surrounding
natural habitat.
-
Infrastructure and services
Evaluates the management policies and the operational systems within
the company and its infrastructure.
-
External clients
Evaluates the interaction of the company with its clients in terms of
how much it allows and invites the client to be an active contributor
to the company's policies of sustainability.
-
Socio-economic environment
Evaluates the interaction of the company with the local communities
and the population in general.
For each
and every one of these items a list of specific questions was designed
to help evaluate how thoroughly the firm complies with a series of
standards previously established for the social, environmental and
economics fields. Each and every one of the questions refers to an
element of sustainability with which the firm should comply in order to
qualify in any one of the different stages or levels of fulfillment,
which for our purposes we have labeled "levels". The final rating will
be assigned to the company in question according to the lowest level
achieved in any of the four fields evaluated.
To
measure and fix these different levels, the CST program provides a
system of "sustainability levels"", on a scale of 0 to 5, in which each
number indicates the relative position of the firm in terms of
sustainability. This scheme provides a way to classify the tourist firms
in terms of "levels " in a system very similar to the commercial
categorization of hotels by means of the well known stars system.
If the first level of a category is achieved (level
1) this means that the firm has taken the first step on the road or
process of sustainability. The higher levels correspond to stages that
are each one more advanced than the previous one, peaking on level of
level 5, which means that the company is considered as outstanding in
terms of sustainability.
In terms of sustainability, the degree of fulfillment
signified by each level should be concomitant with the different aspects
mentioned. For example, to achieve a level 3 category, it is necessary
to complete at least with 60% of the established conditions for the four
areas evaluated.
The level assigned to any firm will always be the
lowest level achieved in any of the areas. It is expected that this
policy will encourage the firms to advance towards the model of
sustainability by giving the same degree of consideration and importance
to each of the four areas evaluated. Although the program has been
designed for all types of companies in the tourism industry, the first
stage will include only the lodging companies. Within this group, the
program will generate a clear differentiation between the hotels
according to the level achieved.
The CST system is designed to include a series of
incentives that will increase in benefits for each company, in direct
proportion to its increased rating. This means that as the rating
increases, more and better benefits will be received; international and
national publicity and promotion, specifically designed for the CST;
training for its personnel; priority participation in various world
tourism fairs and events, etc.
What are the implications of the CST?
- For the national tourism industry
At the national level, CST represents a new form
of competition; a new way to differentiate our tourist industry with
respect to our competitors, and one which enhances those tourism
products which show a connotation of sustainability, opening new
possibilities for marketing and international promotion.
On the other hand, this program directly attacks
the problem generated by the unethical behavior of some companies
operating as "greenwashers" (abusing the concepts of "eco" and/or
"sustainability"), by providing reliable information on the firms
that are really making progress in producing a tourist product that
is sustainable.
Undoubtedly, this will enhance the country's
image as an authentic naturalist tourist destination, thus
increasing considerably the competitiveness of our national tourism
product.
- For the tourism business person
This program provides the business person with an
opportunity for utilizing a new element of competition, based on a
new way of differentiating his product, a concept that will be fully
reinforced and enhanced in the national and international tourism
promotional programs.
The CST motivates tourism executives to improve
their use of company resources, promoting savings and their
efficient utilization. This will have a positive impact not only on
the quality of the product, but also on the cost-benefit ratio of
the firm, as well. For example, the use of energy-saving
technologies and devices promotes and improves the quality of the
product in terms of sustainability and, at the same time, produces a
significant reduction in the cost of these services. For other
productive sectors
The CST program is a spear head that opens up all
kinds of opportunities for the development and production of goods
and services by firms with a sustainable orientation. The demand for
recyclable and reusable products, for water and energy-saving
devices, for efficient systems for the proper disposal of waste
matter, for better systems of information management, as well as
many others, will be the key that opens a new market for products
that are environmentally friendly. This will strengthen an
industrial sector that operates within parameters of sustainability,
and a sector that, within a medium-range time frame, will be able to
supply as well the needs of other productive sectors, generating a
synergy and a globally positive balance in terms of sustainability.
A program for everyone
The official entity in charge of this program is
the Costa Rica Tourist Institute (ICT). Notwithstanding, this
initiative is supported by a National Accredittion Commitee which
has been officialized by executive decree where all sector related
to this subject take place. In addition, the educational sector is
represented by the Costa Rican University (UCR) and the Central
America Business Administration Institute (INCAE). The private
sector is represented by National Tourism Chamber, International
organizations such as UICN and The Earth Council. Finally, the
public sector is represente by the Costa Rican Environment & Energy
Ministry (MINAE), The Biodiversity National Institute, besides of
the ICT, which is the responsible of the program implementation.
Technical Support
The national organization will be assisted by a
technical commitee at highest level which main task is the
parameters and indicators designing. This group will also establish
the respective methodic procedures to carry out the evaluations as
well as the execution, supervision and process audition. This
Commitee will propose the program marketing strategies. Every two
years the national parameters are improved and improved by the
International Commitee, as we intend the CST not to be a static
measuring program, but rather one that continually improves, to
include the new technologies that become available in each country,
as well as responding to the ever changing national environment.
As was mentioned, the program has been designed
for all the companies of the tourism sector, but in this first stage
(during 1997) we will only be applying the CST to the lodge and
hotel sectors.
Participation in the program is entirely
voluntary and is open to all hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts
services, and cabins that may wish to do so, without restriction as
to their location (beaches, mountains, etc.) or their size.
Inscription in the program and the initial categorization are offered
at no cost to the companies. The only requirement is to fill out the
attached inscription form and send it to our offices, to the address
provided on the form.
Conservation and
Protection Projects in Manuel Antonio - Quepos
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