Stakeholder perception of impact of tourism on health and biodiversity in Costa Rica.

Stakeholder perception of impact of tourism on

health and biodiversity in Costa Rica.

Felipe Mejía Medina

Academic Supervisor: Valérie R. Louis, PhD

RUPRECHT-KARLS UNIVERSITÄT HEIDELBERG

Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health

Master of Science in International Health

is this what you think when you think of TOURISM?

Maybe, this is what you do not think when you think of TOURISM.

Costa Rica

Travel is a Public Health issue.

Tourism is one of the most important world’s economicactivities especially for developing countries.


Costa Rica is a developing country.



Costa Rica is positioned as one of the leading eco-touristic destinations.





The number of tourists since 1999 has increased by 92%.






22% of the working population belong to the tourismindustry.






22% of the working population belong to the tourismindustry.



There is no further analysis about the impact on health andits relations to biodiversity and water, energy, waste andinfrastructure utilization.


•To identify common tendencies in stakeholders’ perceptions

about the touristic industry impacts.



•To identify specific tendencies in stakeholders’ perceptions

about touristic industry impacts.



•To identify specific tendencies in stakeholders’ perceptions

about touristic industry impacts.

•To assess the relevance on the stakeholders’ perceptions of

the certification in sustainable tourism.

StakeholderClosed

questionnaireNumber*

In-depth

InterviewNumber*

Unstructured

interviewsNumber*

People in Poas

VolcanoYes - P 91 No 0 Yes 5

People In Alajuela Yes - P 36 No 0 No 0

People in Hotels Yes - P 16 Yes - P 4 No 0

People in Tour

operatorsYes - P 25 Yes - P 4 No 0

Related people Yes 10 No 0 Yes 10

Total 178 -- 8 -- 15

Yes-P, includes a pilot testing. * Does not include the pilot testing.

Related, refers to shops, communication companies, travel agencies, NGOs and associations.

Group of tourists did not always perceive tourism as

a positive activity, neither for tourists nor for locals.



Locals perceived tourism as a convenient and positive

activity with no truly important negative impacts.



Healthy or ecologically conscious behaviors are also

perceived as an influence on the locals.





The concept of health impact may be misunderstood because the word health

is related to health system and hospitals. It was often associated with the

concept of medical tourism.














Influence on local’s behavior seems to be neglected or misunderstood.






Bias about sexual tourism in relation to sexual behavior was identified. In

general, people related topics such as “sexual transmitted diseases”, “unwanted

pregnancies” or “use of condom” with sex tourism.





Influence on local’s behavior seems to be neglected or misunderstood.

The perception of the negative impact is not always the

same for all stakeholders, especially regarding a new topic

such as health impact.




There is confusion among the groups about the health

consequences on the locals because of the presence of

tourists in the region.







Health impact do not seem to be an issue to the

stakeholders, maybe because of the lack of proper

information.







There are no major concerns about negative health impacts or impacts not

related to ecological consciousness.



information.







There are no major concerns about negative health impacts or impacts not

related to ecological consciousness.



information.

There may be an increase in the risk of any touristic activity or action boosted by

the tourism, if there is the perception that negative impacts are unlikely.

I Indicator CR Chile USA Year Source

1 Population under 15 years (%) 26 23 36 2008 WHO

2 Population 16-49 years (%) 27 31 20 2008 WHO

3 Physician density (per 10 000 population) 13 11 27 2009 WHO

4 Nurse and midwifes density (per 10 000 population) 9 6 98 2009 WHO

5 Life expectancy at birth both sexes (years) 78 78 78 2008 WHO

6 Total expenditure on health as % of 8.1 6.2 15.7 2007 WHO

7 Malaria Number of reported cases 732 -- -- 2008 WHO

8 HIV Prevalence among adults aged 15–49 years (%) 0,4 0.3 0.6 2009 WHO

9 Mortality diarrhea Number of reported cases 45 -- -- 2008 MOH

10 Mortality Respiratory diseases. (per 1000 population) 0,3 -- -- 2009 MOH

11 Dengue Number of reported cases 8277 25 -- 2007 PAHO

12 Yellow fever Number of reported cases 0 0 -- 2008 WHO

13Alcohol consumption among adults aged ≥15 years

(litres of pure alcohol per person per year)4.2 6.8 5.2 2005 WHO

14Prevalence of smoking any tobacco product among

adults aged ≥15 years (%) male/female

25.7/

7.3

42.0/

33.8

23.8/

4.02006 WHO

15 Population with improved drinking-water sources (%) 97 96 99 2008 WHO

16 Population using improved sanitation (%) 95 96 100 2008 WHO

StakeholderClosed

questionnaireNumber*

In-depth

InterviewNumber*

Informal

conversationNumber*

People in Poas Volcano Yes - P 91 No 0 Yes 5

People In Alajuela Yes - P 36 No 0 No 0

People in Hotels Yes - P 16 Yes - P 4 No 0

People in Tour operators Yes - P 25 Yes - P 4 No 0

Related people Yes 10 No 0 Yes 10

Total 178 -- 8 -- 15

Yes-P, includes a pilot testing. * Does not include the pilot testing.

Related, refers to shops, communication companies, travel agencies, NGOs and

associations.

Selection of method according to the stakeholder.

Question Q7

Group G1 G2 G3

Frecuency 54 64 54

Standard deviation 0.910 1.005 1.022

Individual mean 3.037 2.578 2.556

Total mean 2.715

Coeficiente variación 30.0% 39.0% 40.0%

ANOVA -

Scheffé (when

it requires)

F 4.240

F crítico 3.049

Probability 0.016

Test

Scheffé

Groups F Probability

G1-G2 -0.458912 0.043

G1-G3 -0.481481 0.041

G2-G3 -0.022569 0.992

Sample of calculation for question 7

Question FF

criticP value Scheffé Test Question F F critic P value

Scheffé

Test

1 0.009 3.049 0.991 No 22 6.942 3.049 <0.001 Scheffé

2 1.076 3.049 0.343 No 23 2.031 3.049 0.134 No

3 0.716 3.050 0.490 No 24 0.236 3.049 0.790 No

4 0.551 3.049 0.578 No 25 1.251 3.049 0.289 No

5 0.560 3.050 0.572 No 26 0.203 3.049 0.817 No

6 1.262 3.049 0.286 No 27 0.027 3.050 0.973 No

7 4.240 3.049 0.016 Scheffé 28 0.394 3.049 0.675 No

8 10.807 3.050 <0.001 Scheffé 29 2.161 3.049 0.118 No

9 3.408 3.049 0.035 Scheffé 30 2.876 3.049 0.059 No

10 2.826 3.049 0.062 No 31 2.443 3.050 0.090 No

11 1.654 3.049 0.194 No 32 5.739 3.050 0.004 Scheffé

12 4.273 3.049 0.015 Scheffé 33 2.880 3.049 0.059 No

13 9.901 3.049 <0.001 Scheffé 34 2.371 3.049 0.097 No

14 5.449 3.049 0.005 Scheffé 35 2.209 3.049 0.113 No

15 0.249 3.049 0.780 No 36 3.465 3.049 0.034 Scheffé

16 4.443 3.049 0.013 Scheffé 37 1.730 3.050 0.180 No

18 4.322 3.051 0.015 Scheffé 38 6.304 3.050 0.002 Scheffé

20 14.665 3.049 <0.001 Scheffé 39 4.114 3.049 0.018 Scheffé

21 9.841 3.049 <0.001 Scheffé 40 0.430 3.049 0.652 No

ANOVA results for all questions without demographics, Q17 and Q19.

Stakeholder perception of impact of tourism on health and biodiversity in Costa Rica.

Health & Medicine

Transcript of Stakeholder perception of impact of tourism on health and biodiversity in Costa Rica.