Within the framework of the "International Tourism Week for all", the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) officially presented today its "Tourism for all people" program to the tourism sector, public institutions, the press and the benefited population. The first beneficiaries of the program were a group of 25 adults from the Tibás Comprehensive Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, who took a guided tour and were part of an immersive artistic experience through the Mirador de Orosi in Paraíso de Cartago as part of the running this program.
Tourism for all people (TpTP) aims to provide direct, personal, and barrier-free access to all people to discover the wealth of our country through sustainable, inclusive, supportive, responsible, and accessible leisure tourism. In this way, the tourist offer evolves and facilitates an experience that improves the quality of life of people and visitors. It is based on the correct implementation of social, accessible, responsible, sustainable and fair tourism.
The Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez, referred to this topic as follows: “The Tourism for All Program sees tourism beyond an economic activity, rather it includes the social. This launch pleases me and fills me with enthusiasm, because we are fulfilling a vision that we should not lose, since tourism is a social activity in itself in its deepest essence”. The ICT is willing to lead this process knowing that we cannot do it alone and that we require conventions, agreements and cooperation from many other actors”, highlighted Rodríguez.
Precisely, in the inaugural act of the program, the first chambers, associations and institutions signed a collaboration agreement to contribute to the objectives of this program. The list included as signatories the National Chamber of Tourism, the Costa Rican Association of Tour Operators, the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, the Costa Rican Association of Tourist Guides, the Costa Rican Accessible Tourism Network, Comprehensive Care Centers for Adults with Disabilities, Quality Foundation for Life for People with Cancer, Arenal Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Fortuna de San Carlos Regional Chamber of Tourism, National Council for People with Disabilities, Hospital México, Proimagen, Comprehensive Care Centers for Adults with Disabilities in Tibás, National System of Conservation Areas,
The protocol act was attended by Dr. Mary Munive, Second Vice President of the Republic, who stated that she was pleased with the start of an ICT program that proposes an evolution towards a more inclusive and universal tourism for all populations. “It really is a response to many needs that the post-pandemic population has. We need mental health and de-stress, as well as places of recreation, to enjoy all the landscapes that Costa Rica offers us”, highlighted the hierarch.
Costa Rica stands out for efforts in social, inclusive and integrity tourism
This launch immediately generated a positive international repercussion for Costa Ruca as a tourist destination. Isabel Novoa, president of the International Social Tourism Organization (ISTO) to which the ICT belongs, stated: "I want to take this opportunity to thank all the support that we have received at ISTO for years from the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism and in its representation of the tourism sector of Costa Rica. I am aware of all the efforts that have been made and as a result of these efforts”.
The ICT has implemented the Social Tourism with Integrity program, grouping the efforts of institutions, organizations and companies that develop projects related to the concepts of social tourism, equipped with mechanisms for vulnerable populations to carry out tourism activities.
Under the present program called Tourism for all people, the ICT intends to maintain and expand the scope of the initial Social Tourism with Integrity program, stressing its commitment and adding new challenges such as raising awareness among civil servants, training the private sector, improving attractions tourism property of the ICT with universal design and accessibility.
These are the strategic objectives of Tourism for all people:
Manage actions for the recreation of groups organized under the program of social tourism with integrity.
Adapt the tourist attractions owned by the ICT with universal design.
Generate specialized information on social tourism, accessibility and universal design for tourism.
Include criteria of universality and accessibility in institutional management.
The TpTP program must go through several stages until it can reach a consolidation; The first stage will allow directly, manage trips to tourist sites managed by the ICT, (Miradores de Orosi, Ujarrás and the ruins of the same name), assuming the necessary costs for it. Just this first stage already means a radical advance of the Social Tourism with Integrity program. Subsequently, the stages will advance with the tangible support of tourism chambers and other organizations.