FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
PLANET, PEOPLE, PEACE –P3
CANAECO, COSTA RICA
Based on the challenges of a new era of tourism development, the National Ecotourism Association –CANAECO- realized it was an opportune moment to create a venue for reflection, consultation and the interchange of ideas for the future of tourism and in particular, sustainable tourism.
Costa Rica, a pioneering country and the leader in sustainable tourism is committed to a constant and open analysis regarding this idea, which in order to succeed, requires not only sharing knowledge, but also learning to listen to the needs of its constituents. Following this concept, the idea was created of sharing its acquired leadership through an International Conference: Planet, People, Peace.
The title reflects the interest in understanding our field and the problems faced from a global perspective, intimately associated with the role that people play with their actions and decisions. Inarguably, being a country without an army, Costa Rica wants to convey to the world the obligation we feel as a society which reinforces the strengthening of our commitment and the fortification of the process for creating peace.
The structure of the conference also is a direct response to the elements directly related to sustainable tourism and the modern day tendency to reflect upon our own existence. They are elements that we share without social, political or economic distinctions; we are dependent on them for our very existence and that of future generations. Motivated by this conviction, P3 is composed of four principle segments or thematic ideas that are based on;
WATER: prime matter from which all life originated and on whose essence the very existence of human beings living on this planet depends.
EARTH: represents the common roots of all society, from where man learned to cultivate and appreciate the multiple benefits derived from it; from the simple contemplation of the landscape, to the production of his food and shelter
FIRE: from which our society is transformed and which has allowed us to evolve while keeping in mind that every known entity has positive and negative aspects.
AIR: is the mixture of gases that form the atmosphere around which the earth revolves and is essential for life on the planet. It is light and travels freely without the possibility of being detained.
HOW P3 FUNCTIONS
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ECOTOURISM –CANAECO- has been committed to offering an annual event during the first four years of its existence. Every year it has placed an emphasis on one of the four elements as a central theme. In 2012 the results of the surveys of the conferences of these first four events will determine if the activity should continue in an annual or biannual sequence.
The first two international conferences in 2009 and 2010 were held in San Jose, having taken into consideration that the following two conferences would be held in rural areas.
The first event was held in 2009 in Costa Rica and called "A Model for Tourism" whose central theme was AIR and the common thread of its material focused on the initiatives and the actions accomplished toward carbon neutrality. In 2010 the conference was called "Toward a Sustainable Tourism" and a central element was EARTH, which emphasized related aspects of rural community tourism.
For the 2011 conference we are celebrating the component FIRE, considering it to be the element that inspires all cultures and whose principle axis is the essence of every activity that defines a society and permits it to independently adapt and respond to the needs of its own circumstances. The event will take place in Guácimo in the Central Caribbean Zone of Costa Rica, within the installations of the University EARTH.
Our expectation is that in 2013 we will be able to specify another region of the interior of the country that would be interested in working jointly with CANAECO and would make efforts to construct a format with the theme of WATER.
The success achieved up to this date both at a national level as well as the international recognition gained, has made it possible for CANAECO to strengthen the international participation, and this year, we are expecting a greater representation not only from the countries of the region but also from other parts of the world.
History of P3
The first international conference was held from the 26th to the 29th of October in 2009. More than 200 participants attended and the agenda covered topics presented by both national and international renowned speakers. For the first time CANAECO launched the program CLIMATE CONSCIOUS TRAVELER –VCC-, which was initiated and designed by CANAECO and whose principle objective was to be an adjunct to the efforts of Costa Rica in its strategy of climate change with the goal of achieving C- neutrality by 2021, creating a link between the country of origin and Costa Rica and thus converting Costa Rica into a C-Neutral destination. (More information, PREVIOUS CONFERENCES 2009)
P3-2010 was held the 1, 2 and 3 of November in San Jose with the participation of more than 250 national and international representatives. The title "Toward a Sustainable Tourism" was enhanced with an analysis of the topic of rural community tourism with representative experiences from Guatemala, Ecuador, Kenya and Costa Rica. Additionally there were discussions regarding the tendencies and proposals of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), best practices and new markets. (More information, PREVIOUS CONFERENCES 2010)
The upcoming P3 promises more new ideas, creativity and if the myriad valuable information for dealing with the current state of tourism. (link hacia contenido en la pag.web de este evento SOBRE EL P3-III).
