Costa Rica, Tourism Model"Towards a Sustainable Tourism”
CANAECO hosted the First International Conference: Planet, People, Peace: P3, in October 2009, in Costa Rica, with the participation of over 200 people from Bhutan, United States, Japan and Central America, joined by the Costa Rican tourism sector. This conference brought together national and international leaders in responsible tourism, thus presenting multiple sustainability policies and achievements for the future of sustainable tourism. It was the platform on which Costa Rica showed other countries the important role and leadership it has assumed in sustainable tourism and it was used as a tool to facilitate change in the definition of sustainable tourism in the world. Costa Rica continually demonstrates its leadership by being one of the more advanced responsible tourism destinations, not only regionally but also internationally, acting as a model for any country wishing to implement a real development of this tourism. Costa Rica also managed to provide evidence that tourists continue to increase their concern about these matters, and what governments, corporations and organizations should comprehend is that tourists are consistently choosing tourist destinations using these models of sustainability. As a result, the conference reinforced the model that Costa Rica has innovated, creating a responsible destination where tourists can contribute to solutions and sustainable tourism.
 
As a result of the great success that we experienced in 2009 with the First International Conference, Planet, People, Peace, CANAECO has decided to host this important event again in 2010 with The Second International Conference; Planet, People, Peace, II.