{"id":1798,"date":"2020-11-11T12:25:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-11T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/?p=1798"},"modified":"2020-11-16T12:32:06","modified_gmt":"2020-11-16T12:32:06","slug":"costa-rica-launches-pura-vida-pledge-for-visitors-to-make-a-true-sustainable-difference-post-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/costa-rica-launches-pura-vida-pledge-for-visitors-to-make-a-true-sustainable-difference-post-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica launches \u201cPura Vida Pledge\u201d for visitors to make a true sustainable difference post Covid-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitcostarica.com\/uk\/\">Costa Rican Tourism Board<\/a>\n(ICT) is proud to launch the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.puravidapledge.co.uk\/index.html\">Pura Vida Pledge<\/a> \u2013\na promise to educate visitors as to the real meaning of responsible tourism and\nthe actions that they, as travellers to the destination, can do to make a true\ndifference to the local communities in the post Covid-19 world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nphrase \u201cpura vida\u201d itself is a mantra for Costa Ricans, meaning \u201cpure life\u201d or,\neven more so, \u201cfull of life\u201d, symbolising the Costa Rican mind-set of energy\nand positivity that awaits visitors. Costa Rica\u2019s commitment to the environment\nis a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being\nawarded <em>Champions of the Earth<\/em> by the United Nations Environment\nProgramme (UNEP) in 2019 and aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050, Costa Rica\nhas no other choice than to protect the environment. For this reason, the\ncountry is encouraging visitors to take one of five <a href=\"http:\/\/www.puravidapledge.co.uk\/pledge.html\">Pura Vida Pledge<\/a>\nactions to ensure their holiday to the country is as \u201cpura vida\u201d, sustainable\nand responsible as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By\nacknowledging these five principles, visitors can be confident that they are\nmaking responsible choices while enjoying the country\u2019s volcanoes, beaches and\nwild landscape, 28% of which remains stringently protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Costa Rica\u2019s commitment to five pillars of sustainable and responsible travel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/CST.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1802\" width=\"177\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/CST.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/CST-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/CST-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/CST-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 177px) 100vw, 177px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Certification\nfor Sustainable Tourism (CST):<\/strong> The CST awards local companies that follow\nthorough sustainable practices \u2013 a pioneering programme launched by Costa Rica\nin 1997 and backed by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Its fundamental\npurpose is to make sustainability a reality, practical and necessary in the\ncountry\u2019s tourism industry. Today, more than 400 tourism companies across Costa\nRica are CST certified \u2013 including hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and\ntourism attractions. Visitors are encouraged to choose companies that have the\nCST certification when planning their holiday \u2013 travel agents or tour operator\nwill be able to assist. The list can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr\/directorio\">here<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Carbon-offsetting.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1800\" width=\"138\" height=\"156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Carbon-offsetting.png 284w, https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Carbon-offsetting-265x300.png 265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 138px) 100vw, 138px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Carbon offsetting:<\/strong> With already 29% of the country\u2019s energy sources being renewable, Costa Rica has set out to lay the foundations of the new Costa Rican economy of the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century by creating a positive, innovative and inspiring vision of the future. The Costa Rica Tourism Board has partnered with the National Forestry Financing Fund (Fonafifo) to fight against carbon footprint. Travellers can log into an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fonafifo.go.cr\/en\/calculadora\/\">online tool<\/a> to easily calculate the carbon emissions of their flight and then make a payment that Fonafifo will invest in different environmental projects throughout the country. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Volunteer-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1804\" width=\"223\" height=\"83\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Volunteer-2.png 366w, https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Volunteer-2-300x111.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Volunteering:<\/strong> Supporting local\ncommunities either through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitcostarica.com\/en\/costa-rica\/things-to-do\/rural-tourism\">rural tourism<\/a>\nor voluntary programmes has a very positive impact on local economies and\nquality of the life of locals. The Social Progress Index (SPI) is a measurement\ntool to understand the wellbeing, opportunity and basic human needs of the\nCosta Rican society, while simultaneously promoting social progress. The SPI\nresearch evaluated the quality of lives of Costa Rican in areas or towns where\nthere is tourism \u2013 and the results were that there is more quality of life in\nthose areas than in zones where tourism services do not exist. Therefore, the\nCosta Rica Tourism Board is investing in to other areas of the country to\nspread the opportunity and to avoid future overcrowding to protect\nbiodiversity.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Visitors looking to be more hands on during their visit to Costa Rica can find a wide variety of independent volunteering projects to get involved with. From community development and conservation programmes to working with animals and even teaching English, visitors will find an increasingly wide array of interesting and exciting volunteer possibilities that will make their holiday truly memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/11\/Respect-the-environment.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1805\" width=\"122\" height=\"146\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Respecting\nthe environment:<\/strong> Essentially, the Pura Vida Pledge is asking\nvisitors to make a <em>conscious<\/em> effort to respect the environment before it\nis too late. This is the fundamental message that Costa Rica voices \u2013 and also\nthe daily teaching practiced by locals. For a very small country, Costa Rica\nhas become the green heart of Central America. Just the fact of visiting a\ndestination that promotes sustainability and eco-tourism, that is benefiting the\nworld. It also encourages local businesses to follow suit and become more\nsustainable. Costa Rica prides on being one of the few countries in the world\nregenerating rainforests, key to biodiversity \u2013 as highlighted by David\nAttenborough in his recent documentary, \u2018A Life On Our Planet\u2019.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Quality\nassurance<\/strong>: Costa Rica\u2019s sector-wide recovery efforts \u2013\nincluding 16 health protocols for the safe reopening of popular tourism areas &#8211;\nare recognised by the World Travel &amp; Tourism Council (WTTC). In July this\nyear, the organisation gave Costa Rica its <a href=\"https:\/\/wttc.org\/COVID-19\/Safe-Travels-Global-Protocols-Stamp\">Safe Travels<\/a>\nstamp &#8211; the world\u2019s first global safety and hygiene stamp &#8211; which allows\ntravellers to identify destinations and businesses which have adopted the\nglobal standardised health and hygiene protocols. At present, 73 Costa Rican\nbusinesses have been given the Safe Travels stamp. This scheme, supported by\nWorld Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), sends a strong signal to visitors that Costa\nRica\u2019s tourism businesses take their cleanliness and hygiene very seriously and\nare committed to maintaining these high standards as a \u2018new normal\u2019 for the\nfuture.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nWhen planning their trip to Costa Rica, visitors\nare encouraged to continue to make Costa Rica one of the world\u2019s leading\nsustainable countries by making their \u201cPura Vida Pledge\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) is proud to launch the Pura Vida Pledge \u2013 a promise to educate visitors as to the real meaning of responsible tourism and the actions that they, as travellers to the destination, can do &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/costa-rica-launches-pura-vida-pledge-for-visitors-to-make-a-true-sustainable-difference-post-covid-19\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1805,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1798"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1798"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1806,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1798\/revisions\/1806"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puravidauniversity.eu\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}