Magnitude of ecotourism in Costa Rica and Kenya

An examination of ecotourism patterns within Costa Rica and Kenya reveals d ifferential magnitudes across an array of relevant criteria. If measured in terms of specialized accommodations, visits by specialist ecotourists, dir ect social and economic impact, activity space, or government investment, e cotourism is a relatively miner activity. More congruent with the popular i mage of these two countries as high profile ecotourism destinations are tot al tourist activity time, ecotourism as a visitor motivation, and indirect revenue generation, all of which are substantial or major. It is argued tha t this touristic form of development and practice exists in a symbiotic rel ationship with mass tourism, and the more intensive types should be conside red as a type of the latter. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.