SEA 197-CRI From Coffee and Chocolate to Ziplining and Snorkeling: Ethics of Ecotourism in Costa Rica (Allison Wolf); ECC: Global Perspective and Intercultural Communication

Rescue a Jaguar, tour an indigenous reserve, take an educational hike through the cloud forest, learn how to make chocolate or grow coffee, hold an iguana, or simply snorkel and then relax on a pristine beach. These are just a few activities that ecotourists can do in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is one of the leaders in ecotourism. Tourism has surpassed coffee as the largest sector of the Costa Rican economy, but in recent years, an increasing number of voices are beginning to question the philosophical underpinnings, effectiveness and ethics of ecotourism. In this class, we will explore ethical theories, Costa Rica’s history and culture, and engage in numerous ecotourism activities in order to investigate the ethical nature of ecotourism. We will study Spanish, stay with host families, engage in service projects, and travel the country in order to explore where ecotourism has succeeded, where it has challenges, and what should be done in response.

Priority application deadline for May Term 2018: Tuesday, October 3, 2017. Selection decisions announced via email from the OIE for applications received by the priority deadline: Tuesday, October 10, 2017. Applications received after October 3 will be processed on a rolling basis. Those selection decisions will be announced approximately two weeks after the application is submitted.