Indonesia and Costa Rica: National Parks as the Eco-tourism Strategy for a Developing Country

“Tourism in International Relations”
Lecture: Drs. Usmar Salam, MIS

Name: Regina Lusi S.
Student # : 07/250572/SP/21992

Indonesia and Costa Rica: National Parks as the Eco-tourism Strategy for a Developing Country


 “Sustainable tourism development meets theneeds of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for thefuture. It is envisaged as leading to management ofall resources in such a way that economic, social andaesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintainingcultural integrity, essential ecological processes,biological diversity and life support systems”

                                                                                               W orld Tourism Organisation

The quality of the environment is essential for tourism. However, tourism's relationship with many activities has negative environmental effects. On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. Nowadays most countries believe that true sustainable tourism development must involve the people and local communities in which sustainable tourism attraction are being developed.
Applied to tourism, sustainable tourism development means recognizing the benefits of tourism growth and also recognizing that sustaining the benefits of this growth will ultimately depend on the ability to preserve over time the very things which attract the tourists and respecting the very communities and cultural landscapes that play host to the tourists.
As a developing country, both Indonesia and Costa Rica have to find a strategy to keep up and rise up their economic income. Known as the paradise of natural resources, this two countries use their natural resources as their strategy to gain economic benefit by promoting their natural resources with the eco-tourism concept. Ecotourism in which also known as ecological tourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveler, provides funds for conservation, directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights.
In 1969 the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) declared a national park to be a relatively large area with particular defining characteristics. A national park was deemed to be a place where:
one or several ecosystems are not materially altered by human exploitation and occupation, where plant and animal species, geomorphological sites and habitats are of special scientific, educative and re-creative interest or which contain a natural landscape of great beauty; The highest competent authority of the country has taken steps to prevent or eliminate as soon as possible exploitation or occupation in the whole area and to enforce effectively the respect of ecological, geomorphological or aesthetic features which have led to its establishment; Visitors are allowed to enter, under special conditions, for inspirational, educative, cultural and re-creative purposes.
In 1971 these criteria were further expanded upon leading to more clear and defined benchmarks to evaluate a national park. These include:
a minimum size of 1,000 hectares within zones in which protection of nature takes precedence,
statutory legal protection, a budget and staff sufficient to provide sufficient effective protection,
prohibition of exploitation of natural resources (including the development of dams) qualified by such activities as sport, fishing, the need for management, facilities, etc.
This what I will dig in my essay about comparison between Indonesia and Costa Rica strategy about their national park as a eco-tourism sustainable development.

Indonesia National Park Eco-tourism Strategy
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. Indonesia's archipelago with a tropical climate and very humid, has a richness and diversity of natural resources, such as beaches, volcanoes, tropical forests, and wildlife, and that is unique in the world. As well as the natural beauty of Indonesia, visitors are able to see and appreciate Indonesia's cultural and social legacies. They will know how Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity have all contributed to Indonesia's built heritage and its living culture.
For natural diversity can be seen from some areas such as Java and Bali have the most fertile islands and rice plantations are concentrated in these two regions. Whereas Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua are the place of the tropical rainforest, and open savannah grassland is in the Nusa Tenggara. Moreover, various animal species comes from three different sources. Asian mammals are from the west, Australian marsupial species and birds are from the east and the endemic species are in the middle of archipelago. Orangutan, tigers, one homed rhinos, elephants, dugongs, anoa, komodo dragons are the proud of Indonesia. Besides on land, deep down the sea, there are more than hundred marine species as a part of the archipelago's treasure.
Almost every single island in Indonesia has their own national park. Here is the table.
List of National Park:
-Sumatra : Leuseur, Siberut, Kerinci Seblat, Bukit Tiga Puluh, Berbak, Bukit Barisan Selatan,                           Way Kambas
-Java : Ujung Kulon, Gunung Gede Pangrango, Gunung Halimun, Kepulauan Seribu, Karimun                    Java, Meru Betiri, Alas Purwo, Baluran, Bromo Tengger
-Sulawesi : Bunaken, Dumoga Bone, Taka Bone Rate, Rawa Aopa Watumohai, Lore Lindu
-Kalimantan : Bukit Baka Bukit Raya, Gunung Palung, Bentuang Karimun, Tanjung Puting, Kutai
-Bali and Nusa Tenggara : Bali Barat, Gunung Rinjani, Kelimutu, Komodo
-Maluku and Irian Jaya : Manusela, Teluk Cendrawasih, Wasur

Even, Komodo National Park become one of the new seven wonders. The Government of Indonesia make it as one of their strategy to play a role in international area. As a protected area, national parks in Indonesia get deep concerning from many actors. In physical and biological resources, Indonesia is a wealthy country. It is a world leader in mineral exports, its rainforests account for more than 50 percent of the tropical forests in Southeast Asia and more than 10 percent of the world’s total, it has unique and extensive biodiversity resources, and its fisheries are some of the world’s most productive and threatened. The challenges in using and managing the vast natural resources of Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation, are immense. They include ensuring that resources are exploited in a manner that is optimal for the economy, equitable for the population, and sustainable for future generations.

Costa Rica National Park Eco-tourism Strategy
Costa Rica is a small Central American nation that has gained an international reputation as a leader in environmental conservation. This has formed the base for its highly successful small-scale eco-tourism industry5. It also a country with highest percentage of protected land in the world and it has preserved the land and natural habitats in such a way that these are more accessible to tourists than those of any other country in the region. Costa Rica has a strong image as a nature-oriented tourism destination. Costa Rica embarked on implementing eco-tourism programs for two primary reasons: first, because tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of many economies in Latin America and because of its ability to generate needed foreign exchange which is critical for developing countries. Second, eco-tourism has been argued to be a win-win situation for local inhabitants, the environment, as well as the economy in general as the country moves toward achieving sustainable development.
With over 615 wildlife species per 10,000 sq km, Costa Rica sits atop of the list as the most bio-diverse region of the world, it is no wonder that Costa Rica is often referred to as ‘the living Eden’ by many scientists and naturalists from all across the globe. There are currently 25 National Parks of Costa Rica, which are managed under the umbrella of SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion), a department of Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). As an eco-tourism strategy, national park in Costa Rica are being protected. Regulations and rules from the government are made to take control of conserving the national park of the destruction and extinction.

Comparison Concept and Implementation Sustainable Tourism Development
The eco-tourism strategy on Sustainable Tourism Development used by both countries, Indonesia and Costa Rica give an overview that even though Indonesia and Costa Rica have same richness in natural resources, but the policies, regulations and how the government of each country play their role in international area are different.
Indonesia's government still lack of human resources planning to control the developing progress of tourism object, especially their national park, to be more sustainable. Human resource planning must start from the present situation. Well-managed forests could play a crucial role in improving the livelihood of local people, stabilizing the climate and contributing to poverty reduction. An understanding of current staffing needs forms a baseline for determining future requirements as changes occur in the management strategy. The information derived from job analyses is the key criterion for recruiting job applicants in a targeted manner7. Selecting the ideal applicant should be based upon the measurable criteria determined from the job analysis. All protected areas, require some level of visitor service infrastructure. This may be no more than an information sign in a nature reserve, or as prominent a feature as a village or small town of importance to tourism in a protected landscape. All infrastructure must be located with care because it can be so intrusive. Tourism-related structures must also be very carefully designed and operated.
They should reflect protected area values and clearly accord with park policy. Protected area managers need to reflect on the fact that they manage a cultural and a natural area, and a site that often assumes a very different state from that which once prevailed. Some protected areas accommodate “pockets of urbanization” within a larger environmental and cultural matrix. Infrastructure and services serve the people now using the area, and these are often much different from that which occurred previously. These services fulfill needs such as sanitation, food provision, lodging, information, transport and safety. The key is the provision of the services that best fulfill visitor needs, while minimizing negative impacts. This is not being done by Indonesia's government yet. Infrastructure of tourism sector in Indonesia needs to be better.
While some protected areas are rarely visited, others accommodate large numbers, far exceeding the size of the local population. Wherever possible, therefore, park infrastructure and visitor services should help to enhance visitor understanding of key park themes and values. Good design makes visitors more comfortable and responsive to the special place that they are visiting. Visitors who feel they are well looked after will value the park more and are likely to assist in its protection. An increasing emphasis on a customer focus has developed in recent decades. Park visitors’ needs are now more carefully investigated through planning and research, and monitored through comments cards and satisfaction surveys. Indeed, a mark of a well-managed protected area is that the planning of the infrastructure and services for visitors is based on an understanding of the needs of existing and potential users.
Costa Rica National park have a good design. It is important because well-designed enterprises are the most successful. They function better, and attract more visitors. Costa Rica National Park proven often success depends on simple solutions and easy maintenance.
Protected areas normally achieve recognition and enhanced protection when sufficient numbers of people visit them, appreciate them, and take political action to assure their survival. Park tourism is a critical component of protected area establishment and management. Including the “reward and punishment” system for they who support the eco-tourism developing and for they who did criminality of the nature.

Conclusion
Indonesia and Costa Rica are developing country with their richness of natural resources. Each country has their own way of strategy to develop their natural resources, especially their park become a tourist object and moreover this strategy is for gaining country's economic benefit.
Sustainable tourism development concept has been done in both countries, Indonesia and Costa Rica. However, to manage protected area is not that easy. Human resources planning have to be done. The government have to cooperate with all actors in continuing conserving the nature. Businesses, communities, and visitors together asks to protect the eco-tourism object not only for nowadays condition, but also for our next generation.

Bibliography
1. Salam, Usmar.2009.Tourism in International Relation.Slide presentation
2. Article “Expert Calls for Sustainable Tourism Development” taken from
3. Honey, Martha. 2008. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?                 (Second ed.). Washington, DC: Island Press. pp. 33
4. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/national_park
5. http://www.geocities.com
6. http://www.world-tourism.org
7. http://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelinfo.htm
8. http://app.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAG-008.pdf