For you what is cultural tourism? Cultural tourism is a niche of market aimed to people interested in destinations, cultural products and services.

What challenge facing a country like ours to develop cultural tourism? Costa Rica is ecological, but not culture and that is the main challenge to create a cultural tourism and position it, it could be the oxcart, a flower or some of the national symbols. Must create synergies between the public and private sectors to create offers and promote marketing and generating sustainable development with benefits for the local community.

Do you see our country positioned in cultural tourism? Costa Rica has potential, but it is not a cultural destination, there are not policies, at least there are proposals and initiatives already. However, this country is different because the cultural tourism as related to community-based tourism, rural communities of African descent, indigenous peoples, festivals, legends and architecture.

What is missing in Costa Rica to be a cultural tourism destination? You should take advantage and give value to the production of art, archeology, gastronomy, for example.

In this globalized world, why is cultural tourism that important? Because we must find something unique, a difference, identity for a destination and be different from other development opportunities, that’s why cultural tourism is important. Cultural tourism strengthens the culture of a place, creates opportunities using the online identity development, and enhances self-esteem of the local community.