Each sovereign and active development entity has its niche. Many states or countries have adventurous landscapes and unique festivals that showcase the brilliant cultures that exist there. For others, the main sources of income and economic growth depend more on visits from international guests. For a place like Costa Rica, there is a huge push for ecotourism, not only because it is a small country with limited barriers to agriculture and trade, but also because it is rich in biological and cultural diversity. In Lisa Campbell's article, Ecotourism in Rural and Developing Countries, she examines the concept of alternative ecotourism and its benefits for places like Costa Rica; especially the Osional region located on the Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. This village is one of the main players in the collection of turtle eggs for distribution based on a government-approved “project”. Ostional is located in the middle of one of the most important arribadas beaches in the world for olive ridley turtles. An arribada, which means arrival in Spanish, represents the nesting seasons of these turtles and occurs in only nine other locations in the world (Campbell 5). Campbell focuses on the perceptions of local residents as well as the views of guests at local hotels or cabins to form the basis of his research in Ostional. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Alternative ecotourism, says Campbell, “relies on community participation and even control, [which] minimizes the extent to which external planning and intervention is desirable. » (3). This means that community participation in ecotourism for it to work is high and there must be a balanced push for the development to be successful. This concept brings us full circle to the triple bottom line as there must be a balance between economic, environmental and social sustainability. Alternative ecotourism is a new way of idealizing the concept of novelty with real hard work and respect for the biodiversity that exists in an area. Campbell's research at Ostional deduced whether or not the region represented good prospects for alternative ecotourism. Ultimately, the area would attract tourists and those specifically interested in arribadas, but the practices that take place within the community regarding turtle egg harvesting degrade prospects for international visitation. Although the “project” is necessary and has made a large contribution to local revenues collected throughout the year, it undermines the appeal of ecotourism. To collect this data, Campbell set out to survey most of the families who live in Ostional as well as visitors to the area with the help of hoteliers. His research spanned the year 1995 and included seventy-six of eighty-four households, as well as a census of guests who stayed in the two local cabins, then the only night shelter for those staying at Ostional (Campbell 8). Interviews lasted twenty to seventy-five minutes and included in-depth questions with a response scale ranging from “very good, good, neutral, bad, very bad, don't know, and other” (Campbell 8). All questions related to the development of tourism in Ostional and the effects this would have on the local population as well as the turtle populations. Many householdsfavorable to tourism justified their responses by the positive impact that tourism has or would have on their annual income; that is, hotel owners and guides (Campbell 13). Others in favor of tourism concluded that only planned and regulated tourism would benefit the system. Those who were against increased tourism revealed their reluctance to hinder the “project”. In conclusion, Campbell summarizes his research in four points: First, government intervention in tourism is currently minimal… Second, the tourism industry is currently small, but valuable to those who participate in it… Third, there is local support in favor of increased tourism, although this reflects a desire for any form of development rather than beliefs about its benefits. . Fourth, residents have little awareness of specific tourism opportunities, but they are also willing to work in “anything” (Campbell 16). These findings can be very revealing about how tourism, particularly alternative ecotourism, will develop. in the future. As long as there is a respect for the Triple Aim, ecotourism is a worthwhile endeavor.Thoughts and ThoughtsHaving been to Costa Rica so recently, these questions are fresh in my mind. We had the opportunity to see the controversy first-hand and develop our own perceptions of how things could improve or change for the people of Osional. We also had the chance to speak with Luis, owner of the Turtle Lodge, who explained to us in detail what the "project" was and how it affects the residents of the village. Reading Lisa Campbell's book, Ecotourism in Rural Developing Countries, I felt a strong connection to her cause and research. His interest in alternative ecotourism was very interesting, as it emphasized the cooperation of those who actually live and participate in the local system, as well as the proper planning and execution of goals and initiatives with government entities and outside the regulations. I feel that she has approached her objective well and that her contribution to research in the field of ecotourism is significant. There are many issues regarding Ostional and the surrounding rural communities that I believe have not been expressed in this article. For example, factors beyond the ultimate control of the villager that affect turtle populations throughout the arribada and non-arribada seasons, such as stray dogs, scavengers, predators, and climate change. Although the article focuses specifically on the effects and prospects of tourism in rural and developing areas, I feel it is necessary to discuss other aspects of the region that may affect tourism, other than the desire of the community to attract visitors from other places. . Although many of us love dogs, the stray dogs that roam the beaches and streets of Osional encroach on natural systems that are at constant risk of disruption. Dogs, as we saw on our morning getaway to the beach, dig up crabs as well as nests which are then vulnerable to scavengers like vultures and other birds. The beaches are littered with egg debris and the general aesthetic reveals that carnage is the greater force (Campbell 6). Weather conditions also affect tourism prospects, particularly when arribada takes place, as heavy rains make already dangerous roads almost unmanageable. These questions seem barely addressed in Campbell's article, who tells me she was not.