BUENAS PRÁCTICAS PARA EL TURISMO CIENTÍFICO

This report, produced by Transforma as part of the STEP project, outlines best practices for the financial and environmental sustainability of scientific stations, using the Organization for Tropical Studies (OET) in Costa Rica as a primary case study. It argues that scientific stations cannot be 100% self-sustainable through research alone and must strategically integrate 'Amateur Scientific Tourism' to fund 'Investigative Scientific Tourism'.

• Financial sustainability for scientific stations requires a strategic mix of two tourist sub-segments: 40% Investigative Scientific Tourism (researchers and students) and 60% Amateur Scientific Tourism (high-net-worth enthusiasts). This balance is proposed to maximize revenue while respecting the environmental carrying capacity of the land.
• To allow researchers and amateur tourists to coexist without conflict, stations should implement territorial zoning and use revenues from amateur tourists to subsidize scientific work. For example, at the La Selva station, approximately 80% of the area is restricted to scientific tourism and blocked for general nature tourists.
• Amateur Scientific Tourism represents a significant untapped market opportunity. Currently, many such visitors only pay for day tours; converting them to overnight guests—who can be charged rates around $130 USD/night compared to the $50 USD/night paid by subsidized students—could increase operational income. For instance, at La Selva, amateur tourists (day and night) already provide 58% of operational income despite not being the primary strategic focus.
• Attracting high-paying amateur tourists requires a deliberate redesign of the value proposition and marketing, focusing on infrastructure, services, and specialized guidance. The report suggests targeting specific taxonomic interests beyond birdwatching (e.g., orchids or amphibians) and utilizing 'Fam-Trips' to attract international wholesale travel agencies.
• University consortia are critical for covering fixed costs and ensuring a steady flow of researchers. The OET model includes a consortium of approximately 51 to 70 universities (primarily in the US) that pay annual memberships of about $10,000 USD each, generating an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 USD per year.
• There are minimum infrastructure and service requirements to retain different tourist types. Amateur tourists require 'four-star hotel' standards for lodging, private showers with hot water, and high-quality food. In contrast, investigative tourists prioritize access to laboratories, libraries, workspaces, and national research permit management.
• Transitioning to solar energy can significantly reduce operational costs. At the La Selva station, an investment of $300,000 USD for 800 panels (at $350 USD per panel) reduced annual energy costs from $130,000 USD to $75,000 USD, a 42% saving, with a projected further reduction to $30,000 USD upon completion of the third phase.

APA

Medina, C. (2019). BUENAS PRÁCTICAS PARA EL TURISMO CIENTÍFICO. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/200612-Reporte-Final-Buenas-Practicas-para-el-Turismo-Cientifico-Caso-OET.pdf

Chicago

Medina, Carolina. BUENAS PRÁCTICAS PARA EL TURISMO CIENTÍFICO. Transforma, 2019. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/200612-Reporte-Final-Buenas-Practicas-para-el-Turismo-Cientifico-Caso-OET.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Medina |first1=Carolina |title=BUENAS PRÁCTICAS PARA EL TURISMO CIENTÍFICO |publisher=Transforma |date=November 2019 |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/200612-Reporte-Final-Buenas-Practicas-para-el-Turismo-Cientifico-Caso-OET.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{medina2019buenas, author = {Medina, Carolina}, title = {{BUENAS PRÁCTICAS PARA EL TURISMO CIENTÍFICO}}, institution = {Transforma}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/200612-Reporte-Final-Buenas-Practicas-para-el-Turismo-Cientifico-Caso-OET.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }