ABSTRACT
This chapter presents Costa Rica profile that includes sustainable enterprise in context; priority issues, trends, government policies and case studies. Many social entrepreneurs train in Costa Rica to develop their knowledge of sustainable business practices as well as to learn the skills needed to launch a non-profit social enterprise in their own communities. Since the mid-1970s there has been movement towards developing sustainable eco-tourism businesses in smaller towns and communities surrounding larger tourist destinations in Costa Rica. While Costa Rica remains the pinnacle of Central America economically, socially and environmentally, the country is faced with challenges in creating sustainable solutions in these areas for the future. The Certification for Sustainable Tourism was launched in 1999 to encourage Costa Rican tourism businesses to manage their cultural, social, and natural resources responsibly. Tourism is one of the largest sources of foreign exchange in Costa Rica.
