Tourism began developing around Manuel Antonio in 1972. At that time, nobody here was really prepared for it. For many years, this region had depended on banana plantations, but they were disappearing quickly. We needed something else to support the local economy, and tourism arrived at exactly the right moment.
It did not replace everything. Fishing and oil palm plantations are still important industries here. In fact, the arrival of tourists created more demand for fresh fish and gave local fishing businesses an extra market.
Manuel Antonio had one important advantage. Costa Rica already had a long history of protecting nature when tourism started to grow. Because of this, we could develop the area around ecotourism from the beginning. We did not first build everything and only afterwards begin thinking about conservation. Despite the large number of visitors, the national park has remained protected until now.
But lately I have become more cautious. As more money enters the area, it attracts people who are interested in making a quick profit rather than caring for Manuel Antonio in the long term.
Real-estate agents buy land only because they expect its price to rise. International companies propose hotels that are much larger than the area can support. Some business owners seem to view nature as an inconvenience instead of the reason tourists come here.
One hotel owner wanted to poison the frogs on his property because their calls were keeping his guests awake at night.
For me, this example says a lot. Visitors come to Manuel Antonio because it is full of life. The frogs, birds and other animals are not background decoration for a hotel. They are part of the ecosystem we are supposed to protect.
This is why the park has increased its work on environmental awareness. We have to explain that tourism can only survive here if businesses and visitors respect the nature on which the entire local industry depends.
Every day, I face a difficult balance. Tourism provides income that helps pay for conservation, but the park cannot receive an unlimited number of people. There must be enough visitors to keep the park financially secure, but not so many that the forest, beaches and wildlife begin to suffer.
We need tourists to help protect Manuel Antonio, but we cannot ask the forest to carry more visitors than it can support.
Tourists themselves can help more than they may realise. I often see people ignoring the signs and rules inside the park. Each action may seem small, but thousands of small actions create a serious impact.
My request is simple: read the signs, respect the rules and remember that you are entering the animals’ home. Manuel Antonio can continue welcoming visitors, but only if we all help keep the nature around us alive.