Tourism is now very important to our community, but it arrived through the loss of an older economy. Agriculture and cattle-breeding once supported most local families. As land was sold to foreign investors, people were pushed towards tourism because there were fewer other ways to earn a living.
Our town of Villa Real shows the contrast clearly. Around ninety percent of the land here still belongs to Costa Ricans. At Playa Tamarindo, where the tourists and most of the money are found, ownership is almost completely the other way around.
Tourism has created many jobs, especially for young people and, to a lesser extent, for women. Almost every young person in town works in tourism in some way. But very few reach management positions. Those jobs tend to remain outside local hands.
We work throughout the tourism industry, but we are rarely the people managing it or deciding its direction.
Tourism also has a strong cultural influence. Young people copy the language, movements and style of the surfers they see. Television and other media contribute to this, but tourists themselves are also part of the example.
Some behaviour directly conflicts with local values. Residents see tourists and local people having sex in public places. Alcohol and drug abuse have become the most serious problems facing our young people.
By my estimate, half of the young people in this area now use drugs or alcohol. Whatever the exact number may be, the scale of the problem is impossible to ignore.
Visitors become examples for our children whether they intend to or not.
I do not say this because I believe tourism is bad in itself. Tourism has greatly improved education, especially technical education. It has brought opportunities that local families value.
But economic opportunity should not require us to accept every social consequence. Visitors can enjoy Tamarindo while respecting the community that lives here throughout the year.
I ask tourists to learn something about our culture before arriving. Take an interest in the people, values and habits that already exist here. Adapt your behaviour to the place instead of expecting the place to adapt completely to you.
Choose restaurants and services run by local people. This helps Costa Rican families benefit more directly and keeps part of the tourism economy under local control.
Most importantly, do not add to Tamarindo’s drug problem. Refuse to participate and show young people that enjoying a holiday does not require harmful behaviour.
Tourism can be a good force in our community. For that to happen, visitors must bring more than money: they must also bring respect, responsibility and an understanding that local children are learning from everything they see.