Organic Production and Community-based Tourism: the Experience of ASOPROLA (Altamira de Biolley, Costa Rica)

Abstract

The experience of the association ASOPROLA, in the municipality of Biolley, Costa Rica, where diversified agricultural production, small scale agroindustry and the establishment of diverse commercialization networks are combined, with a tourism managed by the community, is a response to the current rural crisis caused by agrochemicals dependency used for coffee production and the various effects derived from it. Through observation work, led in various visits between 2014 and 2019, indepth interviews and discussion groups, a private initiative is analyzed to show the community’s capacity to change the course of rural development, with a more inclusive and sustainable strategy.