Every development, sovereign and working entity has its niche. Many states or countries boast adventurous landscapes and innovative festivals that highlight the brilliant cultures that exist within them. For others, there is a greater reliance on visits from international guests as major sources of income and economic growth. For a place like Costa Rica, there is a huge push for ecotourism, not only because it is a small country with limited agricultural and trade barriers, but because it is rich in biological and cultural diversity. In Lisa Campbell's article, Ecotourism in Rural and Developing Countries, she examines the concept of alternative ecotourism and its benefits for places like Costa Rica; specifically the Ostional region located on the Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. This village is one of the main promoters of the collection of turtle eggs to be distributed on the basis of a "project" approved by the government. Ostional is located in the middle of one of the most important Arribada beaches in the world for Olive Ridley turtles. An arribada, which means arrival in Spanish, describes the nesting seasons of these turtles and is found in only nine other places in the world (Campbell 5). Campbell focuses on the perceptions of local inhabitants and the views of local hotel or cabin guests to provide the basis for his research in Ostional. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Alternative ecotourism, says Campbell, “is based on community participation and even control, [which] downplays the extent to which planning and outside intervention are desirable” (3). This means that the extent to which the community must participate in ecotourism for it to work is large and there must be a balanced push for the development to be successful. This concept brings us full circle to the Triple Bottom Line because there must be a balance between economic, environmental and social sustainability. Alternative ecotourism is a new way of idealizing the concept of newness with hard work and respect for the biodiversity that exists within an area. Campbell's research in Ostional helped deduce whether or not the region was a good prospect for alternative ecotourism. Eventually the area would attract tourists and those specifically interested in the arribadas, but the practices that take place within the community regarding the collection of turtle eggs degrade the prospects of international visits. Although the “project” is necessary and has been a great contribution to local revenue collected throughout the year, it is detrimental to the attraction of ecotourism. To gather this data, Campbell decided to interview most of the families who call Ostional home as well as visitors to the region with the help of hotel owners. His research spanned the year 1995 and included seventy-six of the eighty-four total households and a census of guests staying overnight in the two local governorates, then the only overnight refuge for those staying in Ostional (Campbell 8). The interviews lasted from twenty to seventy-five minutes and included probing questions with a response scale ranging from “very good, good, neutral, bad, very bad, don't know, and other” (Campbell 8). All questions were about promoting tourism in Ostional and the effects it would have on the local population and turtle populations. Many of the families in favor of tourism justified their answers with the positive impact that tourism has or would have had on their annual income; i.e. hotel owners and guides (Campbell13). Others, in favor of tourism, concluded that only planned and regulated tourism would bring benefits to the system. Those who were against increased tourism expressed their reluctance to thwart the “project.” In conclusion, Campbell summarizes his research in four points; First, government intervention in tourism is currently minimal… Two, the tourism industry is currently small, but valuable to those who participate in it… Three, there is local support for increased tourism, although this reflects a desire for any form of development rather than beliefs about its benefits. Fourth, there is a low level of awareness among residents regarding specific opportunities in tourism, but also a willingness to work at “anything” (Campbell 16). These findings can be very indicative of how tourism, especially alternative ecotourism, will expand. in the future. As long as there is respect for the Triple Aim, ecotourism is a worthwhile enterprise. Reflections and Thoughts Having been to Costa Rica so recently, these issues are fresh on my mind. We have had the opportunity to see the controversy first hand and develop our own perceptions of how things might improve or change for those living in Ostional. We were also lucky enough to speak with Luis, owner of the Turtle Lodge, who explained to us in detail what the "project" consisted of and how it impacts the local inhabitants of the village. Reading Ecotourism in Rural Developing Countries by Lisa Campbell, I felt a strong connection to her cause and research. His focus on alternative ecotourism was very interesting with its emphasis on the cooperation of those who actually live and participate in the local system, as well as the proper planning and execution of objectives and initiatives with external government entities and regulations. I think he achieved his goal well and that his contribution to ecotourism research is significant. There are many issues regarding Ostional and the surrounding rural communities that I feel have not been expressed in this article. For example, factors outside the villagers' ultimate control that influence turtle populations during the arribada and non-arribada seasons, such as stray dogs, scavengers, predators, and climate change. Although the article was specifically focused on the effects and prospects of tourism in rural and developing areas, I believe that there is a need to discuss other aspects of the area that could influence tourism beyond the community's desire to attract visitors from other places. . While many of us love dogs, the strays that roam the beaches and streets of Ostional invade natural systems which are in constant danger of being disturbed. Dogs, as we saw on our morning beach escapade, dig up crabs and nests which are then vulnerable to scavengers such as vultures and other birds. The beaches are littered with egg debris and the overall aesthetic reveals the carnage to be the most prominent force (Campbell 6). Weather conditions also impact tourism prospects, particularly during the arribada, as heavy rains make already treacherous roads nearly impassable. These issues hardly seem to be touched on in Campbell's article, which tells me she wasn't completely respectful of the triple bottom line. Alternative ecotourism, as promising as it may seem, cannot be sustainable if all aspects of nature, economy and social structures are not satisfied. The issues Campbell focused on, such as the effects of government in Ostional politics, education and awareness of issues within the area,.