Peru anda Costa Rica. Geopolitics of tourist developpment in Latin America
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Abstract
In Latin America, Peru and Costa Rica have become two references for international tourism; Peru thanks to its cultural heritage, especially Machu Picchu, and for Costa Rica, its rich natural resources have been the impetus for ecotourism development. However, a more in depth analysis of tourist development in these countries shows how exterior factors, especially political ones, are equally important and we are thus forced to reconsider the role of one supposed «tourist potential». An analysis of the current configurations of the tourist systems in each country reveals that they are largely distinct. This study is based on a conception of tourist phenomena that is not yet well known. Specifically, the concept analyzes external factors, political influences and the role of tourists. For this reason, tourism appears to be an excellent For this reason, tourism appears to be an excellent observation prism of other realities.