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What others say about Horizontes

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In the Beginning...

(Excerpted from Stanford University case study 2002, written by Martha Honey, Director of The International Ecotourism Society [TIES])

In 1984 Horizontes opened as a small ticketing agency at a time when Central America was embroiled in civil wars and international tourism to the region had not yet begun.

In its first year, Horizontes handled three groups, and in the second, eight. The third year, 1988, proved decisive. President Oscar Arias had just received the Nobel Peace Prize and then the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) chose Costa Rica as the location for its general assembly. Horizontes was chosen to organize the conference and Horizontes President and co-founder Tamara Budowski was tapped to give a speech on the growth of ecotourism in Costa Rica.

"I was only 28 and it was one of the most frightening things," recalls Budowski. I wanted to make a good impression, and I also wanted to represent my country to the conservation world as a model, to show what we were doing."

Both the conference and the speech were a success. As Costa Rica became increasingly popular, Horizontes' reputation spread among the international scientific and naturalist community. More contracts followed, including one for a major World Wildlife Fund meeting in Costa Rica that same year. Four years after its founding, Budowski and co-founder Margarita Forero decided to buy out their partners whom they felt did not share their corporate vision and commitment to ecotourism.

"Horizontes is one of the pioneers in this business of ecotourism," explained Canadian consultant Terry Pratt, who worked with Horizontes for many years. "Horizontes perceives its role as not just operating tourism, but also helping to educate" through its newsletter, seminars for staff and guides, and working with Costa Rican student groups. Horizontes was one of the first companies in the country to begin recycling in its office.

In addition, following the IUCN conference, the partners decided that Horizontes would pay Budowski to be a public advocate for sound ecotourism. Since then Budowski has been played an active role in various international conferences and organizations, as well as a leadership role within Costa Rica's tourism industry and environmental community. Forero, who is much more reserved, has maintained a low public profile.

By 2001, Horizontes had a staff of 50 full time employees and 25 guides. And it was using some of its profits to try to move its environmental and sustainability practices to higher levels.

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Horizontes named best tour company in 2005