I think the younger generation is more interested in tourism than farming because tourism probably feels more flexible, modern, and financially rewarding. Farming is hard physical work, and it depends on things people cannot fully control, like weather, crop prices, pests, and global demand. Tourism, on the other hand, can turn the same land into something more profitable. Instead of only selling crops, a family can offer tours, food, lodging, animal experiences, coffee tastings, fruit tastings, or cultural activities. Today the speaker for the Pineapple farm showed this exact idea. He had food for us to eat, which he sold, he had souvenirs to be sold, and so many shirts. This shows that outside of the tour he had other streams of revenue. For younger people, that may feel more exciting because it involves business, marketing, English, customer service, and social media. It also gives them a way to stay connected to their family’s land without doing traditional farm labor every day.

At the same time, there are risks. If too many families shift toward tourism, farming could become less valued, even though it is still necessary. If tourism slows down because of a recession, pandemic, or natural disaster, families could lose that income quickly. Another unexpected consequence is that land might be changed to please tourists instead of supporting long-term agriculture or the environment. Overall, ecotourism and agrotourism seem like smart ways for Tico farmers to diversify, but they work best when tourism supports farming instead of replacing it.