Percepción del estudiantado del Bachillerato en Turismo Ecológico, Recinto de Grecia de la UCR, sobre su aprendizaje durante la pandemia por covid-19 (2020-2021)

The objective of this research was to understand the perceptions of students in the Ecological Tourism program at the Grecia Campus in Alajuela Province, University of Costa Rica. This online questionnaire addressed the virtual learning model and strategies implemented during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 health emergency to optimize the teaching-learning process in tourism. The research has a quantitative approach and is exploratory and descriptive. The study population consisted of 14 students who entered the program in 2018 and 2019 and were still enrolled at the university. This questionnaire was used to gather information from students who attended in-person classes and were abruptly forced to go virtual in 2020. The results suggest a bimodal education approach, with in-person field trips, for tourism training. This teaching strategy allows students to experience the country's realities, its communities, and its natural and cultural heritage, while also providing early exposure to the employer sector in their professional careers. Finally, students positively valued the virtual experience and highlighted the support and work of the faculty.