Page 139 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

116 The Americas

Figure CS6.1 Map of the Galapagos Islands
Source: Modified by P. Erfurt-Cooper based on the public domain NASA satellite map (Wikimedia Commons, 2009)

doubled in ten years to 30,000 and the number of increased the number of people and money
tourists to 170,000 in 2007 (Kraul, 2009)), and the flowing into the islands. Unfortunately, the two
isolation of the islands. Risk factors associated have not consistently complemented one another.
with tourism itself are travel (airlines, cruise ships), The impact of increased tourism on the
low service standards, and tourist impact on the Galapagos Islands is twofold: economic and
fragile ecosystem of the islands. environmental. The changes in tourism are
demonstrated by the increase in available beds
Tourism from 1928 in 1991 to 3473 in 2006, the increase
Tourism to the Galapagos threatens to overwhelm in passenger-days in boats and ships, which has
the local ecosystem (invasive alien species, increased by 150 per cent from 145,408 in 1991
discharges from boats, untreated sewage), and as a to 363,226 in 2006, and a rise in the number of
result of this and the attraction of more permanent visitors to Galapagos from 40,000 in 1990 to over
population in order to further develop tourism 170,000 in 2007 (Epler, 2007). In 2006 Galapagos
the islands were placed on UNESCO’s World tourism generated USD418million for Ecuador,
Heritage in Danger list in 2007 (UNESCO, 2009). of which an estimated USD63million enters the
Although it was the private sector that gave local economy (Watkins and Cruz, 2007). In the
tourism its first big push in the late 1960s (hotels, last 20 years, debt-ridden Ecuador has moved
cruise ships), the National Tourism Board swiftly to take short-term economic advantage of
(DITURIS, established in 1974) has a mandate to the Galapagos. The financial flows from tourism
develop the country’s tourism industry. In 1984 a promote unregulated growth in local small
Master Development Program for Tourism was enterprises, which, in turn, contributes to increased
drafted, which included the Galapagos. The migration to the islands. As jobs and public
resulting programme of investment has greatly services are provided, they create a higher standard

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