Santiago Granda. (Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador)
Think Ecuador. Think nature. That’s the message from
Santiago Granda, vice minister of tourism promotion for the South American
country, who noted, “sustainability is not just a trend for us.” He continued: “We
were the first country and are still maybe the only country where nature has
rights in our Constitution and that has been the case since 2008.”
In recent years, Ecuador, said Granda, has ramped up efforts
to preserve its natural gifts, including facilitating the world's largest
"debt-for-nature" swap on record, selling a bond that will funnel at
least $12 million a year into the conservation of the Galapagos Islands, one of
the world's most precious ecosystems. And private investors, said Granda, are serious about sustainability,
with some being certified as B Corporations, which meet high standards for
social impact.
The very first UNESCO natural heritage site, noted Granda,
is in Ecuador – the Galapagos, so designated in 1978. In fact, he said, almost
30% of the surface of Ecuador is comprised of protected natural areas. That is
a priority for the country, said Granda, who noted that the Galapagos has the
same number of hotel beds, flights and cruise ship passenger arrivals as in
2002 – different providers but the same numbers. “That says a lot about us not
being greenwashing or being trendy,” he said.
The country continues to take steps toward preservation,
including increasing the fee for entering the Galapagos from $100 to $200.
Despite that increase, said Granda, there have been no cancellations “because
travelers know the money is being spent properly for conservation of the islands.”
In addition, Granda said that Ecuador
had reduced the number of people allowed entry into national parks to curb
overtourism.
In recent years, said Granda, the government has worked more
closely with Indigenous populations, including developing 30 centers run by local residents who work to
turn their communities around – through efforts like moving from deforestation
to tourism-related projects.
Those living in the Galapagos, said Granda, “are the
stewards of the destination.” Stewardship, he said, is a very important aspect of
conservation, “and local people are the unsung heroes who work with passion and
commitment.”
For such a small destination (Ecuador is about the size of
Colorado), said Granda, “we have one of the most biodiverse environments
anywhere.” He said the number of species in one square mile of Yasuni National Park is the same in North
America. The park boasts 4,000 species of plants, 600 species of birds and
nearly 200 species of mammals.
But Ecuador’s appeal to visitors goes well beyond nature,
said Granda. Culturally, he said, “we also have an extremely rich and well
preserved heritage.” Consider the fact, said Granda, that the capital city of
Quito was the first UNESCO World Heritage site. Quito’s historic center is
among the largest and best-preserved in the Americas.
The country, said Granda, is also a mecca for gastronomy lovers. With
daylight from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, he said, “We have the freshest
products, and that means great food all year.” Ecuador, said Granda, has a long
history of making chocolate that goes back centuries, and the country’s suppliers
regularly win awards for their chocolate.
Getting to Ecuador from the U.S. is available via flights
from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Atlanta and Houston. And there is also a service
from New York on Avianca. Also, making visiting hassle-free for U.S. visitors
is that U.S. dollars have been Ecuador's currency for 24 years.
On the cruising front, there are upscale vessels on the
Amazon and the Napa River, an Amazon tributary. On the Pacific Coast, there are
luxury yacht cruises with Kontiki. The most high-profile cruises are the
multiple cruise operators that visit the Galapagos.
There are myriad options for planning a trip to Ecuador, but
Granda strongly advises travel advisors to design holidays that go beyond the
Galapagos. He said that some visitors come to the Galapagos for a week “but
wish they had spent more time exploring the mainland.”
There is a tour product for every visitor to Ecuador, said
Granda. There is adventure travel – like whitewater rafting- but many less
rigorous options. "We hope that people will step out of their comfort
zones,” he said, “whether it be in gastronomy
or cultural immersion or even nightlife and lifestyle. We don’t look at you as
a tourist coming on a trip but as a traveler who will have your mind opened by
the end of your journey in Ecuador.”
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