Local based tourism: A threat or an opportunity for Galápagos?
Fisheries, tourism, farming, commerce, education, conservation, are just a few activities that are about to change drastically after the decision that the Ecuadorian government has taken to face the UNESCO designation of Galápagos as a World Heritage Site in Danger.
The government is pushing through its plan for “local based tourism,” whose goal is to benefit local residents and minimize impacts on the environment. Local based tourism will open tourism activities to management by local residents and open new, lower cost market niches
The Galapagos National Park Service (GNP) is the authority in charge to manage tourism activities in 97% of the Archipelago. The new types of tourism that will be regulated are scuba, kayaking, bay tours, surfing, and port to port tours are some of the new additions. The permits to operate these activities will be given specifically to local residents. The intent is to promote the interest of fishermen who will be willing to give up their fishing license and exchange it for a tourism permit.
Local based tourism has brought new conflicts to the Islands. Some boat operators disagree with the new model and argue that Galapagos tourism is based on wildlife viewing. Other operators consider that the only way to visit Galapagos is by boat. The new operators defend their position by saying that tourism in Galapagos has to be accessible to everybody and this new model will bring benefits to more residents.
One of the biggest concerns for conservation and tourism sector is their belief that most local residents (the new operators) don’t have any expertise in tourism operations. They say that the risk of increasing environmental impacts and lowering the quality of tourism service and safety, bring into question the model of local-based tourism.
The dual activity of scuba and land operation is also part of this conflict. Legally land and scuba activities happen in two different areas (National Park and Marine Reserve), and they need two different permits. The purpose of the GNP is to provide opportunities to new operators in the new activities. This includes scuba. Actual tour operators are unhappy with this decision and they feel affected, even though only a few of them have the legal permit for scuba operations.
On the other hand, local residents are claiming their rights as new operators against the big companies. They also want to participate of the economic benefits that tourism brings to the islands.
How this will all work out is not clear.
– Pablo Gomez
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