Ecuador: Is Tourism Hurting the Ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands?

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit its tourism industry, Ecuador is trying to bounce back. One of the areas they see that would attract many tourists is the Galapagos Islands.

Known for its role in inspiring Charles Darwin to come up with the theory of evolution, the Galapagos Islands are home to thousands of species unique to the area. However, with tourists returning, the question remains of whether or not tourism might place these unique species in danger.

The Ecuadorian government is the caretaker of the islands, as well as its unique ecosystem. However, with the country opening up to tourists again, the government must do a balancing act to help the economy by profiting off tourists and ensuring the Galapagos ecosystems remain protected.

Ecuador Government Promoting Ecotourism in Galapagos Islands

According to the Harvard International Review, "the beauty of the islands was initially meant to be shared in small, environmentally friendly, doses." In order to do this, the Ecuadorian government and the people living on the islands worked together to implement ecotourism.

The practice promotes tourists visiting the island while also conserving natural land and species. Tours are heavily regulated by the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNDP) and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism.

These regulations include basic commitments to incorporate local residents and their products and minimize the pollution that tourists often cause.

The practices aim to limit the damage caused by humans to the Galapagos Islands' unique ecosystem. The Ecuadorian government also tried limiting mainland Ecuadorians from moving to the islands and profiting off tourists.

How Tourism Negatively Affects the Galapagos Islands

Tourists can explore Galapagos by land or by sea. According to The Travel, visitors can get to the islands via a flight from Quinto or Guayaquil.

There are two airports, Seymour Airport, located on Baltra Island, and the San Cristobal Airport, on San Cristobal Island. There are daily boat trips and cruises to explore the islands.

As the pandemic also begins to wane, several airlines are now scheduling more flights into the islands. According to Simple Flying, start-up airline Equair has doubled its flights into the Galapagos Islands to boost tourism.

However, many see this boost as having some negative effects as well. Harvard has pointed out that endangered Galapagos species are at high risk of extinction due to improper ecotourism practices.

Ships that are also not properly managed may also contaminate seawater if they have paint flecks, as well as leaking engine oil.

The negative effects can affect not just the iconic Galapagos Tortoises and Marine Iguanas but also endangered Galapagos penguins and the Galapagos shark.

Travelers can also introduce invasive species into the islands, such as rats and cats. These could wreak havoc in the ecosystem, as they can devastate entire species if left unchecked.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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