Population growth and tourism
The Galapagos tourism industry began in the late 1960s with around 2,000 visitors per year. Since then, it has grown to accommodate nearly 3,500 guests per night. The growth of the industry has brought both good and bad to the islands; Santa Cruz’s economy and living conditions have improved drastically, but the other islands haven’t shared in their prosperity. In fact, unstable population growth, socioeconomic divide, civil unrest, and the number of introduced species have all been observed increasing alongside the growth of the tourism industry. In addition, tourists have become increasingly dissatisfied with Galapagos nature and wildlife, and have generally been unaware of ecotourism opportunities in mainland Ecuador.
It’s a shame that tourists aren’t appreciating the Galapagos as much as they used to, especially with all the damage tourism has done to the islands (and their human and nonhuman inhabitants). Hopefully, in the future, Ecuador will be able to properly advertise mainland ecotourism activities that can both draw visitors away from the islands as well as potentially replace natural resource extraction as a driving economic force.
It’s a shame that tourists aren’t appreciating the Galapagos as much as they used to, especially with all the damage tourism has done to the islands (and their human and nonhuman inhabitants). Hopefully, in the future, Ecuador will be able to properly advertise mainland ecotourism activities that can both draw visitors away from the islands as well as potentially replace natural resource extraction as a driving economic force.