Sustainable Ecotourism
Ecotourism has expanded rapidly and globally over the past few decades. While a huge influx of ecotourists may be good for a host country’s economy, large numbers of tourists (despite their good intentions) have a negative effect on the environment. In the Galapagos, the goals of conservation and expanding ecotourism clash on a regular basis. Trash from tour boats has been found to kill marine life, exotic species accidentally introduced by tourists/the tourism industry are devastating native wildlife, and the growth of the Galapagos’ permanent human population to support tourism is causing habitat fragmentation and the destruction of geologic structures- and the list continues. A proper balance between development and conservation is hard to sustain, but can be achieved through education and management of tourism growth.
As I’ve been reading more and more about the negative effects of tourism on the Galapagos, I’ve been feeling increasingly guilty about our visit. Fortunately, with our extensive preparation, we should have less of an impact on the islands than most. In the future, I hope Ecuador will be able to market mainland opportunities for ecotourism more effectively, and possibly draw away tourists from the Galapagos.
As I’ve been reading more and more about the negative effects of tourism on the Galapagos, I’ve been feeling increasingly guilty about our visit. Fortunately, with our extensive preparation, we should have less of an impact on the islands than most. In the future, I hope Ecuador will be able to market mainland opportunities for ecotourism more effectively, and possibly draw away tourists from the Galapagos.