TY - JOUR
T1 - “Rethink and reset” tourism in the Galapagos Islands
T2 - Stakeholders' views on the sustainability of tourism development
AU - Burbano, Diana V.
AU - Valdivieso, Juan Carlos
AU - Izurieta, Juan Carlos
AU - Meredith, Thomas C.
AU - Ferri, Diego Quiroga
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/11
Y1 - 2022/11
N2 - Tourism growth in biodiversity conservation areas presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic brought both into focus in the Galapagos. This study engages with tourism service providers and regulators in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, to explore how ‘sustainability’ has been integrated into evolving links between tourism and conservation since the implementation of the Ecotourism Model a decade ago. Findings suggest that to achieve sustainability, priorities include 1) engaging local stakeholders in a shared vision for tourism development; 2) addressing community concerns, especially regarding basic services, health and education; 3) assessing and managing the balance between “high-end” regulated tourism and low-cost informal tourism. These illustrate challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism in the Galapagos and elsewhere.
AB - Tourism growth in biodiversity conservation areas presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic brought both into focus in the Galapagos. This study engages with tourism service providers and regulators in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, to explore how ‘sustainability’ has been integrated into evolving links between tourism and conservation since the implementation of the Ecotourism Model a decade ago. Findings suggest that to achieve sustainability, priorities include 1) engaging local stakeholders in a shared vision for tourism development; 2) addressing community concerns, especially regarding basic services, health and education; 3) assessing and managing the balance between “high-end” regulated tourism and low-cost informal tourism. These illustrate challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism in the Galapagos and elsewhere.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - Overtourism
KW - Stakeholder perceptions
KW - Sustainability
KW - Sustainable tourism
KW - The Galapagos Islands
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85132240597&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.annale.2022.100057
DO - 10.1016/j.annale.2022.100057
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85132240597
SN - 2666-9579
VL - 3
JO - Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights
JF - Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights
IS - 2
M1 - 100057
ER -
