FOUR WORLDS

Capitalizing on its “four worlds,” namely the Amazon, Andes, coast, and Galápagos Islands, Ecuadorian tourism is set to gain traction as a high-growth sector contributing to the development of the country’s economy thanks to considerable increases in visitor numbers. This would not be possible without success in attracting new airlines to open new connections or expanding frequency and capacity. The country is keenly aware of the benefits of promoting touristic development and increasing the inflow of tourists. Investment opportunities lie in subsectors such as travel agencies, transportation, infrastructure, hotels, and restaurants. There are two main programs addressing investments in tourism. One of them is the Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns) program, a regional development program trying to replicate a successful case from Mexico in Ecuador. Additionally, the Riviera del Pacífico program is a business portfolio with 66 projects open for investments. This project has the direct involvement of the president’s office and is considering an investment of USD329 million. This will allow coastal tourism in Ecuador to flourish. Creating destinations within the country will also encourage local travelers to visit more of their country. Aside from sitting down with the Minister of Tourism, Rosi Prado de Holguín, to discuss Ecuador’s strategy to lure international tourists, we also met with representatives from different regions to get an insight into their specific plans to put their destinations on the map. These interviews form the backbone of this chapter. The city of Quito is also capitalizing on its status as an entry point to the country and is targeting countries including the US, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, the UK, and Germany. w, Quito’s old city center is being revived, and historical sites are being offered up to hospitality groups to encourage investment. Another region gaining traction is Manta and its province Manabí, which is developing its own tourism offer. A port passenger terminal in Manta has been built allowing to pave the way for the consolidation of cruise tourism. Nevertheless, Galápagos keeps being Ecuador’s most precious tourism asset and can still further be used to attract tourists that can do multi-destinations trips within Ecuador. Reflecting on this, Paulina Burbano de Lara, Executive President of Metropolitan Touring, the leading travel agency commercializing premium tours to the islands, stated “Galápagos is the crown jewel of Ecuador’s tourism sector. Both the public and private sectors have been working to create synergies between this destination and others. Foreign travelers cannot reach Galápagos without going to Quito or Guayaquil. It is important to focus on other parts of the country so that travelers can better discover Ecuador.”