Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 6.1 Location of Galápagos Marine Reserve, the Galápagos National Park (in light grey) and
the inhabited areas
Is Sustainability Possible in a Hot Spot of World Tourism?
The Galápagos confronts in microcosm the full complexity of balancing economic
growth and ecological sustainability. The ecological challenge is pronounced in an
isolated archipelago whose singular environment evolved in isolation but must now
accommodate 30,000 inhabitants and 170,000 visitors per year. It is impossible to supply
the water, food and energy for this population from the islands' own resource endow-
ments without huge investment and careful management. Given the profound challenges
in attaining real 'sustainability' in this sense, here we address the problem of how to
mitigate existing negative impacts. In essence, we advocate a policy approach that slows
economic growth and the flow of people and goods and stabilizes population growth in
the islands and invests in the livelihood, education and future of the existing resident
community. Such an approach immediately confronts the fact that the Galápagos-related
tourism brings in a large part of Ecuador's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With the
uncertain price of oil, which is Ecuador's main export commodity and source of interna-
tional revenues, there will be greater pressure to develop industries such as tourism.
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