Should tourism to the Galapagos Islands end?

By Nelson Alcantara l Special to eTN

With the Galapagos Islands officially making the United Nations' list of World Heritage Sites in danger, should tourism to the fragile ecosystem end?

The International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) has said it concurs with the findings of the United Nations stating that the Galapagos Islands is being threatened by tourism, invasive species and migration. These factors, the IGTOA said, “are causing unprecedented pressure on the islands and that urgent action is needed."

This development comes after UN's World Heritage Committee this week added the Galapagos Islands to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. The committee was Christchurch, New Zealand to discuss the status of some of the 830 sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

The IGTOA’s track record shows that it has been trying to call attention to the threat that the Galapagos Islands is facing. In May, it said, "The Galapagos Islands are at a critical turning point, and decisions taken now will determine whether its fragile terrestrial and marine ecosystems can survive human impact.”

It also said, “The future of Galapagos rests on science, conservation, education, and proper management, but these have not kept pace with the growth of tourism and human settlement.”

In April, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa declared the Galapagos Islands under a state of emergency and called for on the both public and private sectors to take measures to curb further environmental damage.

According to the IGTOA, the number of days spent by passengers of cruise ships has increased by 150 percent over the past 15 years, for example. “This increase has fueled a growth in immigration and the ensuing inter-island traffic has led to the introduction of more invasive species,” it said.

Inscribed in 1978, the Galapagos is the first site to have been placed on the World Heritage List. It is situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the South American continent. The Galapagos’ 19 islands and their surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique living museum and showcase of evolution.

Printable Version | published Jun 29, 2007

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