ecotoursim...not always the answer
TRANSCRIPT
Ecotourism
…not always
The Answer!
Context
EcuadorAzuay ProvinceCanton Nabón
Nabón: Town Center
Indigenous Pueblos
Churches
Pre-Inca Ruins
Hiking Trails
River Valleys
Badlands
Artisan Crafts
Postcard Ready Scenery
The BroaderProject
The BroaderProject
Nabón Passport :
Nabón Overview
Natural Resources
Arts and Crafts
Culture
Ruins
Maps
The BroaderProject
Two Strategies:
Developing a Marketplace Identity… Local Branding
Tourism & Ecotourism
Evolution of an idea…
• Nabon has horses!• Nabon has real cowboys!• Nabon has ties to the Oriente
(Amazon H20-shed)• Nabon is close to Cuenca
• What if…..?
Evolution of an idea…
• Nabon could be a point of departure for a guided Andes to Amazonia horseback adventure
The Horse Trip
The Horse Trip
5 Days: Crossing the Cerro Night at a livestock camp Descending to the Oriente Arrive in Town
Rest Day
Ride back to Camp
Cross the Cerro to Nabón
The objective of the horse trip was to explore a the viability of an
ecotourism / adventure opportunity -
Guided horseback tours descending from the Andes into a tropical forest community in the Amazonian
watershed.
The Assessment Team
Ted Nugent
What worked…
Amazing People!
Idyllic Settings
Insane Horse Riding
Rivers with Vine Swings
Amazing Sunsets
Battery Powered Bailes
What didn’t Work…
Food Quality / Sanitation
Sleeping Accommodations
Near-death Experiences
What did we learn?Ecotourism
• Adventure, Beauty, Challenges, Unique Experiences…all key ingredients!
• BUT, Support Infrastructure is also essential:– Somewhat Sanitary conditions;– Minimum levels of comfort;– Safety / Response
What did we learn?Bigger Picture:
• Common portrayal: ecotourism as silver bullet• Common portrayal: ecotourism as detrimental to
the local environment
• Often overlooked point: ecotourism is HARD to pull off
• Often overlooked point: cool environments are often detrimental to the ecotourists!
• Community Development should be a diversified enterprise; ecotourism can be a component, but should not be the sole focus!