NATURAL APPEAL IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS OF TOURISM SECTOR
Ecuador’s attractions as a tourist destination have been little publicized, but that could change when the Miss Universe contest is held here

The Miss Universe events launched in Guayaquil proved a real image boost

Ecuador contains some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet, and has the potential to become a world leader in the fast developing market for ecotourism.

Blessed with an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, Ecuador is recognized as one of seven megadiverse countries that are home to up to 80 percent of living species.

Nowhere is this variety more apparent than on the famous Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin made the observations that led to his theory of evolution.

Ecuador also boasts a remarkable topography, ranging from volcanoes and the snow-capped mountains of the Andes to tropical Amazonian rain forest and the beautiful beaches of the coastal region.

In addition to its natural attractions, Ecuador offers opportunities for cultural, historical, and archeological tourism. The ethnic mix that comprises the country’s human population, with the indigenous and mestizo groups predominating, has resulted in a rich cultural diversity. Sophisticated indigenous cultures flourished long before the land was conquered by the Incas in the 15th century, or the arrival of the Spanish in 1534.

Beautiful beaches line Ecuador’s coast, which has potential for further tourism development

Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, has retained its colonial atmosphere and is regarded by some as the most beautiful city in South America. Guayaquil, the largest city, is more of a modern metropolis, but is developing its tourist infrastructure and is close to the beach resorts along the Pacific coast.

Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the Ecuadorian economy, both as a source of foreign exchange and as a direct and indirect provider of employment. The largest flow of visitors comes from the United States, particularly the west coast. Both the United States and Europe are being targeted in a tourism promotion campaign, and the staging of Miss Universe in Ecuador this year will be seized as a major opportunity to put the country on the world tourist map.

The government, which is working with Ecuador’s private sector to develop the tourism sector, is nevertheless aware of the need to maintain and preserve the natural environment.

The principle is applauded by Metropolitan Touring, a Quito-based company, which pioneered ecotours of the Galapagos islands in the 1960s and today has its own fleet of deluxe vessels in the archipelago.

Eduardo Proaño, the firm’s Honorary President, emphasizes that respect for the islands’ environment has always been regarded as a priority. “We were the only operator back in 1968, now there are more than 70.

“We demonstrated to others the way to conduct group tour visits while conserving the ecological treasure that is Galapagos. We were the pioneers and we opened the door to thousands of visitors from all over the world.”

JORGE LLABRÉS GRAU Corporate General Manager of Oro Verde Management

Quality is a market winner for hotel chain
The Ecuadorian hotel chain Oro Verde is the largest in the country, with five hotels, including two in Guayaquil. According to Jorge Llabrés Grau, the company’s General Manager, the competitive advantage that it has over its competitors is the high standard of personalized service. “We take service to the guest very seriously, and we are the only ones who give European-style service,” he says.

The flagship of the group, Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil, is located in the heart of the city’s commercial and financial center, and is the only hotel in Ecuador to carry the prestigious “Leading Hotels of the World” designation.
The first five-star hotel to be established in Guayaquil, Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil opened in 1981. Recently, the hotel’s capacity for hosting large events has been expanded, with halls and meeting rooms offering flexible spaces that can be adapted for gatherings of various sizes of up to 1,200 people. Further improvements are in progress, including the installation of a wireless internet network.

“We have a plan for the next two years for remodeling the rooms, changing the elevators, and changing the central telephone system,” says Sergio Rosarios, the hotel’s General Manager. “We are currently getting the technology together. Our goal is to be the most luxurious hotel in Guayaquil.”

Hotel Oro Verde, Guayaquil, carries the “Leading Hotels of the World” designation

Mr. Rosarios believes that Ecuador has much to offer and should be further opened up to tourism. He particularly sees a great deal of potential for Guayaquil as a center for conventions.

“Ecuador is ideally placed in the middle of the American continent, and its airports and ports are being improved and expanded. Guayaquil is being regenerated, and having a place for conventions is a step that the city should take. It is being discussed, and there definitely will be something concrete within the next two years.”
Henry Raad Anton, a member of Oro Verde’s Board of Directors, says, “Guayaquil has always been a business city, and today it is a city of which we can be proud.”

The other Oro Verde hotel in Guayaquil is Hotel Unipark, situated close to the Malecón 2000 waterfront. Both of the hotels in the city cater mainly to business guests. In the Oro Verde hotel in Manta however, one of the most important tourism centers in the country, where the hotel faces the ocean, most of the guests are Ecuadorians on vacation.

The other two Oro Verde hotels are to be found in the city of Cuenca, a city of industry and commerce with colonial architecture, and in Machala, south of Guayaquil and known locally as the World Banana Capital, where the hotel attracts an international clientele.