University of Aarhus ECOTOURISM AS A WAY TO PROTECT ...

Ecotourism as a sustainable way to protect nature
fishermen and floating hotels (most not owned by Galapagueños) are virtually
non-existent, most food and other suppliers are imported (Honey, 1999).
b. Legislation/Regulation
Gradually steps were taken towards conservation. In 1935 the Ecuadorian
government passed legislation to protect the islands wildlife. But the legislation
was not enforced; it was not until 1959 that the Ecuadorian government declared
97% of the islands a national park. The remaining 3% of settlement were already
established (Honey, 1999).
In 1986 the Ecuadorian government declared 50.000 square kilometres of
water reserved. Under a new special Galapagos law enacted in 1998, the
reserved area has been enlarged to over 130.000 square kilometres in size. It is
now the second largest marine reserve in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef
in Australia.
To visit the National park you have to be accompanied by a licensed
guide. Naturalist guides are licensed by the National park, after required training
courses given by the park and Charles Darwin Research Station, and finally
passing an examination. The park’s regulations require a maximum of 16
visitors per guide in a single group.
One way to collect money for protection and conservation is through park
entrance fees. In the early 1990s park entrance fees, paid at the airport, covered
the entire stay at the islands. The tax were 40$ for foreigners and 0.16$ for
nationals. Only 10-20% of the revenues went to support the national park
(Honey, 1999). Through the 1990s the entrance fees raise from 40$ to 100$, and
in 1994 the government set aside 40% for protection of the National park. In the
mid-1990s tourism was the fourth largest foreign currency earner in Ecuador,
after petroleum, bananas and shrimps (Honey, 1999).
48