The Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador's Maria Alexandra Ordonez & Alejandra Zea with Ann Martillo, Toronto's Consul General of Ecuador (centre)
Nancy & Lisa Zupancic of Destination by Design
Susie & Ram Khosla of Khosla World Travels
Tour East's Edwin Ching & David Yeung with Jim Wilson of Royal Galapagos
Goway's Melissa Buttrill, Adam Hodge & Kerry-Ann Slater
Where can you find 4 different explorable ecosystems within one country? Showcasing the Amazon Jungle, the Galapagos Islands, the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Coast – Ecuador is considered one of the most bio-diverse destinations in the world and is making it to the top of multiple publications’ must-see lists. Making it to YTO earlier this week were reps from the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador as they hosted 100 agents and tour operators to breakfast, presentations, face-to-face workshops with Ecuadorian suppliers and a specially prepared Ecuadorian lunch.
According to Alejandra Zea, Market Director for the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, her destination has everything that Canadian travellers are looking for. “We have culture; we have gastronomy; we have nature; we have adventure. And weather is a very important factor – Ecuador’s weather is good all year round.”
The destination is definitely gaining popularity. In 2012, the country saw an 8.6% growth in Canadian visitors where 26,980 arrivals were marked. Quito’s new and expanded airport which opened earlier this year makes accessing the country more convenient. And launching this June, travellers will have the opportunity to explore Ecuador by rail on a new 4-day train itinerary between Quito and Guayaquil.
According to Zea, Ecuador consistently practices ‘conscious tourism.’ “If we don’t have a good relationship with nature, with animals and our plant life, we cannot have tourism,” she said. “We cannot offer what we don’t have.” Zea mentioned several sustainable practices such as recycling water in the Galapagos to building with natural materials in the Amazon.
And coming to Travalliance’s Travel Agent Academy on May 22nd is the Ecuador Specialist Program where agents and tour operators can learn more about the destination, gain tips on how to sell it and take part in its training incentive platform.
