ETUR BLOG

Is responsible tourism worth it?  Responsible tourism is a conscious and sustainable way of traveling that try to minimize the environmental, economic, and social impact that tourism can have. It is a way of traveling that respects the local culture and nature, while at the same time contributing to the development of the host communities.  To practice responsible tourism, it is important to learn about the sustainable practices of destinations and tour operators, as well as consider the impact of our own decisions as tourists. Some recommended practices include choosing sustainable accommodation and activities, respecting local culture and customs, and reducing the consumption of natural resources and energy.  By practicing responsible tourism, we can contribute to preserving the natural and cultural resources of tourist destinations, as well as supporting the economic and social development of local communities. This allows us to enjoy a more authentic and meaningful tr...

Professional tourism services are essential to ensure a safe, comfortable, and trouble-free travel experience. Some of the reasons that show why professional services are important include:  Knowledge and experience: Tourism professionals have extensive knowledge and experience in tourist destinations, accommodations, activities, and transportation, which allows them to provide accurate and personalized recommendations.  Problem solving: Tourism professionals are trained to anticipate and solve travel problems, such as flight delays, accommodation issues or activity cancellations, reducing stress and uncertainty for travelers.  Safety and security: Professional tourism services ensure the safety and protection of travelers, from choosing safe destinations and accommodations to arranging safe transfers and providing medical assistance in case of emergencies.  Saving time and money: Professional tourism services can help travelers save time and money by reserving a...

Holy Week in Ecuador is a major religious holiday celebrated during the week before Easter and is marked by consecutive processions, masses, or other religious events that commemorated the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  One of the most popular traditions in Holy Week in Ecuador is the route of the seven churches (San José Church, San Alejo Church, Santo de Domingo Church, San Agustín Church, La Merced Church, Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles Church, Cathedral Metropolitan of San Pedro Apóstol) in Guayaquil. This route consists of visiting seven different churches on the night of Holy Thursday, where they pray and meditate on the different moments of the Passion of Christ. This tradition is deeply rooted in Ecuadorian culture and is a way of remembering the suffering of Jesus before his crucifixion.  Another important tradition in Holy Week in Ecuador is the Good Friday dinner, in which a traditional dish called fanesca is eaten. The fanesca is a typical Holy W...

Travel in a responsible way: Travelers must be aware of their impact on the environment and local communities. It is important to choose sustainable options and respect the culture and traditions of the places they visit.   Be Informed: Before travel, it is important to know all the requirements for entry and the restrictions related to pandemic in the chosen destiny.   Be Flexible: The pandemic has made it difficult to plan, so travelers need to be flexible and ready for last-minute changes.  Respect sanitary measures: It is important to follow the sanitary measures recommended by local authorities and respect the policies for the use of a mask, physical distancing and hand washing.  Support the local economy: Travelers can contribute to the local economy by purchasing products and services from local vendors. They can also support local organizations and environmental conservation projects. 

Bird watching or also known as ornithological tourism consists of the search, observation, and identification of birds, as well as enjoying the nature found in their habitat. Fans of this activity travel from one place to another to study as many birds as possible. This type of tourism is not invasive or aggressive, which is why it is known as one of the most sustainable forms of ecotourism.  Since the post-pandemic tourist reactivation, this activity has become a new tourist trend by offering the opportunity to enjoy and contemplate in open spaces surrounded by nature where endemic species predominate. Bird tourism has taken a role of great importance in Ecuador due to its biodiversity, which leads it to occupy the fourth place in the world with 1680 species of birds that represent 17% of the world total according to the Ecuadorian Committee of Ornithological Records (CERO). Additionally, Ecuador is ranked thirteenth among the countries with the highest endemism with a total numbe...

Women represent the majority of the workforce around the world; however, they carry out activities with less remuneration and little recognition. The travel and tourism sector provides nearly 330 million jobs around the world, in addition to contributing 10.3% to world GDP. UNWTO, through its Department of Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility, in collaboration with UN Women and various external allies around the world, has been working since 2007 to promote gender equality and women's empowerment through the application of policies associated with this matter in the tourism sector. According to the Global Report on Women in Tourism – Second Edition published by the UNWTO; women represent 54% of the labor force in the tourism sector. In the year 2021, female empowerment and the opening of society have achieved more than 277 million jobs around the world, among which there are erroneously stereotyped jobs for women, which exposes a current scenario surrounded by inequalities in ...

Las mujeres representan la mayoría de fuerza laboral alrededor del mundo; no obstante, realizan actividades bajo menos remuneración y poco reconocimiento. El sector de viajes y turismo brinda cerca de 330 millones de plazas de trabajo alrededor del mundo, además de contribuir con el 10.3% al PIB mundial. La OMT, a través de su departamento de Ética, Cultura y Responsabilidad Social, en colaboración con ONU Mujeres y diversos aliados externos alrededor del mundo, lleva trabajando desde 2007 en promover la igualdad de género y empoderamiento femenino mediante la aplicación de políticas asociadas a esta materia en el sector turístico. Según el Global Report on Women in Tourism – Second Edition publicado por la OMT, las mujeres representan un 54% de la fuerza laboral del sector turístico. En el año 2021, el empoderamiento femenino y apertura de la sociedad ha logrado que se den más de 277 millones de empleos alrededor del mundo, entre los cuales hay trabajos estereotipados erróneamente par...

Cacao, la identidad del Ecuador El origen del cacao fue internacionalmente reconocido de Centroamérica. Sin embargo, una investigación realizada por el antropólogo Francisco Valdez en el año 2009, reconoció a Ecuador como “La Cuna del Cacao”.   Su domesticación tuvo lugar en la Amazonia Ecuatoriana, específicamente en el cantón Palanda, ubicado en la provincia de Zamora Chinchipe, a través de una expedición donde se encontraron restos de cacao en las vasijas usadas por la cultura Mayo Chinchipe-Marañón. Con este descubrimiento se pudo afirmar que, en Sudamérica, específicamente en Ecuador, se usó y domesticó cacao hace 5,300 años, antes que, los Olmecas y Mayas en Centroamérica hace 3,800 años. El tipo de cacao cultivado en Palanda fue el cacao fino de aroma, el cual representa a nuestro país. En la actualidad, la exportación del cacao es de suma importancia económica para Ecuador por la generación de 940 millones de dólares. Además de brindar trabajo a más de 600,000 ecuatori...