All You Need is Ecuador
Highlighting the best of Ecuador’s four worlds – the Pacific Coast, the Andean Highlands, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands – the All You Need is Ecuador road show arrived in Toronto on Monday (May 11).
Representatives from Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism and 20 tourism partners gathered to meet with travel agents and tour operators as part of a 10-city North American tour including stops in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York and Montreal. Next to bananas and shrimp, tourism is Ecuador’s third main source of revenue.
“In terms of passengers arriving to the country, 2014 was one of the best years ever,” said Maria Cristina Rivadeneira, sub secretary of markets for Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism. “We received 1.5 million tourists, which represents a 14.16% increase. The interesting thing about that is the world is growing around 5% and Latin America is growing around 6%.”
Rivadeneira says the Canadian market is a priority not only for being one of the top 10 countries to visit Ecuador, but also because Canadian travellers have a longer average stay in Ecuador.
“We have cruises in the Galapagos from three nights up to 15 days, but most of the people are just doing four-day tours and continuing on somewhere else,” Rivadeneira told PressToday. “The Canadian market is actually getting to know the vicinity. They are having for example eight-day cruises, so that means they really get to know the Galapagos Islands.”
Pictured at the road show, held at the Park Hyatt Hotel, are (l-r) Maria Jose Teran and Rivadeneira of Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism.
