Ecotoursim...not always the answer

Ecotourism

…not always

The Answer!

Context

EcuadorAzuay ProvinceCanton Nabón

Nabón: Town Center

Indigenous Pueblos

Churches

Pre-Inca Ruins

Hiking Trails

River Valleys

Badlands

Artisan Crafts

Postcard Ready Scenery

The BroaderProject

The BroaderProject

Nabón Passport :

Nabón Overview

Natural Resources

Arts and Crafts

Culture

Ruins

Maps

The BroaderProject

Two Strategies:

Developing a Marketplace Identity… Local Branding

Tourism & Ecotourism

Evolution of an idea…

• Nabon has horses!• Nabon has real cowboys!• Nabon has ties to the Oriente

(Amazon H20-shed)• Nabon is close to Cuenca

• What if…..?

Evolution of an idea…

• Nabon could be a point of departure for a guided Andes to Amazonia horseback adventure

The Horse Trip

The Horse Trip

5 Days: Crossing the Cerro Night at a livestock camp Descending to the Oriente Arrive in Town

Rest Day

Ride back to Camp

Cross the Cerro to Nabón

The objective of the horse trip was to explore a the viability of an

ecotourism / adventure opportunity -

Guided horseback tours descending from the Andes into a tropical forest community in the Amazonian

watershed.

The Assessment Team

Ted Nugent

What worked…

Amazing People!

Idyllic Settings

Insane Horse Riding

Rivers with Vine Swings

Amazing Sunsets

Battery Powered Bailes

What didn’t Work…

Food Quality / Sanitation

Sleeping Accommodations

Near-death Experiences

What did we learn?Ecotourism

• Adventure, Beauty, Challenges, Unique Experiences…all key ingredients!

• BUT, Support Infrastructure is also essential:– Somewhat Sanitary conditions;– Minimum levels of comfort;– Safety / Response

What did we learn?Bigger Picture:

• Common portrayal: ecotourism as silver bullet• Common portrayal: ecotourism as detrimental to

the local environment

• Often overlooked point: ecotourism is HARD to pull off

• Often overlooked point: cool environments are often detrimental to the ecotourists!

• Community Development should be a diversified enterprise; ecotourism can be a component, but should not be the sole focus!