Demographics of Change: Modeling the Transition of Fishers to Tourism in the Galapagos Islands

Drivers, Opportunities, and Challenges for Integrated Resource Co-management and Sustainable Development in Galapagos

“…This dominance is partially a result of incentives for those engaged in more traditional work, such as fishing and farming, to participate in the tourism industry, as these activities were perceived to be at odds with conservation goals. Invasive species may also be responsible for transforming the landscape of the islands and reducing land productivity, leading to the abandonment of fields and farming for preferred jobs in the tourism industry (Walsh et al, 2019). However, tourist activities and the population growth driven by the associated employment opportunities (Walsh et al, 2019), although now limited by strong population control measures, are putting pressure on local ecosystems as well as on the limited basic services (de Haan et al, 2019) and resources (e.g., water, food, and energy; Batty et al, 2019).…”

“…Invasive species may also be responsible for transforming the landscape of the islands and reducing land productivity, leading to the abandonment of fields and farming for preferred jobs in the tourism industry (Walsh et al, 2019). However, tourist activities and the population growth driven by the associated employment opportunities (Walsh et al, 2019), although now limited by strong population control measures, are putting pressure on local ecosystems as well as on the limited basic services (de Haan et al, 2019) and resources (e.g., water, food, and energy; Batty et al, 2019). Espin et al (2019) called for a change in strategy from high-volume/low-value tourism, to more limited numbers of tourists with offerings that are designed to maximise the economic value with a lower environmental impact, accompanied by stronger technical and administrative capacities to enact these changes.…”

“…The provincial sustainable development plan highlights the political will toward promoting eco-tourism and nature-based tourism, incorporating more participative processes (Consejo de Gobierno del Régimen Especial de Galapagos, 2016). Walsh et al (2019) suggested that if local communities are able to take control of the business opportunities that the tourism boom represents, this could provide an impetus for a transition to more satisfying livelihoods for a greater proportion of residents, with lower environmental impacts. Karakiewicz (2019) argues that local residents could reduce their dependence on imports and build a path toward self-sufficiency if they can identify opportunities that are specific to the local context and create their own specific knowledge around potential solutions.…”

“…The current economic model of Galapagos is heavily weighted on tourism, with over 200,000 visitors per year, and widely viewed as unsustainable (e.g., González et al, 2008;Rousseaud et al, 2017), with profits historically largely benefitting external companies rather than local people (Walsh et al, 2019). Due to the immovable boundaries of the National Park, the challenge of reformulating the Galapagos economy to encompass more diverse livelihoods and more equitable growth must be accomplished without expanding the urban footprint (Kvan and Karakiewicz, 2019).…”