Galapagos, with promotions and low rates, tries to recover from the 73% drop in tourists

In Las Grietas, a rock formation that hides in its bowels a kind of natural pool, the movement of visitors is low. That site, located in theSanta Cruz Island, in the Galapagos,It was one of the obligatory stops for tourists before the pandemic.

After taking a water taxi and then walking along a path, dozens of visitors arrived every day to take a bath in its crystalline waters or pose for a selfie.That coming and going of visits today is modest, as in other points of interest on that island such as the beaches, the farms that have giant turtles. Tours around the bay and other islands also have a low number of clients.

Mayi Zambrano, a visitor from Guayaquil who was in Santa Cruz days ago,He says that he went to a tourist farm in Santa Cruz and his group of five people was the only one who had been there that day. “The receptionist said that thanks to our visit he had been able to pay the employees,” he says.

The islands are open to tourists, but the recovery of visitors is slow. Far from pre-pandemic levels. Those who have fed part of that little flow that has entered are national tourists. Airlines estimate that between 70% and 90% of passengers on flights are domestic.

Data of theGalapagos Chamber of TourismThey report that during 2020 the number of tourists fell by 73%, going from 271,238 to 75,519.Andrés Ordóñez, executive director of that union,maintains that they have stopped generating income of around 650 million dollars.

The union spokesperson points out that for this first month of 2021 it was expected to have only around 15% of visitors compared to January of last year.

Playa La Estación, located near the Charles Darwin station, in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. Photo: Ricardo Zambrano

Thecamera has worked on a promotional videoin which they highlight biosafety measures and have asked the Executive to provide the archipelago with sufficient vaccines to be able to generate confidence and reactivate production.

During these complex months, airlines have activated permanent campaigns to offer promotional rates with the idea of ​​reactivating that destination. There have even been weeks where the fare to Galapagos has been around $150 for advance purchases, perhaps one of the lowest that an Ecuadorian has had to travel to the islands.

Avianca,which resumed flights to the islands since August, allied with Fenacaptur to promote the online platformWhat you want is Ecuador,in which Ecuadorians can find and access attractive packages that include air tickets, ground services, hotels, restaurants and shops in Galapagos.

Despite these efforts there are no clear signs to immediately increase flights. The number of flight frequencies is reduced compared to what existed before the pandemic. Avianca has three weekly frequencies that represent 20% of the offer it maintained to that destination before COVID-19.

Latam currently has a daily flight to Baltra (Santa Cruz) and three weekly flights to San Cristóbal, the capital.

A large part of the foreign exchange generated by tourism in Galapagos came from foreign tourists, those who occupy hotels for a week, take various tours, cruises and consume more. That is a segment that has not yet managed to stand out due to the confinements and measures due to outbreaks in some countries where these visits come from.

María Beatriz González, commercial manager of Avianca Ecuador,mentions that the majority of tourists who came to Galapagos came from European countries and the United States.

At the moment, 90% of the passengers who travel to Galapagos are Ecuadorians. This is a much higher percentage than what was operated, he affirms.

In travel agencies it is also perceived that the arrival of foreigners is moving slowly.Karina Olivo, sales & operations supervisor de Rebecca Adventure Travel,He maintains that “the volume is still low,” but it is gradually reactivating.

Édgar Andrade, commercial manager of Latam Airlines Ecuador,affirms that beyond the promotion of the destination and the great customer outreach efforts that have been made, the situation of the countries from which the tourism that arrives to the islands originates greatly impacts.

“We hope by March-April the demand will be stimulated, which we will be ready to meet,” says Andrade.

The executive says that the industry in Galapagos is trying to reactivate demand with a significant reduction in rates and packages.

Andrade asserts that there are cruises that could previously cost around $8,000, now have been found at around $1,000 to $1,500.

Lightning prices to attract tourists

The Baltra air terminal is the main entry point to the Galapagos. That's how it was this week. Courtesy Mayi Zambrano

In travel agencies there are packages to the Galapagos Islands that are offered from $499, but in certain weeks 'flash promotions' have appeared from $399 due to the discounts offered by the airlines.

For the carnival, there are agencies that offer 'all-inclusive' packages from February 12 to 16 with the ease of financing it with cards for 3 to 6 months without interest and having assistance cards with COVID-19 coverage.

Erica Gallego, office manager of the Sky Travel agency,points out that during this month there has been a decrease in the sale of packages to Galapagos, despite the different promotions that the airlines have launched.

She estimates that this brake is due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the fear that the emergence of the new strain generated in people.

Gallego indicates that to stimulate visits, different promotions with low prices have been generated, which includeupgradehotel category and travel insurance.

Other agencies are trying to emphasize to tourists more that all safety and distancing measures are being applied in Galapagos.

Karina Olivo, Sales & Operations supervisor de Rebecca Adventure Travel,He maintains that they are mainly focusing on private tours “so that people feel confident in traveling.”

The executive says that they have maintained prices to support their Galapagos suppliers, who have suffered the most direct impact of the decline in tourism since the pandemic began.

Olivo agrees that this month there was a small drop since the spread of the virus variants and the restrictions that the United States imposed for returning to their country.

After taking a water taxi and then walking along a path, dozens of visitors arrived every day to take a bath in its crystalline waters or pose for a selfie.That coming and going of visits today is modest, as in other points of interest on that island such as the beaches, the farms that have giant turtles. Tours around the bay and other islands also have a low number of clients.

Mayi Zambrano, a visitor from Guayaquil who was in Santa Cruz days ago,He says that he went to a tourist farm in Santa Cruz and his group of five people was the only one who had been there that day. “The receptionist said that thanks to our visit he had been able to pay the employees,” he says.

The islands are open to tourists, but the recovery of visitors is slow. Far from pre-pandemic levels. Those who have fed part of that little flow that has entered are national tourists. Airlines estimate that between 70% and 90% of passengers on flights are domestic.

Data of theGalapagos Chamber of TourismThey report that during 2020 the number of tourists fell by 73%, going from 271,238 to 75,519.Andrés Ordóñez, executive director of that union,maintains that they have stopped generating income of around 650 million dollars.

The union spokesperson points out that for this first month of 2021 it was expected to have only around 15% of visitors compared to January of last year.

Playa La Estación, located near the Charles Darwin station, in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. Photo: Ricardo Zambrano

Thecamera has worked on a promotional videoin which they highlight biosafety measures and have asked the Executive to provide the archipelago with sufficient vaccines to be able to generate confidence and reactivate production.

During these complex months, airlines have activated permanent campaigns to offer promotional rates with the idea of ​​reactivating that destination. There have even been weeks where the fare to Galapagos has been around $150 for advance purchases, perhaps one of the lowest that an Ecuadorian has had to travel to the islands.

Avianca,which resumed flights to the islands since August, allied with Fenacaptur to promote the online platformWhat you want is Ecuador,in which Ecuadorians can find and access attractive packages that include air tickets, ground services, hotels, restaurants and shops in Galapagos.

Despite these efforts there are no clear signs to immediately increase flights. The number of flight frequencies is reduced compared to what existed before the pandemic. Avianca has three weekly frequencies that represent 20% of the offer it maintained to that destination before COVID-19.

Latam currently has a daily flight to Baltra (Santa Cruz) and three weekly flights to San Cristóbal, the capital.

A large part of the foreign exchange generated by tourism in Galapagos came from foreign tourists, those who occupy hotels for a week, take various tours, cruises and consume more. That is a segment that has not yet managed to stand out due to the confinements and measures due to outbreaks in some countries where these visits come from.

María Beatriz González, commercial manager of Avianca Ecuador,mentions that the majority of tourists who came to Galapagos came from European countries and the United States.

At the moment, 90% of the passengers who travel to Galapagos are Ecuadorians. This is a much higher percentage than what was operated, he affirms.

In travel agencies it is also perceived that the arrival of foreigners is moving slowly.Karina Olivo, sales & operations supervisor de Rebecca Adventure Travel,He maintains that “the volume is still low,” but it is gradually reactivating.

Édgar Andrade, commercial manager of Latam Airlines Ecuador,affirms that beyond the promotion of the destination and the great customer outreach efforts that have been made, the situation of the countries from which the tourism that arrives to the islands originates greatly impacts.

“We hope by March-April the demand will be stimulated, which we will be ready to meet,” says Andrade.

The executive says that the industry in Galapagos is trying to reactivate demand with a significant reduction in rates and packages.

Andrade asserts that there are cruises that could previously cost around $8,000, now have been found at around $1,000 to $1,500.

Lightning prices to attract tourists

The Baltra air terminal is the main entry point to the Galapagos. That's how it was this week. Courtesy Mayi Zambrano

In travel agencies there are packages to the Galapagos Islands that are offered from $499, but in certain weeks 'flash promotions' have appeared from $399 due to the discounts offered by the airlines.

For the carnival, there are agencies that offer 'all-inclusive' packages from February 12 to 16 with the ease of financing it with cards for 3 to 6 months without interest and having assistance cards with COVID-19 coverage.

Erica Gallego, office manager of the Sky Travel agency,points out that during this month there has been a decrease in the sale of packages to Galapagos, despite the different promotions that the airlines have launched.

She estimates that this brake is due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the fear that the emergence of the new strain generated in people.

Gallego indicates that to stimulate visits, different promotions with low prices have been generated, which includeupgradehotel category and travel insurance.

Other agencies are trying to emphasize to tourists more that all safety and distancing measures are being applied in Galapagos.

Karina Olivo, Sales & Operations supervisor de Rebecca Adventure Travel,He maintains that they are mainly focusing on private tours “so that people feel confident in traveling.”

The executive says that they have maintained prices to support their Galapagos suppliers, who have suffered the most direct impact of the decline in tourism since the pandemic began.

Olivo agrees that this month there was a small drop since the spread of the virus variants and the restrictions that the United States imposed for returning to their country.