"Saving Ecuador’s children"
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
by Tom Nicolson
Ecuador has just one children’s hospital in the whole of the country. It is now over 40 years old, but since its creation back in the 70s not a single hospital dedicated to children has been built. The hospital relies on donations and volunteers to help the children who come from hundreds of miles around to receive treatment.
Executive Projects, who raise social awareness in Quito to new students, last month, raised over $430 in a night for the charities “Por una Vida” and “Cecilia Rivadeneira” Foundations. The former is dedicated to care for children with cancer and the latter foundation visit the children with games, toys and play games with them.
Project Manager of Executive Projects, Rebecca Viani, says, “It’s a chance for us to participate in social work and raise money for good causes and also an opportunity for people to see another side of Quito when they come here to study.”
Created 18 years ago, Por una Vida Foundation raises money and awareness to support families that have children with cancer. “We pay for many of the costs that families have to bear including treatment, medicine and transport to and from the hospital”, says Executive Director, Maria Eugebia Vaca. “It is difficult for a lot of families because they simply don’t have the money to pay for their children to get better.”
On average, for a child to be saved from cancer the cost is in the region of $8000 which is the equivalent to two years standard wage in Ecuador. For this reason many do not receive the treatment that they need to get better.
Cecilia Rivadeneira Foundation is a group of volunteers that visit the children with toys and games to ‘put a smile on their face.’ Ivan Mora leads a group of volunteers every fortnight to the hospital. “The idea to make them laugh, sing to them and make them happy,” says Mora. “We currently have in the region of 100 volunteers that help out during the weekends between their jobs and their studies but we are always looking for more.”
“Ecuadorian voters give crushing victory to Correa”
Monday, 29 September 2008
A supporter of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa reacts after learning the first results of the constitutional referendum in Quito, Ecuador, on Sunday.
“Ecuador's Correa has majority before key vote: poll”
Saturday, 6 September 2008
QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorian leftist President Rafael Correa has the majority he needs to win a key September 28 referendum to pass a new constitution that would extend his authority over the Andean nation, a poll showed on Tuesday.
Independent pollster Santiago Perez, who is often hired by the government to measure approval ratings, said his poll showed that backing for the new constitution rose 3 percentage points to 56 percent. Opposition stood at 23 percent.
Correa, a former economy minister, needs more than 50 percent of votes to pass the new constitution.
“Amazonas Avenue causes chaos”
Thursday, 4 September 2008
by Alex Shaw
The renovation of Amazonas, a main commercial street, caused mixed feelings during August in Quito as the work disrupted trade and diverted city funds away from needy areas. Fiscal, the city authority is carrying out the work in an attempt to rejuvenate the Amazonas Boulevard, making it as attractive to tourists as ‘Plaza Quinde.’ The $400,000 project, originally to be finished by the first of September, is a cause of some controversy in Quito whose poorer districts lack paved roads. Fonsal says that the rejuvenated boulevard will have six different types of paving stone, including a relief pattern along the roadside, so that the blind can navigate. The electric system will be buried and more bins, street lights and benches will be added. There will also be a cycle path. Amazonas will have “A new shine,” in general, they say.
Luis Iza, who lays electric cables on the site, said that work started on July 16, but could not give a definite finishing date for the project. “There are about 50 workers here, employed by the fiscal.” “The pay is good,” he added. Business people who plough their trade between Avenues ‘Colon,’ and ‘Patria,’ have not been so amused by the cash flow situation.
During the work, however, pedestrians had to leap across gaping trenches in the road and navigate rickety gangplanks across mud to reach under-stocked kiosks, while drills and bulldozers shake the earth and fill the air with dust. “We have seen a big decrease in sales,” said Estephanie Vinoesa, whose shop sells hats and leatherwear to tourists near Colon. The tourist market is not alone in its peril. “Much fewer people come through here,” said Jovito Carrera, who works at ‘The Time Centre,’ a watch shop near Jerónimo and Carrion. Adrian Rodriguez, who works in a car park nearby, stated that “the car park gets much fewer customers.”
If successful, however, Amazonas’ new look will move the centre of tourism from Plaza Quinde, distributing lucrative commerce down the whole Boulevard.
“The road will be much nicer, with better lighting and so on,” said Julio Romero, a porter at the Reina Isabel hotel. He said that although the construction is a nuisance, “It will be worth it.”
"Ecuador in the World Premiere Tourist Media"
According to Condé Nast Traveler's (August 2007 edition), "Ecuador's mainland is emerging as one of Latin America's most glamorous low-key hideaways. It is the wild beauty of the country side that captivates most visitors."
“Risk zone of Tungurahua will be reserve area”
Friday, 8 August 2008
Due to ministerial resolution the immediate surroundings of the Tungurahua volcano near Baños are going to be incorporated in the Sangay National Park. The Department of the Environment reported that the government will provide US$ 5 Million in the form of credits in order to buy the territories of the local peasants settling in the risk zone of the volcano. After the incorporation of the new areas the reserve is going to cover ca. 7.000 additional hectares. Currently realized surveys shell help to define the locations where the peasants can resettle. However, not all the families living in the risk zone are willing to sell their territories which serve as an important source of revenue. For that reason it is considered that the peasants may continue settling on the condition of cultivating only that kind of agricultural products which contribute to the protection of the local ecosystem.
“Tourism safety improves”
Monday, 4 August 2008
by Alex Shaw
Tourism, both domestic and international, seems to have had an impact on Quito’s crime rate.
“The government can’t supply jobs for everyone,” says Amgel Guerrero, a residential security guard, citing unemployment as a root of crime. Café owner Jorge Macas, who ploughs his trade on 6 De Diciembre & Mariscal Foch, said: “There are delinquents all over Quito,” citing another.
However, increasing numbers of Western businesses and cafes, many of which hire security guards, are slowly strangling these problems.
John Potts, a business partner at Happy Gringo said that: “When we started three years ago, it was just me and my business partner. Now we have an office with five or six Ecuadorians.” Mr. Potts estimates that his business indirectly offers work to up to fifteen other guides, accountants, chauffeurs and lawyers.
The 54% increase in tourism that the city has seen in the last five years has also lead to government action to improve the streets. A branch of the Police force, Servicio de Seguridad Turistica, has been designated to helping tourists (both domestic and foreign), in Quito. “About 80 units patrol the Mariscal area from 8:00am – 11:00pm,” said Técnico David Chamba. “We basically operate in tourist areas, so we also patrol the Old Town and Museums. Some of our Offices staff are bilingual,” he said.
Quitenians have also benefited. Jose Manuel Vembo, owner of Micromercado Calama, said that: “tourists have helped the situation. Alfredo Rodriguez is a security guard stationed in Mariscal Foch. “This area is much safer than it was 20 years ago,” he said.
Angel Guerrero estimates that there are around 50 companies that supply security guards to private businesses in Quito.
“Three Ecuadorian destinations have the chance to become Natural Wonders of the World”
Friday, August 01 2008
The Galápagos-Islands, the Cotopaxi Volcano and the Amazon River are three Ecuadorian destinations out of 277 natural attractions worldwide, which can be selected as the “7 Natural Wonders of the World”. This internationally important contest is organized by the New7Wonders Foundation, which has its principal office in Lisbon and was founded in 2001 by Bernard Weber – film producer and author who contributes to the preservation of the natural and cultural world heritage. The digital internet selection is going to run until December 2008. For the final selections will only remain 21 attractions. This week, on July 30, the Amazon River occupied position 6, Galápagos position 12 and Cotopaxi position 218.
“Lonesome George surprises with offspring”
Friday, 25 July 2008
At the beginning of this week the Galápagos National Park announced the happy news that world-famous turtle “Lonesome George” after decades of heavy efforts finally has managed to procreate. In 1972 George was found on Pinta Island and brought to the reproduction centre for giant tortoises Fausto Llerena on Santa Cruz, with the intention to repopulate the island with its species. Although George had been sharing his corral with several females of familiar species since that time, he never showed the least interest in reproduction. However, the Park staff has found this week a nest with 9 eggs. Three of them are waiting now for maturing in an incubator. Only after approximately 130 days the world will know if the eggs have developed little turtles which are capable of survival. The only thing what we can do now is crossing fingers that “Lonesome George” has really guaranteed the survival of his species.
“Travel + Leisure’s 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results Announced Today”
Thursday, 10 July 2008
New York, NY (July 10, 2008) – Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, today announces that the Galápagos Islands located in Ecuador is first-time overall winner in Travel + Leisure’s 2008 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey.
“Ecuador opts for abolishing tourist visa”
Friday, 20 June 2008
Since June, 20th tourists from all over the world are allowed to enter Ecuador for 90 days without showing a tourist visa. This doesn’t mean any changes for EU-citizens who have already been able to enter the country without visa before. Nevertheless, this unilateral measure of Ecuador is a clear contrast to the current European policies concerning the expulsion of unofficial migrants. As the Ecuadorian daily press explains, by abolishing the tourist visa the country is keen to set an example for its disapproval of the repressive EU-measures against illegal immigrants. Ecuador is also seeking the dialogue with its Latin-American neighbors about the human right of migration and sees itself as leading part in creating a coherent Latin-American reaction to the anti-migration-policy of Europe.
“Inti Raymi: Solstice celebration and thanksgiving in Ecuadorian-style”
Friday, 20 June 2008
Every year during the solstice period the indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian highlands celebrate the ceremonies of Inti Raymi in order to thank the sun and earth for the beginning of the corn harvest. The festivities start during the night from June 21st to June 22nd and last several days. They are one of the most important traditional legacies of the indigenous ancestors of Ecuador. To show their gratefulness the participants of the ceremonies prepare different meals and drinks made of corn like, for example, “mote” (boiled corn) or “chichi” (typical corn drink). A joint bathing ritual in fountains, rivers and waterfalls serves as a spiritual purification act and helps to renovate the human courage and physical power. It is also thought to enforce the relationship between man and “mother nature”. The event is accompanied by dances which show as their central figure the indigenous diabolical character Aya Uma. As a great explosion of diverse colors, rhythms and indigenous traditions Inti Raymi constitutes an important touristic attraction. Typical localities of the event are, for exemple, Otavalo, Latacunga and Mitad del Mundo in the Provinces of Imbabura, Cotopaxi and Pichincha.
“The Plaza Foch’s new arrival”
Friday, 30 May 2008
by Alex Shaw
A multi storey car park is to open in Mariscal within seven months. The new structure will dominate one corner of Plaza Foch, opposite the popular tourist hangout ‘Coffee Tree.’
When finished, the car park will be three storeys high. However, Jorge Espinosa, who works across the plaza in Azuca, said that “It won’t be too tall, as the car parking storey will be underground.”
Cesa Jerrim, a foreman on the site, said that the building will also house a commercial area on the top floor. He told The Ecuador Reporter that “there will be a café area, as well as a Planet Sport shop.”
There is little concern that the structure will become an eyesore in the plaza, and locals seem pleased with the development.
Next to the construction site, Café owner David Camacho, director of Concha y Toro, said: “I don’t expect any problems. It is neither good nor bad.” Nearby, Lee Vinter, owner of Finn McCools, the Irish pub, was upbeat about the development. “The area is desperately in need of parking,” he said.
‘Constructora de Tohogar,’ a major development corporation, also responsible for the New British Consul building, is undertaking construction. Snr. Hugo Acosta R, President, confirmed that the car park will provide room for 29 cars, and that the commercial space upstairs is for rental by private companies.
Euere de Pepe Garcia, a construction worker on the site, told the Ecuador Reporter that he is happy with the work he receives. The ten workers currently involved with the construction receive an instant wage. “It’s quick money,” he said.
“Plan Q 2012 launched”
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
by Alex Shaw
An international conference centre has been opened at the site of the Neo-Classical Hospital Eugenio Espejo buildings. The centre, described by the mayor of Quito, Paco Moncayo, as 'one more reason to visit this great city and country,' was opened in a candle lit ceremony on the night of Friday, the 28th March. The buildings, finished in 1933, were donated by the Ministry of Health and the centre is now in the hands of the Municipality of Quito. It is hoped that the $4 million project will attract international congresses and conferences, and thereby become a boon to commerce and tourism. The site includes auditoria, an open-air concert venue, and conference centres equipped with video equipment. FONSAL, Quito's Cultural Safe-Guarding Fund, started work on the buildings in 2006. Although 'open for business now,' according to Dominic Hamilton, Quito’s International Media Relations Officer, the site will comprise an underground car park and capacity for 1,200 conference participants when finished in 2009.
The opening of the new Congress and Convention Centre was given more relevance by the launching of the new strategic marketing plan for Quito, known as Plan Q, the brainchild of Dr. Joseph Chias, of Chias Marketing, Barcelona. The new conference centre is one of the many aspects of his scheme to attract more tourists to Quito and to entice them to stay longer once they are here. After the opening of the centre, guests were invited to a speech, given by Dr. Chias, in which he outlined the other ways the city is to become more attractive to tourists, building on the successes of the first Plan Q which began in 2002. Plan Q 2012 proposes the construction of a new airport by 2010, opening new routes to international (especially trans-Atlantic), markets. An 'Avenue of the Volcanoes' interpretation centre, and the promotion of parishes close to the capital are also amongst the 23 projects and 59 actions of Plan Q. Investment in architectural renovation and tourist facilities have already had a profound effect on tourist figures. In the last six years, the Metropolitan district of Quito has seen a 54% rise in International tourism. Last year, 53,061 tourists flocked to Quito's six tourist information centres, all built since 2002, and tourism generated $606.7 million for Quito alone. A total of 461,000 tourists arrived in 2007; a 16% increase on 2006. Plan Q has designs to increase this figure to $1000 million in the year 2012.
In that year, "we propose that we will have more than a million and a half visitors," states the Plan's manifesto. Given the phenomenal rate of the tourist market's growth, this goal is not unrealistic. Quito's first major strategic marketing plan, launched in 2002, had already exceeded its income and visitor number goals for 2010 by the end of last year. International tour operators have repeatedly described Quito as 'One of Latin America's most beautiful cities.' Morale was therefore high during Dr. Chias' speech, and guests enthusiastically applauded when he pointed out Quito's place at number 15 on The New York Times' ‘53 Places to Go in 2008.'
“Strange weather becoming the norm”
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
by Tom Nicolson
A new organisation has begun planting trees to offset carbon emissions from flights to, from and within Ecuador. CanopyCo aims to improve the atmosphere as well as recuperate some of Ecuador’s native forests and raise awareness of how tourism income can be fairly distributed.
Director of CanopyCo, Stuart Franklin, says “Our aim is to work with the tourism industry and redirect some of the wealth to the poorer areas of Ecuador.”
To offset carbon emissions CanopyCo takes into account all of the activities you do whilst here in Ecuador. Buses, flights and electricity are all measured when accumulating how much carbon is put into the atmosphere. From these facts and figures, CanopyCo can calculate how many trees need to be planted to carbon offset your stay in Ecuador. “One tree is more or less one ton of carbon,” says Franklin.
Ecuador’s tourism industry emits a large quantity of carbon emissions largely due to the high volume of flights to and from the Galapagos Islands, but Franklin and his team of people aim to tackle that problem head on.
“We’ve already planted 1000 trees in the last two months and hopefully by September we’ll have 3000 trees.”
Franklin began to realise the effects of global warming when he moved to Ecuador a few years ago, noting that hailstorms and rain arising out of season were damaging crops. “When you go to the supermarket, you’re never sure of the amount of work that has gone into food,” says Franklin. “I realised that global warming was having an adverse effect on farming communities here and wanted to do something about it.”
CanopyCo are currently planting trees in Imbabura. For more information and your chance to donate and buy a tree, go to the website www.canopyco.org.
“Columbian crisis hits Ecuadorian tourism industry”
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
by Tom Nicolson
The diplomatic crisis between Ecuador and Columbia last month, when Columbian troops entered Ecuador without permission and killed key FARC leader Raul Reyes, severely affected the tourist trade in Ecuador.
One tour operator had every jungle tour canceled and did not have a single enquiry during the week commencing March 3, when the crisis reached boiling point. Kim Mukerjee, the tour administrator for the company said, “During that week we lost 80% of total customers due to the Columbia factor. It hit us really hard. For the younger group of travelers wanting to come to Ecuador, the parents said they weren’t allowed and the older generation of travelers didn’t want to take the risk.”
“As soon as the news broke out everyone checked their state departments to see what they should do,’ said Mukerjee. “On the US embassy site it advises tourists to postpone their trips and for residents to keep a ‘low profile’ in Ecuador.”
Another tour operator also lost customers and profit due to the problems. General manager, John Potts, said, “We lost close to $2000 during that week due to cancellations, a drop in sales by 50% and a drop in visitors by 30%. It was certainly our worst week all year.”
Despite the recent drop, sales have begun improving since the agreement between Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa and Columbian president Alvero Uribe was reached on March 7.
“There was an automatic turnaround as soon as everything calmed down,” said Mukerjee. “The week after everything started to go back to normal.”
Even though some operators were hit pretty badly, other operators were not affected.
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