News

The fantastic array of wildlife and flora on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, is attracting hoards of tourists, but some officials are concerned about their impact.

The Ecuadorian government has recently passed a number of laws designed to minimise the effect tourists have on the region, but reports suggest little is being done to enforce them, according to website Stuff.co.nz.

Earlier this year the Galapagos National Park authorities announced that a well-known cruise liner had been temporarily banned from the area after an incident in which passengers on one ship were allowed to illegally fish for shark.

However, despite the public denouncing of the company and the announcement of a ban, the cruise liner's ships are still operating in the region.

'If tourists are well guided, if they have someone who's responsible, the impact would be minimal,' said Maria Ramos, an Ecuadoran naturalist.

'There are two ways of doing things. One way is careful, where you do not affect the environment too much, and the other way is when you say it doesn't matter.'

Tourism in the region is limited, with 100,000 visitors allowed entry each year and only 84 ships permitted to enter the waters annually.

However, these efforts are countered by the growing population of the Galapagos which has rocketed by 6% each year between 1974 and 1997 and mainland Ecuadorians migrate to seek better economic opportunities.

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