SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRODUCTS & DESTINATIONS

Rodrigo SalasESTC15

Quito, ECUADORApr. 2015

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TOURISM MARKETS

• Buyers and Travelers from around the planet consume products around the globe!

• We have to be aware that Tourism is the only industry in which the consumer needs to be transported to the product!

KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET WE ARE FOCUSED AT

TO MEET THEIR NEEDS

Products Development

The (Natural) Resources become products featuring special characteristics to meet the

market needs

EXAMPLE OF TRASFORMATION FROM A RESOURCE TO A PRODUCT

The following example has as a goal to see the difference between a resource and a

final product.

NATURAL RESOURCESCacao…

Not ready yet to meet the Market needs

It needs to go through a transformation

process or “added value”

PRODUCTSChocolate… it has been transformed to meet the market needs!

NATURAL ATTRACTIONSAs it happens with the commercial products, in tourism, the natural attractions need special features to become a tourism product so they can meet the market needs!

EXAMPLE OF TRASFORMATION OF A RESOURCE INTO A TOURISM PRODUCT

The next one is an example to explain how a Tourism Product can be created, it does not

necessary mean that it has to be done this way, but it aims to picture in a clear way the adding

value process.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONGuayaquil, EcuadorNot a Tourism product yet; it still needs:Infrastructure & facilities + Activities

TOURISM PRODUCTNew York City, USAThe result of the addition:Resource + Infrastructure & facilities + Activities

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRODUCTS

Once we have decided we will work in EcoTourism we have to be aware that we need

to transform our natural resources into sustainable tourism products;

we need to add Value:

Infrastructure & facilities + Activities

… and here is the moment when everybody panics!

THE 1’ MILLION DOLLARS QUESTIONHow to add value to a place without affecting it…

When thinking about Tourism infrastructure, facilities & services we have toconsider that they will be created to improve the visitor’s experience; but alsobuilt and operated according to the characteristics of the place andsustainable principles.

TOURISM AND CONSERVATION

The Essence of “EcoTourism”

The delicate balance between tourism activities; education, research and

conservation

TOURISM AND CONSERVATION ARE MORE POWERFUL WHEN WORKING TOGETHER

1 + 1 = 3

The results of the Team Work are a lot Greater than the work done by each part individually

TOURISM FACILITES, EDUCATION, RESEARCH CENTERS AND CONSERVATION GOALS

All in One Place…!!!

WORLD EXAMPLESTourism Infrastructure and facilities designed to enrich the

experience of the visitors featuring at the same time sustainable principles!

BIG SKY MONTANA, USAOutdoor activities, hiking trails, special regulations (hunting, snowmobile), community facilities such as a theater, education activities…

NORWEGIAN WILD REINDEER CENTREA place for observation and education on the Wild Reindeers in the outskirts of Dovrefjell National Park

NORWEGIAN WILD REINDEER CENTREGreat view, more comfortable than outside and especially designed to not disturb the Wild Reindeers!

HOHE TAUERN NATIONAL PARK, AUSTRIAMountain range that includes Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner.

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HOHE TAUERN NATIONAL PARK, AUSTRIAVisitor complex for tourism and education

VAL D’ARAN, SPANISH PYRENEESMore than 300 Km of Hiking Trails

VAL D’ARAN, SPANISH PYRENEESA wide offer of Lodging options and Mountain Huts

REFUGE DU GOÛTER, MONT BLANC MASSIF, FRENCH ALPS“Pour ne laisser dans la Montagne que la trace de nos pas” (To leave in the mountain anything but the trace of our steps)

REFUGE DU GOÛTER, MONT BLANC MASSIF, FRENCH ALPSMountain Hut, services according to its goals

REFUGE DU GOÛTER, MONT BLANC MASSIF, FRENCH ALPSCreated to match the mountain’s sunlight changes

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, USAWorld’s First National Park (a Wildlife sanctuary Established in 1872)

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKOld Faithful Visitor “Education” Center

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKCanyon Visitor “Education” Center

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATIONS

The addition of sustainable tourism products in the same geographical area gives as a result a:

“Sustainable Tourism Destination”

It can be a Country, a city, a region, a province, a state or a circuit and needs a public – private

partnership!

RIFUGIO BRENTEI, ITALIAN DOLOMITESPart of the Dolomiti Brenta Trek that offers around 7 different mountain huts

ITALIAN DOLOMITES TREK CIRCUIT

SUSTAINABLE TREKKING VISITS IN THE ECUADOREAN ANDES

With the new and upgraded facilities and lodging places in Ecuador’s highlands we are creating

circuits that will allow the visitors have a “Great Experience” while enjoying beautiful mountains

in a sustainable and comfortable way!

COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK VISITOR’S CENTER

CAYAMBE, RUALES-OLEAS-BERGE MOUNTAIN HUT

QUILOTOA, SHALALA VIEWPOINT AND LODGE

SUSTAINABLE TREKKING VISITS IN THE ECUADOREAN ANDES

We are linking those places, facilities and activities with high quality lodging options.

Andes highlands circuits for the Hiking and Trekking lovers market!

TIERRA DEL VOLCÁN, HACIENDA EL PORVENIR

CHIMBORAZO LODGE

15 TREKKING AND HIKING OPTIONS IN THE

ECUADOREAN ANDES

Supported by the Publication of

“The Great Guide Andes”

SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES

1. Environment conservation

2. Social & Cultural participation

3. Economic vitality

MARKETING AND PROMOTION

Once the Sustainable Tourism Product is ready or even at development stage, it is the time to start

the Marketing and Promotion actions…

But, that is another chapter…

FINAL CONCLUSIONS

1. Tourism Industry needs to think as researchers and conservationists.

2. Researches and Conservationists need to see things as “Turistólogos”

3. We meet the Market needs, we learn in the process and at the same time we protect our home!

Follow us: The Great Guide Andes

@TheGreatGuide

Great Experience is an Ecuador based

company focused on the operation of

Sustainable Hiking and Trekking circuits in the Highlands of Ecuador

since 2009

To support the promotion and

awareness of the different places that we operate we also

publish tourism guides under the brand of:

The Great Guide!

www.great.ec