Tourism and the local economy in Ecuador

Abstract

Bogumila Lisocka-Jaegermann, Jerzy Makowski, Maria Skoczek TOURISM AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY IN ECUADOR 3 In Ecuador 20 000-25 000 of plants species were identified, 324 species of mammals, 1560 of birds (the fourth country in the world after Colombia, Peru and Brazil), 402 species of reptiles, 406 of amphibians, 710 of river fish and 1300 species of snails (Parques Nacionales y Otras Areas Protegidas del Ecuador Ecociencia 1994, cited according to Propuestas.... (1995) p. 28). 4 Metropolitan Touring, KLEINTOURS and ETNOTUR are among the most important travel agencies, with main offices in Quito and regional branches in capitals of the majority of provinces. Local agencies specialize in ecological tourism, especially the Amazon trips. They have offices in Baños (Tungurahua province)-on the route Quito-Ambato-Puyo known as the gateway to the Amazon, as well as in some of the Amazon towns, such as Puyo, Tena, Misahuallí, Coca (Puerto Francisco Orellana), Lago Agrio (Nueva Loja).