From next month, the Galápagos Islands will double their tourist tax. The move is reportedly a bid to ease tourism numbers, said to be putting a strain on the Ecuadorian archipelago’s infrastructure and unique ecosystem, various media outlets have reported.
The price hike means most overseas visitors will have to pay US$200 (US$100 for children) – up from US$100 (or $50 for children) – to visit the islands, famed for being home to many unique plants and animals. These include the blue-footed booby, giant tortoises and a number of iguana species.
Citizens of some South American countries are eligible to pay half the general rate, while Ecuadorians will only have to fork out US$30.
[See more: The MGTO is opposed to a tourist quota for Macao]
Ecuador’s minister of tourism, Niel Olsen, said the substantial price adjustment was the first time the government had hiked the islands’ entry fee in 26 years. The fee must be paid before leaving the Galapagos airport terminal.
Olsen acknowledged the benefits of tourism to the local economy, but added that raising the fee was “a necessary measure to ensure that tourism in the Galápagos remains sustainable and mutually beneficial to both the environment and our local communities.”
Funds from the hike were expected to be spent on various conservation and infrastructure development initiatives, as well as programs intended to help reduce the environmental impact of tourism.
Official data showed that about 268,000 tourists visited the archipelago in 2022, just a fraction less than 2019’s pre-pandemic figure. Fifty-four percent of those visitors were foreigners.
The Galapagos Islands is joining the ranks of Venice, Mount Fuji and other major tourist destinations in their attempt to crack down on overtourism through measures including fines, barriers and entrance quotas.
