For its inhabitants, the pandemic generated economic losses due to the lack of tourists and now they are requesting credit facilities.
After almost four months of paralysis due to the pandemic, the citizens of Galapagos cry out for a quick economic recovery and loans with flexible conditions.
For Kevin Guaycha, the province is hitting bottom and there is a great need, especially on Santa Cruz Island in the absence of tourist activity that drives its economy.
Despite the fact that the Government put into effect the protocol for the reopening of flights from July 1, the airlines have not resumed operations and, therefore, the arrival of tourists remains null.
Guaycha, who chairs an association that groups 34 neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, asked the Galápagos Governing Council to ask the Executive to declare an economic emergency on the islands.
More than 80% make a living from tourism and business sectors have estimated that the pandemic has left losses of about 200 million dollars in the Galapagos Islands.
Due to lack of income, they have created barter groups to exchange objects for food.
According to an entrepreneur, the situation is becoming unsustainable and the little that is moving is due to the income of the 3,000 public sector employees.
Last week, dozens of people asked outside the Galapagos Council to analyze the reactivation and between Wednesday and Friday working groups were formed with some productive sectors and authorities.
Ángel Yánez, mayor of Santa Cruz, asked – in one of these meetings – that the hospitals and health centers of the province be equipped so that tourists know that they are prepared, as well as being served with credits.
Meanwhile, the delegates from the productive sector proposed that public bank loans be at a rate of 5%, with 5-year terms and grace periods.
Carlos Maldonado, from the San Cristóbal Chamber of Commerce, said that the credits offered by the Government do not meet the needs of the Galápagos population, so they require an exclusive credit policy. Even the producers requested that the consumption of the products grown on the islands be prioritized.
In response to this request, the Galápagos Council resolved to temporarily restrict the entry of roasted and ground coffee, mozzarella cheese and tomato tomatoes to strengthen local production.
Norman Wray, president of the Galapagos Governing Council, asserted that the idea was to listen to all the productive sectors to go towards an economic revival plan for the province, which he recognized will be slow.
He said that the contagion growth curve has been controlled and that he is concerned that the reactivation has not been made since July.
Ezequiel Barrenechea, president of Galapagos Airports, commented that the terminal is ready to receive tourists, taking into account biosecurity measures.
For example, at the Baltra terminal, the main gateway for tourists going to the Galapagos, USD 150,000 was invested in order to adjust to the new normal.
The only flights that arrived since March were to carry settlers or remove stranded foreigners, so the tourism sector required the Galapagos Governing Council to seek the resumption of flights, with at least two weekly operations and quotas to remove products.
On this issue Wray said that this reactivation would start in late July or early August.
Be the first to comment