NEWS - ARCHIVEPlease find here the weeky news of the last months. Latest News - Archive 2007 - Archive 2006 2006:
January
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- May - June
- July - August
- October - November
- December
News from July, 3rd: News from July, 7th:
News from July, 17th: News from July, 21st:
News from July, 31st:
News from August, 4th:
News from August, 17th: News from August, 25th:
News from August, 28th: | ||
Last week Quito was setting of the first inter-regional seminar
on ‘Ethics in Tourism’. This working meeting was organised
by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a sub-institution of
the United Nations, in connection with its seventy-eighth session
of the Executive Council which this year convened in Ecuador. The
purpose of this Regional Seminar for the Americas is to review the
basic principles included in the ‘UNWTO Global Code of Ethics
for Tourism’ and encourage their practical application by
both public and private sector with a view to developing responsible
and sustainable tourism. The UNWTO sees in sustainable tourism a
considerable potential for achieving global reduction of poverty,
which constitutes one of the most important UN Millenium Development
Goals.
As the popular Galápagos-Islands are a nature protection
area, for every kind of tourism on the Archipel counts the law “Reglamento
Especial de Turismo en Areas Naturales Protegidas (Retanp)”,
which means “Special Regulation for Tourism in Nature Protection
Areas”. It prohibits, for example, the use of water ski and
jet ski, air traffic as well as fishing. Although submarines are
as well mentioned in this law, a middle-sized cruise liner called
“Constellation” was stopped last Wednesday. The boat
is being suspected of having included a submarine in his programme.
Presumably, the use of a helicopter has also been planned. The case
is now being investigated by the Autoridad Marítima, the
police and the Galápagos National Park. During the investigations,
the seamen and the boats that have been hired by the Constellation
in order to offer under water tourism are being in San Cristobal
(Galápagos). 
Due to its international port, in Guayaquil a big variety of restaurants
from all over the world has settled over the last centuries. The
multifaceted culinary character of the Ecuadorian coast metropolis
was presented last week for the first time to the broad public during
the fair “Guayaquil Gourmet”. The event put an emphasis
on the four main culinary trends that can be found among the 2294
registered restaurants in the city: Asian (mainly Chinese), Mediterranean
(Italian, Lebanese and Spanish) Latin American (Argentinean, Mexican)
and of course national Ecuadorian dishes were presented during these
days. Through the participation of the Pan-American Forum of Culinary
Associations, the Culinary Academy of the Americas and the World
Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) the fair became an interesting
platform for exchange of information between professionals from
the gastronomy sector. At this occasion, numerous sub-events were
offered like an integrated fair for beverages, seminars for cooks
or education programs for apprentices and students of the sector.
The “Guayaquil Gourmet” should to take root within the
next years as the central Ecuadorian gastronomy event with international
orientation.
The Centro Nacional de Control de Energía (Cenace) (National
Center for Energy Control) has announced the alarm status due to
the severe problems of energy supply. It will last until March 2007
in order to allow taking measures to reduce the consumption about
10 %. Nowadays, all the plants of Ecuador produce 2500 megawatt,
which is the amount that only covers the national need during the
main hour (7-8 pm). This problem is due to the sinking amount of
water in the plant Hidropaute, which is meant to produce a great
amount of energy. During the dry season, the inflow of water into
the basin only amounts 70 cubic meters per second, whilst it should
be about 190. Other plants are closed because of the expulsion of
ashes of the Tungurahua. Another problem is the missing agreement
between the government and Peru about the energy supply of the neighbouring
areas in the south of Ecuador. Gabriel Arguellao, director of the
Cenace, advised the citizens to be aware of the need to save energy.
Last week the new airport „José Joaquín de Olmedo”
in Guayaquil was inaugurated and went into service with a two-week
trial run. The national airlines will start regular operations from
8 August, whereas the international carriers will follow six days
later. The new airport is the third big project within the ambitious
urban beautification program of the “Fundación Malecón
2000”. With a total area of more than 50,000 square meters,
the new terminal is twice as big as the present airport “Simón
Bolivar” which will be converted into a convention centre.
The infrastructure of the new airport will allow handling 14 airplanes
simultaneously. Particularly for Asian airlines Guayaquil constitutes
with the increased capacities an ideal geographic location for establishing
a hub for connections over the Pacific Ocean. The constructions
works for the new terminal were an important economic generator
for the city during the last two years as more than 100 local companies
and around 700 building workers were permanently could permanently
be engaged. With the new airport Guayaquil also wants to take root
as a hub for incoming international tourists next to Quito. Within
the next two years, a doubling of tourist flows into the Ecuadorian
coast metropolis is expected. This should result in an economic
boost for tourism service providers and related sectors.
After the Spain Ministry for foreign relations has published a declaration
that considers Ecuador as a country in which tourists are in high
danger of being attacked or kidnapped, Ecuador has asked explanation
and resists being placed on that black list. 
Since yesterday, 9:00 am local time, the activity of the volcano
Tungurahua has increased steadily, until it came to severe explosions
tonight, at 01:45 am. 20 pyroclastic flows were observed this time.
According to the Institute of Geophysics, the cloud of ash reached
a height of estimated 8-10 km. Once again, the flow of lava went
down to the western side of the Tungurahua, so that it affected
various villages that are situated there. One dead, three injured
and over 60 missed person have been registered until now. The rain
of ash, which affects the whole area, is dangerous – not only
because of the air pollution, but also because with the rain. The
result is a heavy mud that threatens to break the roofs of the houses.
Furthermore, the ash damages about 20 000 hectares of agricultural
area and the three provinces Sucumbíos, Napo and Pastaza,
that are located in the Amazonian region, are cut off from the electricity
supply due to damages on the conductions, as well caused by the
ash.
Although
great efforts are being taken to protect the delicate ecosystem
of the Galápagos-Islands, many offences happen. The importation
of foreign species already began in the 17th century, when pirates
brought plants and rodents on their ships to the archipel. At the
beginning of the 19th century animals like cows, horses, jackasses,
goats, pigs, dogs and cats also were brought to the islands. These
kinds of animals could easily conquer the islands as they found
plenty of food. Furthermore, these species are used to competition
– unlike the local species, that therefore were threatened
by the newcomers. While the mammals are very quick and able to cover
large distances while searching for food, the ability of locomotion
of the reptiles is limited. Also during the last months, the park
guards on San Cristóbal have found several Tilapias (a kind
of perch), freshwater turtles, an iguana and a titi monkey (an endangered
species) – all of them do not belong to the endemic fauna
of the island. According to the Sesa-Sicgal, the institution that
is responsible for avoiding the importation of new species, there
are always people who try to import foreign animals and plants.
With After the great eruptions of the volcano Tungurahua near Baños
during the night from 16th to 17th of August, the situation now
has eased. The scientists have announced that the activity of the
volcano is stable. Merely the ordinary cloud of smoke can be seen.
The streets that have been closed due to the pyroclastic flows that
reached them are all accessible. Although the town of Baños
is very quiet at the moment, tourists are welcome and it is possible
to visit the near environment. Unfortunately, many people who have
lost their houses due to the eruptions still live in temporary accommodations.
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