Should Ecuador Follow Mexico's Methods in Marketing to Tourists?

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

10 years ago

Mexico is "light years ahead of Ecuador" when it comes to marketing itself for international tourism, says Dom Buonacami.聽 In a message from Canc煤n, Mexico, the Ecuador-based blogger/entrepreneur lists seven things Ecuador could learn from Mexico....

1.聽 Embrace budget airlines.聽 "I flew from Miami to Canc煤n for $80 this week with Spirit Air.聽 Cheap flights help a lot to attract foreign Expats and tourists...."

2.聽 Have long distance buses leaving right from the airport.

3.聽 Give people what they want and expect.聽 "A few steps out of baggage claim in Canc煤n there is an open-air TikiBar, and it's loaded with people that couldn't wait to get to their hotel to start the party."聽 In EC, Gal谩pagos tortoises could roam grassy areas near the airport as they do at Espol University in Guayaquil.

4. Disneyworld-ify everything.聽 "Sterilize everything and package it up in efficient tours and attractions....Did you know if you ask nicely in Monta帽ita (EC) you could go oyster diving with the guys who sell the oysters?"

5.聽 Mix real estate and tourism.聽 "From the same little kiosks in Canc煤n and Playa del Carmen that sell guided day trips and tours, the same guys are selling and renting property too.聽 Not a bad iidea."

6.聽 Dumb-down your local food.聽 (not fully explained)

7.聽 Lots of free maps.聽 "In Mexico they are plentiful, in Ecuador they're really not."

From a mass e-mail to Dom's subscribers of ecuadorrealestate.org

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽.

See also

Driving in Ecuador - Guide
Tourist Guide in Ecuador - Business
Payment methods in Ecuador - 14 Replies
What should I bring to Ecuador on my Tourist Visa? - 46 Replies
New members of the Ecuador forum, introduce yourselves here - 2026 - 4 Replies
Women鈥檚 health and support systems in Ecuador - 0 Reply
Preparing to spend winter in Ecuador. Where on the coast - 5 Replies

cccmedia Ecuador/Colombia Expert

10285POSTS

10 years ago

So what do you think about Mexico-style marketing for Ecuador as endorsed by Dom?

TikiBar at the airport?聽 Tortoises roaming nearby?聽 "Dumbed-down" food?聽 Kiosks selling real estate?

-- cccmedia in Quito

DorothyPeck Contributor

136POSTS

10 years ago

In my opinion, 1 (budget airlines), 2 (buses at airport) and 7 (more maps) are good ideas. The rest (Tiki bars, Disneyworld-ifying everything, property-sale kiosks at airport and "dumbing down food", whatever that means) sound like lousy ideas. Dom sometimes has good points...this time he missed more than he hit.

Birdmama Active member

35POSTS

10 years ago

I agree with Dorothy.

gardener1 Serial expat

675POSTS

10 years ago

Maybe Ecuador doesn't really want more tourists? It's a thought.

jpharvey New member

8POSTS

10 years ago

Totally agree with Dorothy. 1 and 2 make perfect sense, 7 is OK but not necessary with Google Maps availability but the rest would transform Ecuador into another Mexico. What's the purpose? I love Ecuador because it's Ecuador. I really hope it stays this way for as long as possible.

OsageArcher Colombia Expert

1660POSTS

10 years ago

Things change, nothing stays the same forever.聽 Sometimes I wish Ecuador was still the same as it was when聽 I was there, over 55 years ago now...

It has changed, and for the better in most ways.聽 That is not really something to lament.聽 I like that now there is much less poverty.聽 I don't like that now there is over twice the population as then.聽 I don't like that my childhood home has vanished and where it was in Quito is now nothing but high-rises!

Ecuador is quite a popular destination for birders as you can encounter hundreds and hundreds of species at the different altitude levels, and travel is not as difficult as it was decades ago.聽 The birders who come as tourists are as environmentally sensitive as anyone on Earth and have little impact on the environment except they provide employment and dollars for the guides and all the other support services that birding trips need.聽 It is a budding little industry and eco-tourism in general is growing and that's a good thing, I think.

mugtech ViP

4732POSTS

10 years ago

OsageArcher wrote:
Things change, nothing stays the same forever.聽 Sometimes I wish Ecuador was still the same as it was when聽 I was there, over 55 years ago now...

It has changed, and for the better in most ways.聽 That is not really something to lament.聽 I like that now there is much less poverty.聽 I don't like that now there is over twice the population as then.聽 I don't like that my childhood home has vanished and where it was in Quito is now nothing but high-rises!

Ecuador is quite a popular destination for birders as you can encounter hundreds and hundreds of species at the different altitude levels, and travel is not as difficult as it was decades ago.聽 The birders who come as tourists are as environmentally sensitive as anyone on Earth and have little impact on the environment except they provide employment and dollars for the guides and all the other support services that birding trips need.聽 It is a budding little industry and eco-tourism in general is growing and that's a good thing, I think.

On the other hand many are complaining that tourism is ruining the Galapagos islands.聽 I do agree that the world does not need another Mexico.

Birdmama Active member

35POSTS

10 years ago

Amen to that!!

j600rr Serial expat

579POSTS

10 years ago

#10

Mexico and Ecuador ia an applles to oranges comparison. Cancun, and Playa del Carmen are only two small parts of Mexico. Much more to Mexico than those two overpriced places. Cheaper flights, and better organization would definitely be a good thing,聽 Maybe you could designate a few areas that don't have much population, or infrastructure, and make them tourist oriented, but why ruin the whole of Ecuador with cheap bars, and real estate agents on every corner. Hell, if we really want to make it tourist friendly. Why not put a fast food restaurant on every corner. A department store selling cheap Chinese crap every few miles, and let's make English the official language while we're at it. Anything to make a tourist feel at home.

1 member reacted to this post