One year after the adjustment of Galápagos entrance fees: Are there changes in tourist demand?

Carlos Silva-Zambrano, Claudia Aravena, Eoin McLaughlin and Cesar Viteri

No 2026-01, Accountancy, Economics, and Finance Working Papers from Heriot-Watt University, Department of Accountancy, Economics, and Finance

Abstract: The Galápagos Islands face the challenge of conserving their biodiversity while moving toward a more sustainable tourism model. In August 2024, after 24 years without changes, the entrance fee for the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve was updated: from USD 100 to USD 200 for foreign visitors and from USD 6 to USD 30 for Ecuadorians. Comparing surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025, this policy brief examines how attitudes, spending, and satisfaction of tourists have evolved over time. Results show a decline in the share of visitors who were aware of the entrance fee adjustment, along with growing support for the measure among international tourists. Average spending and satisfaction levels remained stable for both domestic and foreign visitors, indicating that the adjustment did not affect tourism demand at the aggregate level. The findings highlight the need to strengthen participatory processes for co-creating and redesigning site-management plans; identify investment priorities for maintaining, renovating, and improving the accessibility of visit sites; and ensure transparent and efficient management of collected revenues to facilitate the timely implementation of conservation, ecological restoration, and local development actions.

Keywords: public attitudes; individual preferences; tourism management; protected areas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H23 Q26 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-tur
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:hwuaef:337474

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