An Aquapelagic Evolution? Developing sustainable tourism futures in Galápagos, Ecuador

Abstract

In less than 200 years, the Galápagos Islands have experienced a fast-tracked transformation from an inhospitable archipelago to a glamorous ecotourism hot spot. Waves of extractive industries and the development of conservation and ecotourism have shaped Galapagueño communities. This article draws upon critical literature to analyse Galápagos as an aquapelagic society – wherein residents’ identities and sense of belonging are conditioned by the interconnections in and between aquatic and terrestrial spaces – dealing with rapid ecotourism development and the attendant socioeconomic and eco-cultural consequences. An initial unpacking of Galápagos histories is provided to frame the cycles of exploitation and development that have structured human life in Galápagos today. This background motivates a critique of Galápagos’ land-sea binary, path dependency on ecotourism, economic leakage, and ways ecotourism practices dissociate Galapagueños from marine spaces. Several ways forward are then presented to account for how social actors – namely the public, private, and conservation-science sectors – may pursue longand shortterm objectives to reinforce Galápagos’ future as one that promotes aquapelagic epistemologies and ontologies as well as socially and environmentally responsible development.