What is really happening in Ecuador?
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What is really happening in Ecuador? is it dangerous to visit Ecuador?
Many of you have heard news about the situation in Ecuador, unfortunately it was not good news. Truly, our country is going through a big change since January 2024, but many times changes are necessary and good, that is the way we see this situation, please let me elaborate more.
In this blog, I would like to tell you a little more about my perspective (from an ecuadorian point of view, someone that has lived in Europe but decided to go back 6 years ago); based additionally, in national and international news media and sources like the New York Times and BBC.
However, I would like to highlight that I have been working in tourism for the last 17 years, and that is why I think, it is important to explain how this situation can be seen from outside, and the reality that we live in Ecuador.
I personally like to call it chaos theory, which for me means that sometimes things have to break to be reborn in a better way, let me explain.
According to investigations as a result of the economic crisis generated by COVID, Ecuador increased its poverty levels, which allowed crime to increase and at the same time generated a possibility for drug trafficking to expand its territory from Colombia to here where there were fewer controls and fewer problems than in Colombia in the last 20 or 30 years.
The Real situation in Ecuador
Likewise, dollarization allows easier laundering for drug cartels. Being a perfect scenario, the last two years we have faced an increase in crime, which has made us feel increasingly insecure. It has almost never affected tourists directly, but it has affected our image as a safe destination.
One of the main problems has been the prisons and the justice system that was invaded by corruption and drug trafficking and so in January, when a new government began, unwilling to negotiate with these criminals, they decided to create a chaos that scares the population and allegedly helped them distract the police and government so that the leaders of the cartels could escape.
Is it safe for tourist to visit Ecuador?
Is it Ecuador a safe place?
Finally, if distracting and scaring was the objective, it was easily achieved, for one day we all felt insecure although the events were not in all of Ecuador, but rather in just one city, and the worst part is that the media showed it as a frequent event, videos were used even outside of a real context both nationally and internationally and this is probably the information you saw.
The government had an immediate but strong reaction to control the situation, rules such as curfew, militarization of the streets, etc. were applied. The president has called this plan the "War on Drug Trafficking", an action that most Ecuadorians applaud, although from the outside it may seem hard and difficult for us, these types of actions are positive and unfortunately quite common in Latin America.
With these measures we feel safe and positive that in the future the results will help us live again in the tranquility that our country has always had. It is almost eight months after the measures and plan implemented by the government by now, there has been great progress, a reduction in crime that encourages us positively, and right now a few days to start October 2024, we feel again safe walking on the streets even in the big cities. Of course, the problems have not complete dissapeared, this is something that is very slow process and we need to take precautions in some regions, so the policy keep moving the strong controls from one town, we are not 100% same as before Covid hits, but we live our normal lives without fear, with resilience that is our characteristic.
Unfortunately, the negative side of the story is that our image as a tourist destination is very damaged, even though no tourists have been affected directly, and this "war is focused on drug trafficking and its direct links" not on ordinary people.
The use of the word "war" and the images that were transmitted on social networks and news without real context, really scared most of the people. Additionally, the government requests that visitors who wish to enter the borders by land present a legal document stating that "they do not have a criminal record" to prevent the escape or entry of dangerous criminals, which also has made it difficult for tourists to enter, which nowadays is no required.
However, we really believe that this "chaos" as we called it at first, was necessary to create a reaction and the taking of measures for the government, something that was more than necessary for change.
It might sound confusing but I believe that sometimes chaos is necessary for rebirth, like the big bang was necessary for the beginning of our universe and life itself.
How is the situation in Ecuador today?
Well, as I mentioned Ecuadorians are very resilient people, we have survived earthquakes, political instability, Covid without government aids, and many other internal problems while just supporting each other and hoping for better days, so I can say that we are fine, we are very positive, we feel more hope every day that this was necessary to uncover the drug cartels and corruption for Narco-governments before gets bigger. We believe in our country and its beauty and today we walk calmly knowing that everything changes and we are better in terms of security.
How do we live?
What do we do? Well, we wake up every morning with a smile and hope, we go to work and live a normal, fairly quiet life. We still have few tourists visiting but we have faith that tourism, our source of income, will be reactivated soon. Our occupancy in the hotel at in our spanish school dropped compared to last year, but we still gladly welcome people from all over the world that understand the situation, and when I asked them, if they were not scared, many told me.. "NO". Ronny from Switzerland is doing an internship in the near Orphanage and he mentioned that things like that happened all the time in States, but if we compare crime statistics of the country, we will not see as bad, because USA is bigger. Channel from Canada spent 2 months here, learning spanish. When I asked as a female traveling alone, she explained to me, as a female you can be in a dangerous situation anywhere in the world, even running in the forest in your own country, here she is more aware of what she does, but not big difference, in fact she has enjoyed the fewer tourist in town, prices were more affordable with discounts and beach was beautiful and less crowded than usual.
How is life at the beach right now in Ecuador?
Well, we have a beautiful climate, beautiful sunsets and the simplicity that always characterizes us. As I said before, there is little tourism but we are doing well and have a lot of hope for better days. Finally, in the small towns of Ecuador there were no major incidents, our paradise remains intact as our spirit. We know everyone and is very easy to spot the people that we wont recommend to be around.
How do we see the future situation in Ecuador?
Well, as in everything, there are many conspiracy theories and fears but the results have shown great progress, and that reaffirms us. We are sure that with a successful plan, Ecuador is returning to its peace.
Internally, domestic tourism is already being reactivated and we hope that little by little international tourism will trust again, we will be happy to welcome you!
Other ways to support? Book your vacation now and receive special discounts, flexible dates are also applicable. There are paradises where you will feel absolute safe, as Balsa Surf Camp, where we are located.
I would like to say thank you to read me, I am grateful for being in my country that I love with my whole hearth.
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