Ecuador to Launch New Tourism Initiatives after Coup Attempt

Ecuador to Launch New Tourism Initiatives after Coup Attempt

Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism said it will implement a tourism service and security plan in early 2011 featuring new service training for hotel front desk and taxi workers, an enhanced tourism police presence and a toll-free hotline for travelers, said Freddy Ehlers, tourism minister.

“The Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador will put a new national strategy of tourism security into effect in early 2011 with the participation and support of several NGO’s, as well as the private and public tourism sectors,” Ehlers said.

“This initiative will ensure travelers feel more secure while traveling across the country with free tourism assistance and services in key areas, as well as easy access to information and the latest news, and new security measures at airports and other transportation hubs,” Ehlers added.

The announcement follows last week’s detainment of President Rafael Correa by police, described by some regional leaders as an attempted coup. Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito and the José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, which were shut down during the protest, have since returned to normal operations.