12 protected areas are open to national guides

The entrance to the continental protected areas is no longer exclusive to the naturalists. The Ministry of Environment (MAE for its Spanish acronym) decided to allow access to national guides to certain areas of 12 protected zones in Ecuador. This seeks to promote tourism and to show the vast natural wealth of the country.

According to Executive Order 1513, issued in March 2004, naturalists are who have studied tourism or branches of biology and who can speak other languages. However, before being considered as such, they must approve a training course provided by the MAE.

The national guides, however, are those who completed their studies in tourism and were endorsed by the entity.

The new resolution came into effect two weeks ago, and was sustained by the Visitor Management Plan of protected areas. This tool zones the recreation areas and the public use.