PROYECTO KARISMA
Karisma Project is developed in Bucay, province of Guayas in Ecuador. A magical and strategically located transition area between the coast and mountains with a memorable story and incomparable natural charm. This region was at its heights during the first years of the 20th century with the introduction of the steam railroad built by the American company called G & Q Railway Company, in this manner Bucay turned into one of Ecuador’s most important commercial exchange centers. However, in 1997, the railway stopped its operation and said small but thriving city that based its economy on railways’ operation, was plunged into a strong economic depression, which gave origin to a migratory ...
Sobre ti
Información de contacto
Title
Licenciado
First name
Luis Ernesto
Last name
Avellán Huerta
Your job title
Tourist Development Manager
Name of your organization
Mundo San Rafael - Fundación Luis A. Noboa Naranjo
Organization type
Organization Type
Annual budget/currency
Annual Budget/Currency
Mailing address
Av. Juan Tanca Marengo y J. Orrantia. Edificio Nobis
Telephone number
Telephone Number
Postal/Zip Code
Country
Ecuador
Email address
Alternative email address
Alternative email address
tu idea
Esta será la dirección usada para marcar tu participación en el mapa.
Street Address
-
City
-
State/Province
-
Postal/Zip Code
-
Country
Ecuador
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
quality of tourist experience and educational benefit to tourists , quality of benefit to residents for the destination , quality of stewardship of the destination.
Organization size
Small (1 to 100 employees)
Indicate sector in which you principally work
Destination-stewardship business
Year innovation began
2007
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
History, Living culture, Nature, Culinary or agritourism, Adventure, Education, General destination stewardship/management.
Name Your Project
PROYECTO KARISMA
Describe Your Idea
Karisma Project is developed in Bucay, province of Guayas in Ecuador. A magical and strategically located transition area between the coast and mountains with a memorable story and incomparable natural charm. This region was at its heights during the first years of the 20th century with the introduction of the steam railroad built by the American company called G & Q Railway Company, in this manner Bucay turned into one of Ecuador’s most important commercial exchange centers. However, in 1997, the railway stopped its operation and said small but thriving city that based its economy on railways’ operation, was plunged into a strong economic depression, which gave origin to a migratory ...
BID/FOMIN
Si perteneces a un pais de Latinoamerica y el Caribe tienes la oportunidad de presentar tu iniciativa para acceder a fondos para innovaciones en turismo sostenible del BID/FOMIN (para mayor informacion leer la seccion sobre la oportunidad BID/FOMIN en la pagina principal del Desafio).
Deseo postularme.
Si perteneces a un pais de Latinoamerica y el Caribe tienes la oportunidad de presentar tu iniciativa para acceder a fondos para innovaciones en turismo sostenible del BID/FOMIN (para mayor informacion leer la seccion sobre la oportunidad BID/FOMIN en la pagina principal del Desafio).
Consumidores (viajeros), Mayoristas, Agentes detallistas, Operadores de Turismo, Prestatarios de servicios turísticos, Grupos comunitarios autóctonos, Atractivos naturales y culturales.
Indica cuales de estas tematicas cubre tu innovacion (elige todas aquellas opciones que apliquen)
Cartografía, Planificación y Gestión de destinos, Innovación y diversificación en el desarrollo de productos turísticos, Profesionalización, buenas prácticas y certificación de servicios turísticos sostenibles, Estrategias y herramientas innovadoras para la promoción y puesta en mercado de destinos y productos en turismo sostenible y geoturismo..
Innovación
What is the goal of your innovation? Please describe in one sentence the kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
Positioning Bucay as a sustainable geotourism destination in Ecuador by developing farm, adventure and solidarity tourism for instance new products in the tourist offer for the coast region.
Please write an overview of your project. Include how your approach supports or embodies geotourism or destination stewardship. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the map located on the competition homepage.
Karisma Project is developed in Bucay, province of Guayas in Ecuador. A magical and strategically located transition area between the coast and mountains with a memorable story and incomparable natural charm. This region was at its heights during the first years of the 20th century with the introduction of the steam railroad built by the American company called G & Q Railway Company, in this manner Bucay turned into one of Ecuador’s most important commercial exchange centers. However, in 1997, the railway stopped its operation and said small but thriving city that based its economy on railways’ operation, was plunged into a strong economic depression, which gave origin to a migratory wave to foreign countries.
At present, Bucay approaches tourism as a sustainable option to protect their privileged natural environment. Within said context, Karisma challenge was created as Mundo San Rafael’s commitment on social responsibility. Karisma’s aims at developing farm and adventure tourism linked with solidarity tourism, in this regard the challenge is to position Bucay as a geotourism destination. By means of Karisma we promote sustainable local human resources, solidarity, environment care and preservation, historical heritage retrieval and we focus on the generation of new product that supplement the region's tourist offer such as trekking, flora and fauna watching cannoning, horse riding, tubbing, mountain bike, the promotion and spreading of Montubio Rodeo as part of their tradition and be able to taste their gastronomy which is a coast and mountain ancestral cooking blend.
Bucay is presented as a competitive choice in contrast with the flooded sun and beach tourism, a break in the cold weather of Ecuadorian mountains and being responsible tourism precedent, undoubtedly Bucay is a safe investment in Guayas tourist future.
Explain in detail why your approach is innovative
Its main innovation is the diversification of tourist products in the coast region with responsible and solidarity tourism added value. Karisma’s project is aware of the fact that it should strengthen human resources and in this connection, it will implement specialized training programs in tourism related areas, the above, in conjunction with a strong awareness campaign addressed to tourists in order to guarantee a positive impact in each visit. The innovative farm adventure and entertainment offer is targeted to the urban tourists who are not accustomed to this kind of products.
Impacto
Describe the degree of success you have had to date. How do you measure, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the impact on sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How has it transformed or contributed to the power of place or demonstrated the sustainability of tourism? How does your approach minimize negative impacts?
Tourism is a well-known concept in Bucay, however, it took Mundo San Rafael three years to manage that population realize their acting and successful role in said activity at their place. The impact that the introduction of tourism may produce in a population with incipient ability to face the challenge, may and should be minimized by means of constant training and awareness on the importance of their natural, cultural and historical resources, thus generating a change of attitude and a permanent goal aimed at the promotion of environmental and responsible tourism actions
These awareness-creating lectures managed to break the paradigm of Bucay as a trade passageway for a geotourism destination thus producing a self-esteem enhancement within the population. As positive impact examples, we are able to document at least 18 families who have been benefited in a direct manner by providing transport, mechanical assistance, gastronomy, guide, accommodation and supplies trade services. For instance, Mr. Pablo Villamarín, farmer and woodcutter decided to re-establish its ancient sugar cane mill to turn it into a tourist destination visited by national and foreign people who enjoy the fresh sugar cane juice mixed with traditional liquor and tangerine juice. In 8 months, he has received 420 people who generated USD 840, the same amount he would generate by cutting down 56 trees. The combination of adventure tourism with cultural tourism is an option that benefits everybody.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your work, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Almost all people working in the tourist project called Mundo San Rafael are from Bucay and the surrounding populations. The local opinion and knowledge of Bucay inhabitants are important for the Karisma Project; this fact turns them into direct players of their own transformation. We believe that Bucay’s inhabitants who live their daily lives within said reality are aware of their problems and many times of the solutions and have important proposals and ideas, that is why we gathered them to carry out the first strategic planning workshop where we jointly analyzed and agreed on the problems of the areas’ tourist sector. They submitted possible solutions and by means of a SWOT Analysis they outlined the strategic lines and future projects that may enable the appropriate development of Bucay as a geotourism destination. This agreement generation exercise produces empowerment and improves self-esteem.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
An example on visitors’ involvement with the community is evidenced in the different tourist circuits performed by riding mountain bikes, walking or riding horses, being able to visit communities or tourist locations and carry out solidarity tourism by carrying donations aimed at soothing poverty condition within the area.
In addition, they visit ancient, artisan and even now operational mills where they are invited to taste a sugar cane drink. Tourists go through a direct experience by participating in the sugar cane extraction process in this manner contributing with the sustenance of families who encouraged by the revenues generated by tourism, quit other activities which do not respect the environment such as the tropical forest cut down.
Describe how your work helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area's cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues.
We are aware of the fact that communitarian work is a slow and highly committed task. Bucay's inhabitants aim at financial and human growth generated by tourism development; we believe that formal education and training are essential pillars of this process. In this connection, we have performed training session on tourist issues in order to evaluate and certify native guides in adventure sports. An interesting contribution has been generated by lectures on tourist awareness for Bucay’s inhabitants who directly work for tourism in an empiric manner, reinforcing knowledge and optimizing local knowledge, At the same time, tourists will be aware about the fact that the activity will support sustainable tourism. In addition, tourists will be informed about the sustainable tourism. Contributions may be through donations or buying local products such as sugar cane and liquor.
Esta presentación se trata de
Sustenibilidad
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
At present, Karisma, is under research and development process, it has been financially supported by Luis A. Noboa Naranjo (LANN), the same that would contribute with the required counterpart for FOMIN/BID co financing jointly with other development actors. Financial information will be submitted if required.
Mundo San Rafael employees its staff under two modes:
16 full-time
4 part tome hired native guides
2 part time university volunteers
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? Is there a potential demand for your innovation?
In the Ecuadorian costs, farm tourism destinations have not achieved a successful development due to the lack of hotel and recreation projects, that is why we believe it is a niche with full of opportunities, being the main advantage the excellent road network that connects Bucay with its main natural market, Guayaquil, with almost four million inhabitants. We aim at a family market by its adventure, leisure and recreation in contact with nature. However, it is necessary to carry out market research studies in order to measure the authentic dimension of potential demand and with this information efficiently plan investments and actions in the region; at the same time, a promotion plan is essential in order to position the destination.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Non-existence of Master Plan on Tourism in Bucay, on behalf the City council or Central Government, the absolute lack of laws and regulations that control activities in the area. Empiricism is also a strong barrier to be minimized. The lack of sensitivity towards ecological equilibrium. Another barrier would be the lack of interest between the public and private sectors.
What is your plan to expand or further develop your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
Working in new tourism segments requires appropriate planning studies, that’s why our plan is based on two proposals to be developed:1 Bucay Master Plan Elaboration, 2-Develop Esperanza’s humid forest tourist corridor. Karisma will work on these proposals that are in line with the Strategic Planning workshop carried out with the community. In this meeting, we discussed the requirement to create an environmental impact study that leads to the elaboration of an Environmental management plan. The need of a market research study that directs the efforts is immediate, as well as the design of advertising material for promoting and spreading the destination. Empiricism in tourist issues makes us create employment qualification programs on tourist, hotel, and handcraft management subjects.
La historia
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell the Changemakers and media communities what prompted you to start this initiative.
Karisma is a Luis A. Naranjo Foundation proposal that is directly related to Nobis Group, one of the most important business groups in Ecuador. Pronobis is the real state department of said business group and within this department Mundo San Rafael was developed which started with the construction of 115 holiday farms in Bucay’s region, where we plan to carry out Karisma's social responsibility project.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
From his childhood, Luis Avelllán, committed his life to the preservation of the environment and the protection of animals. Years later, in 1993 he started a successful activity in television by performing programs on nature and adventure tourism travelling along several countries in America, keeping a record of successful experiences on species preservation, natural areas recovery and communitarian tourism. In 2003, he decided to start activities as tourist businessmen and created the first company in Ecuador that performs double-decker sightseeing bus tours with permanent itinerary achieving 75.000 on-board-passengers in the first 21 operational month
In 2006, he is employed by one of the most important business groups in his country to develop a non-precedent project in the coast region, Mundo San Rafael, an innovative proposal that initiated a new culture on farm tourism in the coast region.
Describe some unique tourist experiences that your approach provides. Be specific; give illustrative examples.
Mundo San Rafael stands out for having introduced into the market two proposals that shared uniqueness and location features evidencing solidarity and responsibility tourism.
The first proposal deals with the recovery of the ancient mill route, which has been lately visited by tourist of at least 18 different countries who descended the road riding mountain bikes while visiting the ancient mill where liquor sugar cane is produced. As a part of this proposal, tourists are able to interact with local communities by sharing their occupation and buying their products thus evidencing solidarity tourism.
Another interesting and innovative proposal has been to combine the most accredited corporate training sessions or programs with open-air adventure sports or activities, thus changing the traditional and sometimes monotonous executive programs carried out within four walls. Karisma is created in accordance with the imminent need to project Mundo San Rafael scope towards nearby communities within the aim to include them in the tourist work as an alternative to the intensive and indiscriminate agriculture and livestock activities, which have produces deforestation on the western slope of the Andes.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
Alliances with Chambers of Tourism in the country, national and international tourist operators, local and regional associations, national and international NGOs interested in ecotourism, agro-tourism, communitarian, solidarity, adventure tourism, fauna rescue activities. ICT application would be a great contribution to the project.
 | 155 weeks agoLUIS AVELLAN said: Dana, i ll try to explain the spirit of the project!! Karisma proyect is based on touristic demand research made by Escuela Politécnica ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 155 weeks agoLUIS AVELLAN said: The clue of all this project is to involve the communties in the tourism sector, that they can become a builders of their own destiny. ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 157 weeks agoLUIS AVELLAN said: Esto que nos comentas José luis es muy interesante! Pues efectivamente nuestro trabajo se basa fuertemente en la conservación de la ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 157 weeks agoDana Frasz said: Hello, I enjoyed reading about the interesting history of your region. Thank you for sharing. I have a few questions regarding your ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 158 weeks agoJose Luis Guerrero said: Estimados Karisma, Los felicito por esta gran iniciativa de ayuda y apoyo al turismo en Bucay y sus alrededores (zona de gran ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 159 weeks agoLUIS AVELLAN said: Cinthia, muy oportunos tus comentarios y tus ideas. El plan de trabajo para los siguientes 3 años contiene un plan estratégico municipal ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 159 weeks agoLUIS AVELLAN said: gracias Gaby por tus palabras. En efecto, Bucay es un destino alterantivo a la ruta del sol y de la Spondylus, a la vez que competitivo ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 159 weeks agoLUIS AVELLAN said: Estimado Alberto, Sus comentarios son altamente gratificantes para quienes conformamos Mundo San Rafael. Esperamos tenerlo pronto en ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 159 weeks agogabriela viteri crespo said: Me parece una gran iniciativa que se promuevan otros puntos turisticos del pais, especialmente un lugar tan maravilloso como Bucay y sus ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 159 weeks agoalberto lopez said: Me parece tremendamente interesante cualquier tema enfocado a la reestructuración y recuperación de zonas cultural, ambiental y ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |