Smart Destination Galapagos Overview Problem/Challenge: Can technology, appropriately introduced with the participation of local stakeholders, create opportunities for investing in Human, Economic, Social, Natural and Physical (infrastructure, goods etc.) Capitals to create shared value in tourist destinations like the Galapagos, with both locals and tourists as stewards of their communities? Smart Destination Galapagos adds value to Smart Villages by incorporating ecotourists as investors and stewards through technology. In addition to an Intranet, mobilizing high school students to bridge the digital divide is a key step to training locals as Smart Stewards of their Destination.
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How to Create a Smart Destination GALAPAGOS The following initiatives have as a global outcome the creation, implementation, evaluation and maintenance of a Smart Destination Galapagos (SDG) with both tourists and locals as Smart Stewards of the Enchanted Islands, with technology as a driver (www.EcoHelix.org), and Apps that invite visitors and hosts to participate reciprocally as members of a dynamic ecosystem.
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Smart Destination Galapagos Initiative Phases I. Data Collection (Ongoing, began August 2013, ongoing) • Initiative A: Situational Analysis, with Market Surveys of Locals (high school students), Key Stakeholders, and Tourists Outcome: Feasibility study of SDG o II. Developing Online Content for Training of Locals (Summer 2016, ongoing) • Initiative B: Stakeholder IdentiSication/Mapping/Mobilization/Community Leadership/Development/Collaboration (Beyond Chacay Foundation: U. of Calgary, Regis U., Villanova U. and Santa Clara U.) Outcome: Dynamic Local Ecosystem o • Initiative C: Responsible Entrepreneurship Courses based on the Business Model Canvas (BCF) Outcome: Sustainability o • Initiative D: Green Businesses, including Best Practices, Tree Planting, Energy and Water Savings, Recycling (BCF) Outcome: Conservation o • Initiative E: Small business campuses with labs on each of the populated islands (BCF, Scalesia Foundation, high schools) Outcome: Community Learning Centers, training smart local users o • Initiative F: English content for locals (Regis University, BCF, FUNDAR) Outcome: more effective communication between visitors and hosts o • Initiative G: Project management training for local experts/stakeholders (Calgary, BCF, FUNDAR) Outcome: Community based sustainable development projects o • Initiative E: Content related to local businesses, destinations, and additional relevant information (Municipality, Mintur) Outcome: Smart Tourists o • Initiative F: Creation of a Learning Community (MDP Program, Regis University, Villanova U, Santa Clara U, ElecGalapagos) Outcome: Core of local stakeholders to lead the Galapagos in Sustainable Development o III. Online Content for Training Ecotourists (Fall, 2016, ongoing) • Upload Continuing Education classes for tourists (Moodle), based on the following sequence (BCF, Mintur Observatory) Prequel (prior to arrival training) o Novel (creating an account of the visit, using Smart Devices) o Sequel (ongoing involvement in the community o IV. Technology on the Galapagos (July-September 2016) • Build the infrastructure to enable a local operating Intranet (IEEE, Governing Council of Galapagos, Villanova, ElecGalapagos) • Create an Intranet for access to online content for both locals and tourists (IEEE, BCF, Villanova, ElecGalapagos) • Bridge the digital divide, with high school students as trainers in homes and community learning centers (BCF, Scalesia) • Develop Apps for visitors and locals to interact directly with the community (Locals, International contests) • Equip Learning Community Labs for Citizen Training (Porto Ayora High Schools, Municipality) V. Evaluation and Adjustment (Summer 2016, ongoing) • Ongoing evaluation mechanisms including baseline date based on self-efSicacy, outcomes (BCF, Calgary, Villanova, Santa Cruz) • Feedback loops with existing local entities (municipalities, ElecGalapagos, Observatorio de Turismo) • Participation by Tourists in ongoing evaluation of experiences (www.ecohelix.com/galapagos) (MinTur Observatory) David Lansdale, BCF - Summer 2018