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An excursion leaves Lindblad Expedition s National Geographic Endeavour II in the Galapagos. Photo Credit: Ralph Lee Hopkins
Lindblad Expeditions and Island Conservation have launched the Galapagos Island Relief Fund to provide financial assistance for island residents, 80% of who depend on tourism and have been financially devastated by the impact of the Covid19 pandemic.
Donations received by the fund will enable a local nonprofit, Fundacion Un Cambio Por La Vida (Funcavid), to make microloans to the people of the Galapagos. The funds will provide immediate financial relief, address the basic needs of vulnerable families, allow children to stay in school and help sustainable businesses grow and begin developing new income sources, Lindblad said.
Lindblad Expeditions And Island Conservation Launch Galápagos Island Relief Fund Campaign to Help Rebuild the Economy for Local People and Wildlife
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Lindblad Expeditions, a global provider of expedition cruises, and
Island Conservation, an international not-for-profit conservation organization, have launched the
Galápagos Island Relief Fund to provide immediate financial relief for the people of the Galápagos Islands who have been devastated by the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism accounts for more than 80% of the Galápagos economy, so in March, when travel restrictions suddenly halted the tourism industry, it caused profound hardship for families, businesses, and the community at large. In the first two months of the pandemic alone, the islands economy lost $50 million, almost a quarter of the annual income; and the Galápagos Chamber of Tourism recently reported that visitors between July and October dropped