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Digital technology initiatives in response to covid-19 challenges in the Galapagos Islands

Abstract:

The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has severely affected several countries in Latin America. Ecuador has been dealing with concerns in their national health services as well as the economic crisis due to the oil price crash earlier in the year. The Galapagos Islands have also been affected by the pandemic due to a reduction in tourism caused by travel restrictions. Tourism is the main source of income for the Islands. Schools have also been affected as the regular school year in Ecuador was initially delayed and later switched to online sessions. Due to the current health hiatus and considering the challenges with internet access, quality of education, and tourism, a number of initiatives are considered here to promote Digital Literacy Education for the youth as well as digital solutions to provide a safer environment for tourists attractions in the Galapagos Islands. An overview of the different projects, experiences, and future work will be presented.