‘Luxury isn't a five-star hotel, but an authentic experience’
Travel Hero: Roy Ortiz
‘When we travel, we step out of our comfort zone and routine and become much more open to trying new experiences and allowing ourselves to be guided to unfamiliar places, both externally and internally.’
Meet Roy Ortiz, our Travel Hero and co-owner of TouristEd Chile, a pioneering force in regenerative and sustainable tourism in Chile.
Summarising Roy Ortiz’s tourism resume can be overwhelming: his passion for responsible travel has led to the creation of several companies in the sustainable tourism sector. The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism and the Adventure Travel Trade Association have acknowledged his expertise. He is an ambassador for the Responsible Hotels community and the Transformational Travel Council. His collaboration with the Eco-Agrotourism Foundation for the Ceres Ecotur sustainability certification project further solidifies his position as a leader in the field.
‘I was fascinated by the cultural differences between countries and destinations, how our minds and personalities are shaped by where we are born, and the culture in which we grow or develop’
Where are you now, and what are you working on?
I am developing an adventure and nature tourism event we will hold in the Araucanía region at the end of 2024. One of our goals is to promote local development by highlighting new tourist destinations in Chile. Last year, we held an event in the Coquimbo region, which is at the edge of the Atacama Desert, and due to its tremendous impact, we have been asked to replicate it in another region of Chile.
In your life, what has travel given you? How has travel defined you as a person?
Since I was young, I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel and experience other cultures. I studied at a university in England, and this experience or immersion helped me understand that there are many different paths to reach the same place or goal. I am originally from the Canary Islands, so travelling to England and living there for three years planted a seed in me that continues to grow. I was fascinated by the cultural differences between countries and destinations, how our minds and personalities are shaped by where we are born, and the culture in which we grow or develop.
‘The name TouristEd comes from the combination of tourism and education. The goal is to educate travellers and those who are part of the destination through tourism’
Tell us about the origins of TouristEd. Where, how, and why did the idea come about?
The origins of TouristEd go back to an aspect initially identified by my partner, Patricio Vega, the company’s founder, who, with his vision as a marine biologist, wanted to contribute with the motto ‘Where science becomes an adventure’. Initially, the company only operated in the Coquimbo region, a marine biodiversity hotspot. After a few years of local operation, I visited the area for a project to develop sustainable experiences. When we met, we connected immediately and shared the same philosophy on creating travel experiences. I have a degree in environmental sciences and a Master’s in sustainable development, so we both focus on developing tourism that helps conserve nature and highlight traditional crafts. We have been working together for more than five years, and the name TouristEd comes from the combination of tourism and education. The goal is to educate travellers and those who are part of the destination through tourism.
How does TouristEd contribute to preserving the environment and developing local and Indigenous communities?
I am originally from the Canary Islands, so I am aware of the double-edged sword that is tourism. I have seen firsthand how mass tourism can destroy a destination’s identity and create significant conflicts between travellers and the local population. That’s why we always promote the use of local entrepreneurs, local guides, and experiences that highlight traditional crafts, local culture, and the conservation of natural and heritage resources. We work with artisanal fishermen, farmers, goat herders, and ranchers to help them generate additional income for their way of life. We understand that these destination hosts are becoming increasingly scarce, and our purpose is to ensure they can be preserved over time through responsible tourism that seeks to know and protect these people and their territories.
‘At TouristEd, we provide additional income to local communities so they can continue practising their traditional activities and, most importantly, understand the value of these ways of life disappearing elsewhere’
What challenges do the local and Indigenous communities you work with face?
When working with local communities, especially goat herders and artisanal fishermen, we’ve realised that their daily activity is not just a job for them but a way of life. In the Coquimbo region, we have a significant problem with drought, creating great difficulties in preserving traditional ways of life. At TouristEd, we provide additional income to local communities so they can continue practising their traditional activities and, most importantly, understand the value of these ways of life disappearing elsewhere. We are on the right track when a traveller from another country interacts with these goat herders or artisanal fishermen and conveys the value of their way of life. It’s a way to confirm the worth of their lifestyle to local communities and generate interest in preserving it.
What can we learn from these communities?
Local communities and the Indigenous communities we work with in different destinations in Chile offer a unique worldview and an ancestral perspective that enriches global thinking. Cultural diversity is vital to better understanding ourselves as a society and generating positive contributions to local communities and travellers visiting them.
How can ecotourism and adventure travel help conserve and preserve our planet and the way of life of local communities?
Our experiences always have the common thread of the culture we encounter. We engage in nature and sporting activities like kayaking, hiking, trekking, mountaineering, biking, climbing, canyoning and so on, always with the utmost respect for the natural values of the destination but linking them to people. We understand that many travellers choose us because they want to know a destination for its natural or cultural values, but they return because of the people they meet. It is those interactions that we always emphasise in our trips to generate that exchange of opinions, worldviews, and cultural differences that make our experiences unique and authentic.
‘We understand that many travellers choose us because they want to know a destination for its natural or cultural values, but they return because of the people they meet’
Travelling has helped me to better understand the world, different cultures, and points of view. Above all, it has helped me get to know myself better, and if we do it with the intention of learning and understanding, there is no better teacher than travel. That’s why we named our company Tourist + Ed; it combines Tourism and Education, something we always incorporate into our experiences. When we travel, we step out of our comfort zone and routine and become much more open to trying new experiences and allowing ourselves to be guided to unfamiliar places, both externally and internally.
‘Fortunately, every day more people are looking to travel to places that still maintain their authenticity, where luxury isn’t a five-star hotel’
We suppose the process hasn’t been easy. What difficulties have you faced that you’ve learned the most from?
We have faced significant challenges, mainly because we specialise in travel off the beaten path. We promote destinations that could be better known and still retain their local character and authenticity. The main difficulty this creates is that these destinations are unknown to most travellers. Fortunately, every day more people are looking to travel to places that still maintain their authenticity, where luxury isn’t a five-star hotel but having an authentic experience and getting to know a destination like a local.
What are your favourite destinations and itineraries in Chile?
Our favourite destinations in Chile include the Limarí Valley in the Coquimbo region, known as the Region of the Stars, where you can enjoy the worldview of the Diaguita and Molle peoples. Or explore the valleys where exquisite wines and piscos are produced, visit the Humboldt current, where you can spot the blue whale, and the Andes mountains, where you can trek through the hills up to the border with Argentina.
Another of our favourite destinations is southern Chilean Patagonia, where you can explore the Strait of Magellan to the end of the American continent and go kayaking alongside glaciers in Tierra del Fuego and humpback whales. Or experience the wild and authentic Patagonia along the Carretera Austral…. The options are endless, Chile has so much to offer!
Find Inspiration for Your Next Adventure
Discover Araucanía Travel Fest 2024, the most outstanding adventure and nature tourism event of the year, to be held in the beautiful Araucanía region! The event will feature renowned national and international experts who share their vast knowledge in key areas such as environment, sustainable tourism and more.