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Quito bike tours - ombretta
Community and Events, LATAM

Hello from Ecuador – Meet Ombretta Zanetti

Ombretta Zanetti and Alex Benavides recently moved to Quito to launch Quito Bike Tours. Along the way, they also started Travel Massive Quito and held their first event in July.

Ombretta (also a blogger for Very Itchy Feet) and Alex are a couple who, between them, have visited 94 countries. They divide their time between Quito, Ecuador and Melbourne, Australia – as well many other countries in between.

We aked Ombi to share her perspective on tourism in Ecuador and the story of co-founding Quito Bike Tours.

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Why did you want to create Travel Massive chapter in Quito?

I consider myself to be an honorary Quiteña (a person from Quito) and have been oscillating between Ecuador and Australia since 1999, when I met my Ecuadorian-born partner, Alex.

I was a ‘tourist’ when the country had virtually no travelers or tourists!

I feel that I know what tourists want here, and what we need to make tourism grow in Ecuador.

As an Ecuadorian having lived and traveled overseas extensively, Alex knows what’s lacking and understands what we need to do and who we need to contact to get the tourism industry in Quito and Ecuador movin’ and groovin’!

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How is tourism currently developing in Ecuador?

Compared to its neighbours, Peru and Colombia, we believe that the tourism industry in Ecuador is trailing a little behind.

We believe that this tiny country gives you serious bang for your buck, and offers everything from beaches through rainforests to Andean highlands in a small area.

What is needed is people, companies, providers, agencies and bloggers who are willing to give it that extra push and say:

“Hey, this is Ecuador, there’s loads to do here, and it’s awesome!”

We think that a local Travel Massive chapter is a good first step to making that happen.

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What are the main challenges for the travel industry in Ecuador?

Some of the biggest challenges are the bureaucracy, lack of action from government tourism boards, and the local companies’ lack of understanding how to commercialize their product/service, both in-house and abroad.

There is also not enough tourism content from travel writers and bloggers (perhaps because they are not convinced of the vision or where tourism is heading).

The other problem is the current focus on high-end tourism. Don’t forget the independent travelers; this little country is a backpackers powerhouse!

Why did you develop a Bike Tour company in Ecuador?

Doing something tourism related in Quito has always been our dream. On our last trip to Ecuador, it just kind of ‘happened’. By April of this year, we were setting up Quito Bike Tours.

Along with our partners, Quito-born Fernando de la Torre and Andrea Baquero, we realized that we had a shared vision and combined skills that could bring a totally exciting edge to tourism in Quito. Nobody was doing bike tours in the city.

Between us, we have all the skills needed to run a professional company with a vision to making some positive changes to the tourism industry in Ecuador!

Fernando is a graphic designer, has his own bike shop (Fulgur Bicicletas Urbanas), builds bikes, has worked as a tour guide and speaks fluent English. Andrea has financial and customer service skills and speaks both excellent Italian and English. Alex is an IT, business and digital strategist and consultant. He built our website. And I am the communications and PR person.

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How can people get involved in the tourism community in Quito?

Join Travel Massive Quito … really! Our first meetup recently was awesome. We had loads of people, both Ecuadorians and foreigners, who had amazing vision. They truly understood the importance of community spirit and working together to help grow not only each others’ companies but the tourism industry in Quito and Ecuador as a whole.

📸 Check out photos from the first Quito event

In fact, we are already working with several of the members and their companies for Quito Bike Tours.

Shared vision, shared ideas, working as a community – this is how the tourism industry in Ecuador will grow!

Stay in touch – check out the Friends page on the Quito Bike Tours website and give us a like us on Facebook.

– Thanks Ombi for the Q&A!


Follow Ombi and Alex on Travel Massive to connect with them and learn more about their projects.


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