Emerging Trail Leader Scholarship Recipient

Alejandra Turcios

San Salvador, El Salvador

I would like to thank you for considering me for participation in the International Trails Symposium 2017. By this, you have also taken into account our beautiful country, El Salvador. Unfortunately most people just hear bad things about my country and know very little about our beautiful natural areas, incredible sea turtle nesting beaches and famous surfing areas. I see the possibilities and that little by little; El Salvador could be developed into an ecotourism destination for local Salvadoreans and also linking with Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. One of the reasons why I decided to study tourism is because I fell in love with the nature that our country has. Tourism can generate new employment opportunities and attract foreign tourists. The Symposium would be a great opportunity to develop knowledge and also to be able to learn from the other participants.

My objective is to obtain this scholarship to be able to implement new applications of the trails, to carry out training for the tour guides, and ultimately contribute to the community. In addition, by linking local communities to nature through trails, to create environmental awareness and connections to their cultural roots in El Salvador.

I have worked for the “Salvadorean Institute of Tourism” (ISTU) in community-based activities for the development and promotion of eco-tourism, design and implementation of interpretive signs. I have participated in the design of “A Window to Nature Trail" and the “Trail of Mysterious Flowers” in Cerro Verde National Park, famous for its trail system. The ISTU is the entity responsible for development and management of recreation of Salvadorean Families. In addition, the ISTU provides discounts and complete exemptions to students and qualifying visitors in order to expand participation and provide a healthy recreational experience.

I am very grateful for this opportunity and extremely excited about the possibility of representing my country at the Symposium. The filming of my video allowed me to dream of the future of the trails in El Salvador as a way we can all share experiences and connect with our imagination. Equally important is sharing and collaborating with our Central American neighbors. If our small countries can work together we can create a world-class destination that appeals to all ages and protects nature.