The most interesting thing I’ve done as a Local Guide: Boosting the Development of an underdeveloped (Latin American) country.
Technology and the advancement of programs, websites and apps today is a universal tool that is used in all areas. When I started contributing to Google maps as a local guide, I did it as a hobby, then when I entered the university’s Finance degree, I realized; that contributing and adding places and references on Google maps was helping the economic growth of my country and the countries I have visited.
How is this possible?
Tourism.
I am from Ecuador a small country located to the northwest of South America is known for being located in the middle of the world, for being a country with little development it is not very recognized at the level, regional and worldwide.
Adding, modifying and contributing to tourist places in my country I encourage the increase of national and foreign tourism generating income, all this thanks, Google maps a very important tool for tourism since it is used by more than one billion users per month and through From it we can facilitate the free and timely location and circulation to the most interesting places to visit since it includes important details that the tourist needs to know.
In recent years from 2018, tourist figures have increased generating an income of USD 1,878.6 million in 2019, this increase in the influx of tourists is thanks to access to the information provided by Google, since when we plan to visit a country or place we always look for what is interesting in it and that the lodging is in a nearby place where we want to go, this is exactly what Google Maps provides.
An example:
When I was in Cartagena, Colombia I had the opportunity to visit the Rosario Islands an unmissable place to know, but nevertheless they told me to be very careful that I could be scammed because they could take me to another place, well many of my friends did not want to go to this place for this reason but I took a chance and fortunately I was in the right place. While there I noticed that this place did not exist on Google Maps therefore there was no technological way to check if it was the right place or not and obviously there was no way to see where you are from if it was feasible to go to that place. Add the place “Snorkel Zone Rosario Islands” and in a few months you have 21,778 views of the place, thus removing the fear of going to visit it.
A wonderful place in Ecuador is the Quilotoa lagoon, it is located in the crater of an extinct volcano.
Commerce / Business
It is not complex to realize that with a tool like Google Maps, we can energize the economy, by adding places (offer) such as shops, businesses, hotels, hostels etc., we help the business to get acquainted with customers and grow as it grows. Business is very possible to generate jobs for other people, which boosts the economy. At the same time we help consumers (demand) by facilitating the search for the articles or services they need to meet their needs.
An example:
Creation of the place of business: “Santa-Cruz El Fogón de las Abuelas Restaurant” on google maps.
Adding and modifying small, medium and large companies in vulnerable sectors such as the San Lorenzo canton, Esmeraldas, Ecuador, a border population with Colombia and beaten by illegal groups such as the FARs, “Paramilatares”, insurgent war groups dedicated to drug trafficking . We can help the commercial development of this population by directing its people to engage in licit activities by energizing their economies through Google Maps since it is not only a GPS tool but also serves to promote, locate and publicize their microenterprises.
