Quito, July 9 (RHC-teleSUR) -- As part of efforts to promote tourism, the government of Ecuador held a special presentation of “The Royal Tour” documentary hosted by U.S. journalist Peter Greenberg and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.

The program had its international premiere in April in the United States, but Ecuador was unfortunately rocked by a 7.8 earthquake shortly after its release, limiting the positive impact on tourism the government was expecting.

The earthquake affected much of the Ecuadorean coast, causing severe damage to many towns and cities that depend heavily on tourism. The tourism sector is the third non-oil source of income in the Andean country.  The earthquake left 670 people dead and caused billions in damage.

Even regions that were unaffected by the quake have seen a dip in visitors, with both domestic and international travelers opting to change their plans.

Greenberg said he and his team were ready to do their part to help the affected regions get back on their feet. He added that many of the crew returned the Ecuador after the earthquake to lend a hand with recovery efforts.