QUITO, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador began its four-day national holiday on Saturday with vibrant carnival celebrations and a surge in tourism.

According to official estimates, thousands of tourists will travel to Ambato and Guaranda, the epicenters of the country's most emblematic carnival festivities.

Ambato, a mountainous city in central Ecuador, is famous for its annual Flowers and Fruits Parade and is expected to attract at least 200,000 tourists in its Cevallos Park during the holiday.

This year's parade will feature large floats adorned with flowers and fruits, accompanied by carnival troupes performing dances and music.

Beyond Ambato, local governments across the country have organized diverse cultural events to attract tourists from around the world.

Meanwhile, in response to a recent surge of violence in the South American country, the government has tightened security measures during the carnival holiday as part of a nationwide crackdown on organized crime.

Authorities said the security measures will be implemented through next Wednesday, with 46,748 police officers and 32,000 military personnel deployed across the country. ■