Strategies for the sustainable management of alternative rural tourism on the Ruta del Encanto of the canton of Portoviejo

Abstract

Tourism can positively influence the economic, social, and environmental development of a community. For this to happen, it is necessary that the organizations and institutions involved in this activity assume a responsible attitude. To this approach of reciprocity in which the tourist receives the satisfaction of their needs and desires and, in return, the quality of life of those who live in the receiving territory is improved, their development and the preservation of resources for future generations, it is known as sustainable tourism. n Ecuador, although this topic has been discussed for years, the desired results have not yet been achieved. The objective of this research was to design strategies to improve the sustainable management of alternative rural tourism in the Route of Charm of the Portoviejo canton. The study was based on the need to know the potential and limitations of sustainable management linked to the practice of alternative rural tourism on this route. Theoretical methods such as historical-logical, analysis - synthesis and induction - deduction were used, which allowed developing a state of the art on the subject and knowing the current situation of the problem. At the empirical level, a bibliographic study, interviews with agents of the tourism sector in the studied area, and customer surveys were carried out. In the proposed strategies developed for the management of alternative rural tourism for the route, the results of the diagnosis carried out were considered, from a sustainable perspective.