Key factors in the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations, Manabí, Ecuador: Perspectives and Challenges

Abstract

The objective of the study was to carry out a systematic review of the determining factors in the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. With the exhaustive analysis of the available literature, the aim is to identify both the perspectives and the challenges that this region faces in its search for sustainable rural tourism. A systematic bibliographic review methodology was applied, theoretical perspectives of scientific articles, documents and national and international theses that addressed aspects related to the topic in question were analyzed, and indexed in the database Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Cielo, Dialnet, Latindex, and that were published in the last five years. The results showed that among the highlighted perspectives is the crucial role of community participation in tourism planning and management, highlighting the importance of involving local residents in all stages of the process. In addition, the need to conserve the environment and cultural resources is highlighted as a fundamental basis for sustainability. He highlighted the importance of addressing these challenges in a comprehensive and collaborative manner, involving multiple actors, from government and community organizations to the private sector. However, the article also points out a series of challenges that hinder the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations in Manabí. These include the lack of infrastructure and basic services in some areas, as well as the need to diversify tourism offerings to avoid dependence on a single type of tourism.