Inclusion strategy for accessible tourism in Jipijapa Canton, Manabí, Ecuador (Original)

Abstract

Accessible tourism is an essential component to guarantee social inclusion and sustainable development in communities. The main objective of this article is to design an inclusion strategy to improve accessibility conditions in tourism in Jipijapa Canton, located in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. A qualitative and descriptive methodology was used to analyze the current accessibility conditions in the tourism sector. To gather relevant information, tools such as semi-structured interviews, direct observation and surveys applied to key actors such as local authorities, tourism operators and people with disabilities were used. The results of the analysis show the existence of significant barriers to the development of accessible tourism, including the insufficiency of adapted infrastructure, the lack of inclusive transportation, and the lack of adequate signage at the main tourist attractions in the area. These limitations compromise equal access and full enjoyment of tourism activities for people with disabilities. The aim of this study is to contribute to the inclusive development of tourism and to guarantee the right to leisure for all.