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Geosites and Georesources to Foster Geotourism in Communities: Case Study of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project in Ecuador

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  • Gricelda Herrera-Franco

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena (UPSE), Avda. principal La Libertad-Santa Elena, 240204 La Libertad, Ecuador)

  • Paúl Carrión-Mero

    (Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra (FICT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 via Perimetral, 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Centro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 via Perimetral, 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador)

  • Niurka Alvarado

    (Junta Administradora de Agua Potable de Manglaralto (JAAPMAN), 241754 Manglaralto, Ecuador)

  • Fernando Morante-Carballo

    (Centro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 via Perimetral, 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas (FCNM), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador
    Geo-Recursos y Aplicaciones GIGA, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador)

  • Alfonso Maldonado

    (Departamento de Ingeniería Geológica y Minera, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Calle de Alenza, 4, 28031 Madrid, Spain)

  • Pablo Caldevilla

    (Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingenieros de Minas, Universidad de León (ULE), Campus de Vegazana, s/n, 24071 León, Spain)

  • Josué Briones-Bitar

    (Centro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 via Perimetral, 09-01-5863 Guayaquil, Ecuador)

  • Edgar Berrezueta

    (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), C/Matemático Pedrayes 25, 33005 Oviedo, Spain)

Abstract

Santa Elena Peninsula is characterized by beautiful geological features, historical geoscientific knowledge, and mineral and tourism resources that could all be combined for the sake of community development. This article provides an overview of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project through the assessment of six areas that are considered by inhabitants and researchers possible geosites to foster geotourism. The methodology included: (i) a technical description and assessment of the areas of interest evaluating their geological relevance, representativeness, geotouristic prominence, geotouristic scientific interpretation, and conservation criteria; (ii) an assessment through questionnaires carried out on inhabitants; and (iii) a SWOT Plus analysis to propose strategies for promoting geotourism. Results show that the areas of interest are highly valued as geosites, since they integrate geodiversity, biodiversity, and sociocultural aspects. For example, Ancon is a historical icon of early oil exploitation, Baños de San Vicente is a natural spring of thermal water and mud volcano, and Anconcito has bituminous exudations of natural occurrence together with a spectacular landscape produced by erosion. Overall, 90% of these sites were proved to be of high and very high interest in scientific terms. Geotourism is believed to be beneficial for the inhabitants of the Santa Elena Peninsula with respect to education, valorization of resources, and the strengthening of cultural identity of communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Paúl Carrión-Mero & Niurka Alvarado & Fernando Morante-Carballo & Alfonso Maldonado & Pablo Caldevilla & Josué Briones-Bitar & Edgar Berrezueta, 2020. "Geosites and Georesources to Foster Geotourism in Communities: Case Study of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project in Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4484-:d:365860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexandre Oliveira Tavares & Maria Helena Henriques & Artur Domingos & Abel Bala, 2015. "Community Involvement in Geoconservation: A Conceptual Approach Based on the Geoheritage of South Angola," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-26, April.
    2. Ľubomír Štrba & Branislav Kršák & Csaba Sidor, 2018. "Some Comments to Geosite Assessment, Visitors, and Geotourism Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-8, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paúl Carrión-Mero & Alicia Ayala-Granda & Sthefano Serrano-Ayala & Fernando Morante-Carballo & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega & Nataly Paz-Salas & Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Edgar B, 2020. "Assessment of Geomorphosites for Geotourism in the Northern Part of the “Ruta Escondida” (Quito, Ecuador)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-23, October.
    2. Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Paúl Carrión-Mero & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Fernando Morante-Carballo & María Jaya-Montalvo & M.C. Morillo-Balsera, 2020. "Groundwater Resilience Assessment in a Communal Coastal Aquifer System. The Case of Manglaralto in Santa Elena, Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-27, October.
    3. Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Carlos Mora-Frank & Lady Bravo-Montero, 2021. "Scientific Research in Ecuador: A Bibliometric Analysis," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-34, December.
    4. Mária Barančoková & Daniela Hutárová & Maroš Nikolaj, 2023. "Quantitative Assessment of Geodiversity for Conservation Purposes in Slovenské rudohorie Mountains (Slovakia)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-28, August.
    5. Gricelda Herrera-Franco & F. Javier Montalván & Andrés Velastegui-Montoya & Jhon Caicedo-Potosí, 2022. "Vulnerability in a Populated Coastal Zone and Its Influence by Oil Wells in Santa Elena, Ecuador," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Paúl Carrión-Mero & María Jaya-Montalvo & Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega, 2021. "Worldwide Research on Geoparks through Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-32, January.
    7. Paúl Carrión-Mero & Magner Turner-Carrión & Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Gianella Bravo-Murillo & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Nataly Paz-Salas & Edgar Berrezueta, 2022. "Geotouristic Route Proposal for Touristic Development in a Mining Area—Case Study," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Marko D. Petrović & Dobrila Lukić & Milan M. Radovanović & Ivana Blešić & Tamara Gajić & Dunja Demirović Bajrami & Julia A. Syromiatnikova & Đurđa Miljković & Sanja Kovačić & Marija Kostić, 2023. "How Can Tufa Deposits Contribute to the Geotourism Offer? The Outcomes from the First UNESCO Global Geopark in Serbia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    9. Fernando Morante-Carballo & Geanella Herrera-Narváez & Nelson Jiménez-Orellana & Paúl Carrión-Mero, 2020. "Puyango, Ecuador Petrified Forest, a Geological Heritage of the Cretaceous Albian-Middle, and Its Relevance for the Sustainable Development of Geotourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-24, August.
    10. Marián Lukáč & Ľubomír Štrba & Alexander Černega & Samer Khouri, 2021. "Recent State Policy and Its Impact on Geopark Establishment and Operation in Slovakia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
    11. Mengdi Wang & Kaixuan Tan & Yongmei Li & Yanshi Xie & Wenzhou Xiao & Yang Xu & Yunting Tian, 2022. "Study on the Sustainable Development of Popular Science Tourism Based on the SWOT Analysis for the Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    12. Yiting Zhu & Xueru Pang & Chunshan Zhou & Xiong He, 2022. "Coupling Coordination Degree between the Socioeconomic and Eco-Environmental Benefits of Koktokay Global Geopark in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-25, July.

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