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Geosites and Geotourism in the Local Development of Communities of the Andes Mountains. A Case Study

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  • Paúl Carrión-Mero

    (Centro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil 9015863, Ecuador
    Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil 9015863, Ecuador)

  • César Borja-Bernal

    (Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil (UG), Guayaquil 9015863, Ecuador)

  • Gricelda Herrera-Franco

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

  • Fernando Morante-Carballo

    (Centro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil 9015863, Ecuador
    Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas (FCNM), ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil 9015863, Ecuador
    Geo-Recursos y Aplicaciones GIGA, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Guayaquil 9015863, Ecuador)

  • María Jaya-Montalvo

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Zaruma 071350, Ecuador)

  • Alfonso Maldonado-Zamora

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

  • Nataly Paz-Salas

    (Bira Bienes Raíces S.A. (BIRA S.A.), Zaruma 071350, Ecuador)

  • Edgar Berrezueta

    (Departamento de Infraestructura Geocientífica y Servicios, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), 33005 Oviedo, Spain)

Abstract

The inventory and assessment of a geosite in a territory provides a sound basis for the protection and use of its geological heritage. This article aims to evaluate the most relevant geosites in the province of Chimborazo (Ecuador), applying the Spanish Inventory of Sites of Geological Interest (IELIG, in Spanish) method, and proposing alternatives for geotourism development in the studied area. The methodological process was based on: (i) the inventory and preliminary selection of geosites; (ii) a semi-quantitative geosite assessment and proposal of travel itineraries for geotourism; and (iii) the application of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) matrix to establish geotourism development strategies within a framework of sustainability. The global assessment of scientific, tourist, and academic interests demonstrates that 25% of the 20 evaluated geosites have very high interest and 75% have high interest. The top three geosites with the highest degrees of interest are the Chimborazo Volcano, known as ‘Earth’s Closest Point to the Sun’, the Pallatanga geological fault, and the geosite named Comunidad Cacha. The SWOT analysis reveals that travel itineraries that combine cultural heritage elements and geosites could offer a real alternative for the region’s sustainable development through geotourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Paúl Carrión-Mero & César Borja-Bernal & Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Fernando Morante-Carballo & María Jaya-Montalvo & Alfonso Maldonado-Zamora & Nataly Paz-Salas & Edgar Berrezueta, 2021. "Geosites and Geotourism in the Local Development of Communities of the Andes Mountains. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4624-:d:540477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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. Jeff La Frenierre & Bryan G. Mark, 2017. "Detecting Patterns of Climate Change at Volcán Chimborazo, Ecuador, by Integrating Instrumental Data, Public Observations, and Glacier Change Analysis," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 107(4), pages 979-997, July.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Dyson, Robert G., 2004. "Strategic development and SWOT analysis at the University of Warwick," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(3), pages 631-640, February.
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    5. Federico Pasquaré Mariotto & Kyriaki Drymoni & Fabio L. Bonali & Alessandro Tibaldi & Noemi Corti & Paolo Oppizzi, 2023. "Geosite Assessment and Communication: A Review," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Edison Navarrete & Fernando Morante-Carballo & Jairo Dueñas-Tovar & Paúl Carrión-Mero & María Jaya-Montalvo & Edgar Berrezueta, 2022. "Assessment of Geosites within a Natural Protected Area: A Case Study of Cajas National Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, March.

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