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The Misunderstanding Between Tourism Resilience and Survival: Stakeholder Perceptions and Policy Effectiveness in Ecuador During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Freddy Espinoza-Figueroa

    (PREIT-Tour Research Group, Faculty of Hospitality Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010150, Ecuador)

  • Dominique Vanneste

    (Division of Geography & Tourism, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Byron Alvarado-Vanegas

    (PREIT-Tour Research Group, Faculty of Hospitality Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010150, Ecuador)

  • Karina Farfán-Pacheco

    (PREIT-Tour Research Group, Faculty of Hospitality Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010150, Ecuador)

  • Santiago Rodríguez-Girón

    (PREIT-Tour Research Group, Faculty of Hospitality Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010150, Ecuador)

  • Victor Saquicela

    (Department of Computer Science, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010150, Ecuador)

Abstract

Tourism has proven to be highly vulnerable to external disruptions, particularly in communities with low levels of tourism development. In this context, this study examines residents’ attitudes towards tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic and assesses the impact of public and private initiatives in the Cajas Massif Biosphere Area (CMBA), located in southern Ecuador. Employing a mixed-methods approach, 825 surveys were conducted alongside 25 interviews with key sector stakeholders. The objective was to determine whether these attitudes reflect genuine resilience or merely a survival strategy in response to the crisis. The findings indicate that, despite some collective efforts and mitigation plans, the primary focus remained on short-term income preservation, while government policies prioritised tourism promotion over addressing structural needs, ultimately proving inadequate for tourism recovery. This scenario placed the burden of adaptation on residents, with expressions of solidarity that, however, diminished as the crisis subsided. This study concludes that reactive measures may be mistaken for genuine resilience, highlighting the need for comprehensive policies and more equitable stakeholder participation to strengthen social cohesion and ensure the viability of tourism in the face of future crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Freddy Espinoza-Figueroa & Dominique Vanneste & Byron Alvarado-Vanegas & Karina Farfán-Pacheco & Santiago Rodríguez-Girón & Victor Saquicela, 2025. "The Misunderstanding Between Tourism Resilience and Survival: Stakeholder Perceptions and Policy Effectiveness in Ecuador During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-33, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4034-:d:1646275
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    References listed on IDEAS

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