Community’s Perception of a Protected Area on the Impact of Tourism: The Santay Island Case of Ecuador

Carrying out studies on the impact of the development of tourism in a community allows to have information about the positive or negative perception in the economic, sociocultural and environmental aspects that are part of their environment. The present empirical research was developed in situ on the Santay Island Ramsar site and protected area located in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Using a questionnaire, the perception of the Community in the face of tourism development was analysed, evidencing that the positive aspects most valued by the commune were “The inhabitants of the island feel more pride for belonging to it” (sociocultural aspect), “Improvement of access roads to the Island” (environmental aspect), “Improvement of quality of life “(sociocultural aspect),” Improves the quality of service in restaurants, shops and cabins in the area “(sociocultural aspect) and” Contribution to improve the standard of living “(economic aspect). The benefits derived from tourism development (positive aspects) outnumber and score the costs (negative aspects), so the community is in favour of tourism development. The general satisfaction of the commune with the tourism development in Isla Santay is considered a high. The variables that show a significant and positive correlation in community satisfaction with tourism development are the “Improvement of investments, more development and more infrastructure”.