CARRYING CAPACITY TOURISM AND LIMIT OF ACCEPTABLE EXCHANGE AS A BASE FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN THE COTACACHI CAYAPAS NATIONAL PARK - ECUADOR
CARRYING CAPACITY TOURISM AND LIMIT OF ACCEPTABLE EXCHANGE AS A BASE FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN THE COTACACHI CAYAPAS NATIONAL PARK - ECUADOR
CAPACIDAD DE CARGA TURÍSTICA Y LÍMITE DE CAMBIO ACEPTABLE COMO BASE PARA EL MANEJO SOSTENIBLE DE LAS ACTIVIDADES TURÍSTICAS EN EL PARQUE NACIONAL COTACACHI CAYAPAS - ECUADOR
Fonte: Cuadernos de Turismo; No. 51 (2023): Enero - Junio; 125-162
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Resumo: The massive number of visitors entering the protected natural areas (ANP), in the Cotacachi Cayapas National Park (PNCC), has caused counterproductive effects on the ecosystem. In 2019, this destination received 211,628 visitors, with a daily average of 757 people in summer (July-September) and 532 in winter (October-June), figures that generate saturation in its three main trails called: Vehicular, Sacred Route and The Orchids. The purpose of the research was firstly to review the carrying capacity and secondly to propose a process to regulate the entry and determine use and conservation strategies. The methodological tools used were; 1. The Tourist Carrying Capacity (CCT), carried out with a quantitative deductive approach, and 2. The Limit of Acceptable Change (LAC), executed as a qualitative descriptive model. The results showed that the CCT has a saturation of 197% in winter and 250% in summer, while the LAC corroborated that the affectation of the trails exceeds the acceptable changes. Therefore, to remedy the impact, it is necessary to make the CCT operational, with a daily entry of up to 304 visitors and by the LAC with the operationalization of strategies for the conservation and sustainable development of the PNCC.
