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Strategies to Improve the Tourist Interest of a Geosite Respecting Its Natural Heritage. A Case Study

Abstract:

Zaruma-Portovelo mining district (Ecuador) is an area characterised by its geological, natural, and cultural wealth with potential for geotourism development as an alternative to improve the inhabitants’ quality of life. This study aims to assess the evolution of the global geological interest of the Zaruma Urcu Hill (ZUH) geosite in the case of conditioning works (civil works) through an environmental impact assessment that is complemented with a social analysis through surveys of the inhabitants in a context of sustainability. The methodology includes (i) inventory and compilation of previous information of the study area; (ii) proposals for the implementation of structures in the geosite; (iii) environmental impact assessment and social analysis of these infrastructures and (iv) analysis of proposals and establishment of improvement and geoconservation strategies through analysis of strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats (SWOT).The development of civil works on the ZUH constitutes a clear improvement in the services offered in tourist interest. The results indicate the potential works would generate a nonsignificant environmental impact on the surroundings and, mainly, the population of the area (> 90%) accepts the changes in the geosite. The materialisation of the proposed works and improving the valuation of the geosite, in particular, would promote the geotourism development of the community.