Description

This book examines community-based tourism in Ecuador as a sustainable alternative that connects local economic development with the preservation and revitalization of cultural identity. Through the analysis of emblematic cases such as Agua Blanca, Napo Kichwa, and Otavalo, it highlights cultural strategies that enable communities to share their tangible and intangible heritage without losing authenticity. The study acknowledges the tension between the commodification of culture and the need to preserve ancestral values, as well as the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed on the tourism model, which in turn stimulated community innovations. The book addresses the importance of community control over cultural representation, intergenerational participation, and the mindful use of digital technologies to strengthen the transmission of knowledge. It also underscores the relevance of linguistic revitalization as a key component for cultural rootedness and collective resilience. The research further considers the Ecuadorian regulatory framework, which recognizes community tourism in its public policies, while also pointing out the gap between regulations and the realities faced in territories with technical and financial limitations. Finally, it proposes an integrated model of cultural dissemination based on empirical evidence, prioritizing respectful community management and intercultural communication to balance tourism openness with identity sustainability. This text not only provides an academic analysis but also seeks to serve as a tool for communities to maintain protagonism in the construction and dissemination of their own stories, ensuring that community-based tourism becomes an ally for cultural revitalization and holistic well-being.

Suggested citation (APA, seventh edition)

Vera-Peña, V. M., Guillen-Herrera, S. R., Neira-Reyes, I. A., & Fuentes-Torres, N. A. (2025). Living Roots: Community Tourism and Cultural Identity in Ecuador. Sophia Editions.