Environment-society relations in Ecuador's tourist beaches: application of “Silver and Gold” criteria in Paraíso and Puerto Engabao
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Abstract
Beaches are key resources for coastal tourism in Ecuador; however, they currently face significant challenges, such as pollution, the impacts of climate change, and inadequate land-use planning. These challenges compromise their sustainability and reduce their competitiveness. This study evaluated compliance with Ministerial Agreement No. 2022-030, which establishes the requirements and procedures for achieving “Sustainable Tourist Beach – Ecuador” status, as well as the specific requirements for earning “Silver” and “Gold” Sustainable Tourist Beach recognition in Playa Paraíso and Playa Engabao, located in the canton Playas, Ecuador. We used a descriptive–comparative approach to collect information through field visits, direct observations, and document analysis. The evaluated criteria were safety, tourist services, environmental management, and coastal management. The results indicate that Playa Paraíso has better safety and basic infrastructure conditions, whereas Puerto Engabao exhibits deficiencies in environmental management and land use planning. Neither beach achieved the “Gold” certification level. These findings underscore the need for strengthening environmental, tourism, and social management to promote sustainable coastal development.
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