Assessment of Avitourism Potential in Otavalo Canton, Ecuador: A Multi-Criteria Approach Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process
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Abstract
Avitourism is an emerging form of ecotourism that integrates birdwatching with biodiversity conservation and local development. This study evaluates the avitourism potential in Otavalo canton, located in Imbabura Province in the northern Andes of Ecuador, a region within the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot. A mixed methodological approach was employed, combining territorial characterization with the Analytic Hierarchy Process [AHP] for multi-criteria weighting of avitourism potential indicators. Four main criteria were established: avifaunal richness and singularity, territorial conditions, local sociocultural capital, and institutional framework. These were weighted by a panel of seven experts through pairwise comparisons. The results indicate that avifaunal richness holds the highest weight (0.35), followed by territorial conditions (0.25), sociocultural capital (0.22), and institutional framework (0.18). An Avitourism Potential Index [IPAV] was developed to classify the evaluated routes into high-, medium-, and low-potential categories. The findings show that the highest potential zones are located in the protected areas of the Mojanda system and around San Pablo Lake. This study provides a replicable methodology for systematically assessing avitourism potential in Andean contexts, thereby strengthening the technical foundation for nature tourism planning in Ecuador.
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