Ecotourism for sustainable development in the municipality of Costa de Oro, Venezuela

Abstract

Sustainable development is the promotion of the well-being of communities, especially those located in environmentally significant areas and subject to some form of protection. As an alternative to contribute to their economic and social development, the state has proposed various social programs and laws that propose the preservation of the environment with a focus on sustainability and careful use of tourism resources, guaranteeing not only their existence but also their permanence as an economic activity that yields economic returns for the protection of the environment in order to safeguard its existence, through strategies designed within parameters based on the development of sustainable ecotourism. This study was carried out using the feasible project research method as a reference, supported by field and documentary research, the results of which made it possible to identify and characterize the cultural heritage and natural resources that characterize the geographical area studied. The study units provided relevant information for developing the indicators established in the table of variables and are represented by the inhabitants of the three communities located in the geographical area of Caserío Periquitos and its visitors. The proposal focused on three strategies: resource inventory, zoning, and studies of tourist carrying capacity. The proposal was defined based on the recommendations made by the members of the populations under study and the legal framework on environmental matters, as well as the regulations governing the use and enjoyment of natural resources. In addition to being innovative, since the state of Aragua has not implemented environmental tourism strategies of an educational and recreational nature that offer the environment and tourist awareness.