Tourism perspective on insecurity in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Abstract

Tourism is an industry that has been growing throughout the world, and has been an important engine for the economic development of many regions and countries; it constitutes an important source of income for many regions of the world, including the province of Esmeraldas in Ecuador. However, insecurity can negatively affect the socio-economic development of the tourism sector. This article analyzes the economic perspective of tourism in the face of insecurity in the Esmeraldas canton, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador. To achieve this objective, a study was carried out with a sample of tourists who visited the region, and theimpact of insecurity on the perception and behavior of tourists was analyzed. An extensive literature review and analysis of secondary data was carried out to assess the impact of insecurity on local tourism. It was concluded that insecurity negatively affects tourism in the region, producing significant economic losses. Therefore, strategies are suggested to improve security and promote tourism in the area.