Sustainable management strategies for tourism ventures in rural areas

Abstract

Rural tourism enterprises in Ecuador have made progress in environmental and cultural sustainability; however, their development remains limited due to insufficient planning, training, infrastructure, and financial support. The objective was to design sustainable management strategies to strengthen the development of rural tourism enterprises, promoting the conservation of the natural environment, community well-being, and economic viability. The research, with a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical approach, was based on a documentary and exploratory design supported by academic literature, case studies, and international regulations, with emphasis on Ecuador. Information was collected from sources published between 2020 and 2025, complemented by comparative analysis and systematization under sustainability criteria, which allowed the identification of patterns and the proposal of comprehensive strategies. A limitation acknowledged is the absence of fieldwork, which restricts the empirical validation of the proposals. The results showed that rural tourism enterprises in Ecuador have advanced in environmental and cultural sustainability, although unevenly, due to limitations in training, infrastructure, and institutional coordination. Despite these challenges, they hold significant potential to drive local development through community participation and the use of technology. The proposed strategies integrate environmental, social, and economic dimensions in a balanced manner, recommending the implementation of continuous training programs, sustainability indicators, and financing mechanisms to strengthen competitive, responsible, and resilient enterprises.