Sustainable Tourism Development

The “Sustainable Tourism Development” project emerged as a result of a general assessment conducted in the parishes of Puela and El Altar, in the Penipe canton, Chimborazo Province, which identified the area's significant tourism potential.

The EcoSur Ecuador Foundation promotes the “Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Development” initiative in the parishes of Puela and El Altar. This initiative is part of the project “Recovery and Strengthening Following the Eruption of the Tungurahua Volcano” in the Penipe canton, Chimborazo Province.

To achieve this objective, EcoSur promotes the development of the capacities and skills of tourism stakeholders, who play a key role in creating competitive advantages in territories with tourism potential.

The EcoSur Ecuador Foundation carries out these activities with the participation of public and private institutions involved in tourism, including the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR), the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG), the Ministry of Health, the Penipe Municipal Government, and the Parish Governments of El Altar and Puela. Academic institutions also participate, including the National University of Chimborazo (UNACH), through its Tourism program, and the Polytechnic School of Chimborazo (ESPOCH).

The project focuses on organizing and delivering various training courses for the benefit of more than 100 tourism entrepreneurs. These activities contribute to strengthening sustainable rural tourism and promoting social, economic, and environmental development, with the aim of improving the population's quality of life.

Activities to Promote Sustainable Rural Tourism

The activities carried out to promote sustainable rural tourism include:

  • Identifying tourism-related areas and georeferencing trails to establish new tourist routes.

  • Producing photographic records and videos to promote the area through social media.

  • Updating the websites of the Parish Governments to promote tourism activities.

  • Designing viewpoints and installing parking areas equipped with ecological toilets for visitors.

  • Supporting entrepreneurs in establishing tourism services.

  • Providing theoretical and practical training in gastronomy techniques and services, including dessert preparation and traditional local dishes, with the participation of chefs, complemented by training in fast-food services.

  • Providing training in the preparation of macerated beverages and wines, as well as customer service.

  • Promoting local gastronomy through participation in fairs.

  • Providing training in sustainable tourism and agritourism, encouraging the development of family gardens with organic products. These initiatives offer visitors guided tours to harvest fruits and vegetables, while also showcasing various handcrafted products that add value to local production systems.

  • Providing training for tourist guides through the Tourism program at the Polytechnic School of Chimborazo (ESPOCH), leading to a local guide license endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR).

  • Providing tourism-related environmental training, including natural resource conservation and proper solid waste management.

  • Providing agricultural training on organic fertilizer production, nutrition, food preservation, and presentation.

EcoSur also contributed to the improvement, reconstruction, and expansion of spaces and homes used for tourism services, installing its own developed eco-technologies, including stoves, ecological toilets, washing facilities, and other solutions.

The EcoSur Ecuador Foundation has implemented these activities to achieve “Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Development,” contributing to improved community resilience and quality of life, greater economic sustainability, and a healthy environment.