canton de Nobol

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ABSTRACT

The study seeks to investigate tourism development

in Cantón Nobol, identify the most popular services

Google Forms. The results respond to the TES

research project, "Tourism strategy of products and

services for the strengthening of tourism micro-

enterprises and SMEs in Nobol Canton". They help

to have a complete vision of the perception of

tourism and quality of life in Nobol Canton, pointing

out both strengths and opportunities for

improvement to consolidate its position as a desired

tourist destination. Although Cantón Nobol already

has a solid tourism base and well evaluated services,

El estudio pretende investigar el desarrollo turístico

en Cantón Nobol, identificar los servicios más

e-ISSN: 2576-0971. July - September Vol. 8 - 3 - 2024 . http://journalbusinesses.com/index.php/revista

populares entre los visitantes y examinar las áreas de

mejora en el sector turístico local. Se emplea

"Estrategia turística de productos y servicios para el

fortalecimiento de las microempresas y PYMES

turísticas del Cantón Nobol". Ayudan a tener una

visión completa de la percepción del turismo y la

calidad de vida en Cantón Nobol, señalando tanto

fortalezas como oportunidades de mejora para

consolidar su posición como destino turístico

deseado. Si bien el Cantón Nobol ya cuenta con una

sólida base turística y servicios bien evaluados, aún

existen áreas con potencial de crecimiento y mejora

need to investigate and understand in depth the current state of tourism development

and services offered in this region. This study is presented as a unique opportunity to

explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that characterize tourism

in Nobol. It also provides the possibility of identifying areas for improvement and

potential, with the ultimate goal of promoting sustainable, inclusive and quality tourism

that benefits both the local community and visitors.

The problem identified in this study lies in the lack of exposure of certain tourist

attractions in the canton of Nobol, where the information available is limited mostly to

the Sanctuary of Narcisa de Jesus, leaving other equally relevant attractions of the town

in the background. This situation implies a loss of opportunities to promote and enjoy

attractions of equal importance are relegated to the background, thus depriving them of

e-ISSN: 2576-0971. July - September Vol. 8 - 3 - 2024 . http://journalbusinesses.com/index.php/revista

the attention and recognition they deserve. This limitation in the dissemination of the

tourism offer not only reduces the opportunities to enjoy the unique experiences that

the enjoyment of the place. At the same time, this situation can cause an imbalance in

the distribution of the economic benefits of tourism, concentrating them in a few places

while others go unused, which affects the sustainability and equity of tourism

development in the canton.

In addition, the failure to diversify and promote tourism can limit the knowledge and

appreciation of the cultural, natural and historical richness of Cantón Nobol. By focusing

exclusively on a single attraction, the opportunity to highlight the variety of experiences

available, such as a visit to Hacienda San José, river trips on the Daule River, or the

celebration of local festivities, is lost. This lack of visibility not only affects the external

perception of the canton as a tourist destination, but also reduces the opportunity to

of effective strategies aimed at strengthening the tourist experience and promoting

sustainable development in the region.

It is imperative to inquire about tourism development in Cantón Nobol for several

fundamental reasons. First, tourism plays a crucial role in the economic growth and

sustainable development of local communities (Villacis, L. 2023). By understanding the

current state of tourism in Nobol, opportunities can be identified to strengthen and

diversify tourism offerings, which in turn can generate employment, foster

entrepreneurship, and increase income in the region. In addition, well-managed tourism

can contribute to the conservation of cultural and natural heritage, thus promoting the

preservation of local resources and identity.

e-ISSN: 2576-0971. July - September Vol. 8 - 3 - 2024 . http://journalbusinesses.com/index.php/revista

Exploring areas for improvement within Nobol's tourism sector is essential to ensure

balanced and sustainable tourism development in the locality. By identifying and

Understanding the different conceptions or points of view of specialists in the field is

fundamental to understand the relevance of the analysis of tourism growth and its

capacity to revitalize a specific sector or community, generating both economic and

tourism opportunities regardless of the geographic location to which this impulse is

directed.

According to Sutty, H., et al. (2023), tourism has emerged as a socioeconomic activity

of great global significance, causing significant repercussions in several areas, ranging from

the environment, culture and society to, of course, the economy. At the environmental

level, tourism can have both positive and negative effects, ranging from the conservation

of natural areas to environmental degradation due to overexploitation. In addition, the

a place, but as an enriching experience that involves interaction with local culture, nature

and communities.

The author highlights the need to develop a varied and authentic tourism offer that

reflects the identity and values of the Canton, thus promoting sustainable and

responsible tourism that contributes to the economic and social development of the

region, thus also opening the way for this type of proposal to be developed in different

destinations.

When thinking about tourism, it is most common to imagine people who travel to

explore places of interest, visit friends or family, vacation and enjoy moments of fun.

These tourists may spend their free time participating in a variety of activities such as

a period of time that does not exceed one year, for purposes that may include leisure,

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business and other reasons, is also considered as tourist activities or ways of calling

tourism.

for tourism promotion and development.

The quoted by Cajilema, F. (2022), tells us that alternative tourism is derived from

adventure tourism, where the traveler has the opportunity to find and satisfy his quest

to improve his physical condition, reduce stress and, therefore, improve his overall well-

being. In addition, he can experience a sense of accomplishment by overcoming a

challenge posed by nature, where the experience is limited solely to the interaction

between the tourist and the natural environment. Therefore, sports competitions or

activities considered "extreme", where the challenge is focused on time or overcoming

the human being itself, are excluded.

For Cobeña, M. (2018), implementing an effective tourism management model

to visitors, from exploring waterfalls and rivers to participating in local events, enriches

the tourism experience and promotes a deeper appreciation of nature, all without

compromising the integrity of the environment.

As found by Serrano, A., & Pucha, E. (2017), tourism demand involves the movement of

people to different destinations and their stay in them, which includes aspects such as

the type of accommodation and the activities carried out during the visit. In addition, it

encompasses all goods and services necessary for the trip from the place of residence

to the destination, as well as during the stay at the destination.

According to the authors, tourism demand also includes all the goods and services

required both for travel from the place of residence to the destination and to satisfy

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generate economic profitability for both people with disabilities and companies in the

tourism sector.

and experiences of visitors. According to Faneite, S. (2023), qualitative research will

quantitative research will provide numerical data to support and complement these

findings.

As for the study sample, it has been defined that the participants will be tourists between

the ages of 13 and 70. This selection is based on the premise of capturing a wide range

of perspectives and experiences, ranging from adolescents to older adults, who may have

different interests, preferences and needs in terms of tourism. This diversity in the

sample ensures a more complete and accurate representation of the tourism population

of Cantón Nobol.

The research process on Tourism Development and Tourism Services in Nobol Canton

is based on an integrated approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods.

The study sample includes tourists of various ages to ensure a broad and varied

representation, while the data collection techniques, along with the use of a digital survey

through Google Forms, will facilitate the collection and analysis of relevant information

to understand and improve tourism in the locality.

RESULTS

The results obtained have revealed that the canton of Nobol offers a detailed perspective

on various aspects of life and tourism in this region. Among the questions posed, one of

while an encouraging 34.3% perceive them as very accessible, suggesting a tourist

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infrastructure that is well valued by the population. In addition, the quality of the Nachita

river tours was evaluated, obtaining a majority positive response, with 62.9% rating them

the importance of the sanctification of Narcisa de Jesus for religious tourism in the

region, a mostly positive opinion was observed, with a remarkable 65.7% considering it

very important, which underlines its relevance in the local tourism dynamics.

In the religious sphere, participation in the festivities in honor of Narcisa de Jesus was

inquired about, where it was noted that a significant 25.7% described the experience as

memorable, while a significant 45.7% expressed interest in attending in the future, thus

indicating a deep-rooted connection to local traditions. The visit to Hacienda San José

was also the subject of analysis, with a significant 57.1% expressing interest in visiting in

the future, suggesting a potential tourist attraction that deserves to be explored.

These results help us justify what Pérez, A., & Sarabia, M. (2022) stated in their study

tourism.

On the other hand, the residents pointed out that the Fiesta de Santa Narcisa de Jesús

is the festival that receives the largest number of visitors. This situation merits a

promotion and diffusion at national level, as long as the necessary infrastructure and

conditions are in place to offer quality tourist services in accordance with the influx of

people that could arrive.

As for the Museum and Chapel "Narcisa de Jesus", it was found that the majority of

respondents, 51.4% described it as interesting and well maintained, although a small

percentage of 17.1% suggested that it could benefit from improvements. When asked if

they would recommend Cantón Nobol as a tourist destination, an encouraging 54.3%

website, it focuses only on the main attraction, the Santa Narcisa de Jesús National

e-ISSN: 2576-0971. July - September Vol. 8 - 3 - 2024 . http://journalbusinesses.com/index.php/revista

Sanctuary. However, the destination lacks a centralized space where you can consult the

activities available when visiting Nobol, as well as the events scheduled for the patron

of both daily life and tourism in the canton of Nobol. One of the highlights of the

research focused on the perception of the quality of local agricultural products, which

include a wide range of fruits such as oranges, watermelons, mangoes, plums, among

others. These findings reveal a significant trend towards satisfaction among respondents,

with a notable proportion expressing levels of both satisfaction and high satisfaction,

suggesting a generalized endorsement of the quality of agricultural products available in

the region.

The authors examined the accessibility of the canton's tourist attractions, including the

banks of the Daule River. They observed that a considerable proportion of respondents

considered these places to be accessible. These findings indicate a positive valuation of

respondents. In addition, an encouraging number expressed interest in visiting these sites

in the future, suggesting a potential for growth in local tourism. Regarding the

importance of the sanctification of Narcisa de Jesus for religious tourism in the region,

a mostly positive trend was observed among the participants, highlighting its relevance

in the local tourism dynamics.

With respect to participation in the festivities in honor of Narcisa de Jesus in the survey

received a significant response, with a considerable percentage describing the experience

as memorable and another important percentage showing interest in attending in the

future, which supports the deep-rooted connection with local traditions. Likewise, the

high proportion of respondents expressing interest in visiting Hacienda San José

and well maintained. However, a significant percentage suggests that it could benefit

e-ISSN: 2576-0971. July - September Vol. 8 - 3 - 2024 . http://journalbusinesses.com/index.php/revista

from improvements, which coincides with the shortcoming identified by Lomas, V., &

Ibarra, K. (2022), in their study; the lack of a broad strategy for tourism promotion and

Questions of interest could include the impact of tourism on the local economy, the

perception of residents and tourists on the quality of tourism services offered, the

effectiveness of promotion and marketing strategies, as well as the identification of

possible areas for improvement in tourism infrastructure and management.

This research would not only contribute to a more complete understanding of the

current situation of tourism in Nobol, but would also provide crucial insights for the

design of policies and actions aimed at enhancing this sector in a sustainable and beneficial

way for the local community.

CONCLUSIONS

tours highlights the quality of the tourism offer related to this activity, which contributes

to enriching the tourist experience in the canton.

On the other hand, the research also reveals a highly satisfactory tourism experience

for a significant portion of respondents during their visit to Nobol Canton's emblematic

sites. This positive perception, along with the expressed interest in revisiting these places

in the future, points to a potential for growth in local tourism and highlights the

importance of continuing to promote and preserve these key destinations for attracting

visitors.

However, areas for improvement are identified within Nobol's tourism sector. Despite

the mostly positive perception of the "Narcisa de Jesús" Museum and Chapel, there is a

region. This study provides valuable guidance for future actions aimed at promoting