Estudio de factibilidad para la creación de un Centro de Turismo Comunitario en la comunidad Guaro Grande, cantón Pallatanga, provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

The present paper aimed to determine the feasibility for the implementation of a Community Tourism Center in the community of Guaro Grande, Pallatanga Canton, Chimborazo Province. The research was carried out through a participatory process, collecting primary and secondary information by multiple field trips. Potential for tourism was identified in six natural attractions and a list of heritage assets relating to cultural attractions suitable for sustainable use were identified. Local and national commercial tourism viability profiles were studied, along with an analysis of demand and supply, which together established the stipulated objectives for the project. The technical desing established the implementation and equipping of the community tourism center. Furthermore, three tour packages were designed with their respective itineraries and costs including visits to several different sectors, a focus on quality services and the preservation of culture and nature. For their commercialization, marketing strategies were created for positioning the center in the tourism market. The environmental study is feasible showing a significant negative impact. For a proper operation, the tourist center should function legally as a Community Tourism Center, following a model of administrative management per area according to respective functions. The financial study of the project determined that the initial investment will be: $ 175,257.63 giving a positive NPV of $ 263, 953.41 and a B/C of 2.99 cents. The investment recovery time is projected to be two years reaching an IRR of 30.18%. It is concluded that the Tourist Community Center was feasible and would improve the quality of life of the population.

Key words: Community Tourism Center, tourist attractions, tourism potential.