Diseño de un Sistema de Indicadores de Sostenibilidad para la Gestión Integral del Patrimonio Paleontológico de la Quebrada de Chalán con fines de uso turístico.

Abstract

This work deals with a system of sustainability indicators proposed to the integral management of the paleontological heritage of the Chalan gorge for the purpose of tourist use at Licto parish, Riobamba canton. The analysis of the current situation of the tourism development was carried out through the touristic system. The indicators were established for the integral tourism management in paleontological heritage areas articulated to the principles of sustainability. The level of sustainability of social, economic, environmental and cultural dimensions was evaluated with the defined indicators by structuring acceptable, middle and low ranges within the model. As a result of the current situation of the touristic development, it was possible to identify that the 67% is of natural heritage and 33% is of cultural manifestations, where found a large variety of fossil fauna of local and invasive mammals which inhabited the site. It was established 105 applicable indicators in paleontological tourism areas. The evaluation of the level of sustainability for the integral tourism management in paleontological heritage areas was conducted with the defined indicators and, as the result, the social field got a medium level, the economic field got a low level, environmental got a medium level and the cultural field reach an acceptable level and an intervention proposal was developed. It concludes that the design of the sustainability indicators system is a management tool applicable by the actors for promoting tourism for the protection, conservation as well as the safeguarding of paleontological heritage areas and the integral management of the paleontological heritage. It is recommended that the actors for promoting tourism use this tool.