Tourism and local development: an analysis of the hotel and tourism reactivation after the 16a earthquake in the canton of Pedernales, Manabí

Abstract

The article addresses the relationship between tourism and local development, focusing on the hotel and tourism reactivation process in the Pedernales canton, Manabí, Ecuador, after the earthquake that occurred on April 16, 2016. The central objective of the research is to analyze the progress of the economic and tourism reactivation in Pedernales, evaluating its alignment with the proposed recovery plans both at the local and national level. The study seeks to determine at what levels economic and tourism reactivation has been achieved, considering the implementation of the economic and productive reactivation plan presented by the Reconstruction Secretariat and the economic reactivation agenda proposed by the national government. The research examines how the revitalization of the tourism sector can boost local development. Through a thorough analysis of the pre- and post-earthquake situation, we seek to understand how the recovery of hotel infrastructure and tourism promotion strategies have influenced the economic revitalization of Pedernales. The article will contribute to evaluating the effectiveness of the policies and measures adopted in the reactivation process, offering valuable perspectives on the relationship between tourism, local development and resilience in the face of natural challenges.