Design of Nature Tourism Route in Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador

Danny Castillo-Vizuete, Alex Gavilanes-Montoya, Carlos Chávez-Velásquez, Paúl Benalcázar-Vergara and Carlos Mestanza-Ramón
Additional contact information
Danny Castillo-Vizuete: Instituto de Investigaciones (IDI), Proyecto de Investigación Diseño de Productos Turísticos (RETOUR), Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur km 1½, Riobamba EC-060155, Ecuador
Alex Gavilanes-Montoya: Instituto de Investigaciones (IDI), Proyecto de Investigación Diseño de Productos Turísticos (RETOUR), Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur km 1½, Riobamba EC-060155, Ecuador
Carlos Chávez-Velásquez: Instituto de Investigaciones (IDI), Proyecto de Investigación Diseño de Productos Turísticos (RETOUR), Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur km 1½, Riobamba EC-060155, Ecuador
Paúl Benalcázar-Vergara: Natural Resources Management Faculty, Lakehead University, Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
Carlos Mestanza-Ramón: Research Group YASUNI-SDC, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Sede Orellana, El Coca EC-220001, Ecuador

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: The design of new routes is a specific strategy to improve tourism management and to increase the attractiveness of landscape features, promoting activities as a part of sustainable development. This study proposes the design of alternative multi-parameter tourist routes in the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve based on spatial network analysis implemented in ArcGIS 10.5 ® software. Tourist interest points were identified and mapped using spatial analysis software, then two routes for bicycles and hiking were defined as being the most efficient, based on the most frequented tourist attractions. The main contribution of this study is the identification of optimal routes for vehicular, bicycling, and hiking traffic through tourist attractions, considering variables such as the time, distance, average circulation speed, road state, and tourist facilities. As a result, two routes were identified. Route one includes 17 tourist attractions, five lodging establishments, four food centers, and one health center. On the other hand, route two includes 11 tourist attractions, two lodging and food establishments, and one health center. The final contribution of this research is to maximize tour satisfaction by presenting new routes of visiting tourist attractions due to the growing demand in the Chimborazo Reserve.

Keywords: cycling; hiking; multiple criteria; GIS designing; cost distance; tourism planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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