ESTIMATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURISM IN THE PASTAZA PROVINCE, ECUADOR

Tourist destinations that use their natural resources for tourism development, must agree, among their local stakeholders, the policies and practices necessary to, sustainably manage, the development of tourism activities in their fragile natural environments. One of the most important challenges facing policy makers and tourism managers is determining whether tourism management meets sustainability principles. The objective of the research is to analyze the current state of tourism sustainability in the province of Pastaza (Ecuador). A mixed methodology is used, which starts from the documentary analysis to determine the variables affected by tourist activity and their quantification through indicators. From 30 specific indicators for the dimensions: sociocultural, economic and environmental; which are added and weighted to establish a global index as a criterion of the sustainability of tourism in the province; which will contribute to implement decisions that allow improving the efficiency and sustainability of tourism management.