Sustainable water tourism and scenic appreciation: a proposal for the Central-Northern Amazon of Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: Sustainable water tourism is a concept that integrates the responsible management of aquatic resources—rivers, lakes, coasts, wetlands, etc.—in this case, referring to the Ecuadorian Amazon, with tourism activities that minimize environmental impact. Likewise, it seeks to conserve ecosystems and benefit local communities. Low-impact tourism is embedded in the concept, addressing activities such as wildlife watching, responsible coastal hiking, and capacity regulation to prevent overexploitation. Materials and methods: This research has a qualitative approach with indicators such as ecological integrity, uniqueness, and visual harmony (reflecting the balance between nature and human action). As part of this proposal, a descriptive exploration will be carried out to characterize water tourism in the area, and analytics will be conducted to evaluate impacts and sustainability. Results: Strengthened community-based tourism, such as the one planned, can train communities in tourism management, digital marketing, and sustainability standards. Regarding regulation and certification, it is necessary to implement green seals as tour operators. Environmental monitoring must be established to control water quality, visitor limits, and species protection in lagoons and rivers. Discussion: Efficient and sustainable tourism planning in natural areas is only possible if all stakeholders are involved, especially those involved in management and the establishment of policies that strengthen the tourism sector in a manner compatible with the preservation of heritage values. Conclusions: The challenges to be overcome with this proposal consist of avoiding water pollution from the dumping of plastic waste, which fundamentally damages and affects the tourist appeal of rivers. The lack of sustainable infrastructure also hinders adequate waste treatment, basic services, and visitor regulation. The overlapping interests require participatory management by communities.