Interactive Agritourism as a Pathway to Sustainable Socioeconomic Development in Amazonian Indigenous Communities: A Pilot Optimization Model
Keywords:
Gini coefficient; equity and efficiency; sustainable livelihoods; Amazon region; participatory diagnosis; rural developmentAbstract
Introduction: Interactive agritourism has emerged as a promising pathway to strengthen sustainable livelihoods in indigenous Amazonian communities, yet empirical evidence on how to implement equitable models remains limited. This study evaluates the socioeconomic potential of agritourism in the native community of Tsuntsuntsa (Amazonas, Peru) through an integrated methodological approach. Materials and methods: The research employed a mixed methodology combining household surveys (n=121, 100% of households), participatory diagnosis, and multi-objective optimization modeling. Structured surveys assessed willingness to participate, economic expectations, and infrastructure conditions (Likert scale, Cronbach's α=0.91). A linear programming model was developed to maximize net community benefit, incorporating the Gini coefficient as a secondary objective to measure income distribution inequality. Results: Survey data revealed strong community support for agritourism (92% agreed on benefits) but heterogeneous levels of readiness (only 41% considered their household prepared). The optimization model demonstrated that increasing available budgets from 800 to 1,200 units expanded household participation from 8 to 10 and increased total benefits from 14,000 to 16,950 units, with only moderate impacts on equity (Gini coefficient = 0.27–0.30). Perceived global impact was rated high by 50% of respondents, while adequate local implementation was rated low by 40%. The proposed pilot model integrates governance structures, household selection criteria (based on Gini optimization), visitor experience components (agricultural demonstrations, cultural practices, gastronomy, ecological walks), and capacity-building strategies. Discussion: The findings align with global literature indicating that agritourism can diversify income and boost resilience, while the Gini-based optimization addresses the critical trade-off between efficiency and equity in community-based tourism. Conclusions: Interactive agritourism represents a viable and equitable development opportunity for Tsuntsuntsa, provided that implementation is accompanied by phased inclusion, infrastructure investments, and strengthened community governance.
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