Contribution of community tourism to sustainable rural development

Abstract

The Guásima is a community that has an enormous natural wealth, which can be used in a satisfactory and sustainable way for the community in economic matters. Consideration was given to developing a tourism project in which the community participated in the integration of tourist activities, in order to conserve natural resources. This article aims to identify areas with high tourism potential to propose a community tourism project that contributes to sustainable development. The Guásima has great natural attractions that can be used to carry out numerous activities that contribute to sustainable development. The research methodology used was the tools and techniques used in the participatory rural evaluation, and the CONAFOR terms of reference for the inventory and hierarchization of natural resources with tourism potential. The study area has a wide tourist potential, as it has a great variety of natural resources that can contribute to meet the needs of people who come to frequent the place. They were grouped in the environmental characterization of the community, booklets with the inventory of natural resources with potential tourism and the schedule of activities, proposed claims and carrying capacity. Six sites with tourist interest were identified: living museum, endemic and migratory birds, large mammals, rivers and streams, cavern and mountains and volcanoes, proposing three trails and the study of respective load capacity. It is important to emphasize that it is necessary to work on an environmental education project for both the community and visitors.