Dinámicas de acceso al mercado turístico en iniciativas de turismo comunitario. Caso de estudio: Comunidad de Caguanapamba, Cañar, Ecuador

Abstract

This research explored the dynamics of access to the tourism market by the community of Caguanapamba, Cañar, Ecuador, which is committed to community-based tourism. The methodology used had a qualitative observational approach with an exploratory-descriptive scope of cross-sectional section based on four mini-focus groups aimed at community members and six semi-structured interviews with external actors related to the community at the public and private levels. The Atlas Ti 25 system was used as an analysis tool. The results show that the dynamics are complex and structurally unequal, marked by hierarchies of power. Indeed, state agencies and institutions, while recognizing the cultural value of communities, do not generate equitable practices. This causes, on the one hand, that communities must adapt their offers to a conventional commercial model to access markets and, on the other hand, legal barriers force them to adapt to external logics that are not always compatible with their community vision. However, it is important to mention that communities that have weaknesses in TBC factors such as community organization and leadership in tourism aspects tend to have more difficulties in developing and accessing markets.