Global Journal of Human Social Science, E: Economics, Volume 22 Issue 3

Tourism and Economy Growth in the Ecuadorian Province of Pastaza Julián Leoncio Rodríguez Rodríguez α , Clímaco Geovani Espín Ortiz σ & Rafael Ángel Fuentes García ρ Abstract - Tourism in Ecuador is one of the main economic secto rs, considered a strat egic activity in the post- oil scenario. It’s thought to be able to sustain local development as well as contributing to the country’s progress in spheres such as economy, nature and culture. Tourism is one of the programs included within the Plan for Social and Economy Development at Pastaza Province. Research was performed with a descriptive approach, aimed at determining tourism contribution to Pastaza province economy, in the period 2010- 2019. Based on a documentary design, which included information from secondary sources, interviews and surveys of professionals, academics and managers of the sector. Relaying on data received from the province it was possible to set the foundation for identifying tourism behavior as well as its economic contribution. Summing up, tourism economic contribution to Pastaza province decreased, without there being a direct relationship between tourist activities and all economy within the period 2010-2019. This research shows the main causes influencing Pastaza touristic sector performance. Keywords: contribution to economic growth, economic impact of tourism, pastaza province. I. I ntroduction ourism is being seen as a sector which positively contributes to economic growth and development. Its contribution to world economy is significant; being currently the global second largest “industry”. It’s estimated it contributes with about the 10% of the world’s GDP (WTO, 2021). Tourism main economic effects are related to foreign exchange income, job creation and its role as a catalyst of other sectors of local economies. (Brida et al., 2008; Aznar et al., 2016; Hall, 2019; Ozturk & Al-Kuwari, 2021). Tourism is the third source of non-oil income in Ecuador. Foreign currency annual behavior from tourism in that country has registered a positive fluctuation over the past few years, moving from 781 MMUSD in 2010 to 2.282 MMUSD in 2019. Nonetheless, this sector hasn’t have the same share in economy throughout all Ecuadorian regions. Tourism contribution to national economy among all the country’s regions: Tourism contribution to domestic economy in all zones was as follows: 50% to the Coast, 46% to Mountain range and only 4% to the Amazonia (INEC, 2020). conflicts over land use, internal migration, and unequal opportunities. There’s a high rate of poverty in Pastaza, because of unsatisfied basic needs (UBN), with a value of 69.7%; out of eight of the 21 parishes show very high levels of poverty, with NBI values between 96.7 and 100% (INEC, 2019). At provincial level, 65.4% of the population is urban and 34.6% is rural, a value above national average, which is of 62.8% for urban population. Pastaza dwells the least populated rural parishes in the country, with less than 1 000 inhabitants. According to the World Tourism Barometer, the growth dynamics of Ecuador's tourism sector paused in 2020 due to Covid 19 pandemic, causing a reduction in international tourist arrivals by -75.9% and revenues by - 69.2%. (OMT, 2021). The World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) predictions for July 2021, are no better. At the end of the first semester of 2021, Ecuador registers a contraction in international tourist arrivals of about -81.4%, compared to 2019 (UNWTO, 2021). This paper is mainly aimed at determining tourism contribution to Pastaza economy; a province distinguished by its large biodiversity and cultural richness which is displayed throughout all its territory by all native peoples and nationalities living there. (GADPPz, 2019). Pastaza dwells seven native nationalities living through all the zone. Each of them preserving its own language and culture. (Luna and Lastra, 2020). All these particular features become both recreational tourist attractions and of scientific interest. (Izurieta, et al., 2021) II. P ublic P olicy on T ourism in E cuador Public policy on tourism is endorsed in the Constitution of the Republic enacted in 2008. According to what’s legislated in the constitution, a legal framework for tourism management has been set up, being focused on sustainable development in the economic, socio- cultural and environmental dimensions. Among the main documents that govern tourism policy in Ecuador there are as follows: • The Constitution of Ecuador (art. 38, 48 and 383) and (art. 275, 283, 275 and 283). • The National Tourism Development Plan 2030 (Axes 1, 2, 4 and 5). • Tourism Law and General Regulations. T © 2022 Global Journals Volume XXII Issue III Version I 61 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 E Author α : Ph.D, Universidad de La Habana, Cuba. e-mail: julianleo2010@gmail.com Author σ : M.Sc, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Ecuador. Author ρ : Ph.D, Universidad de Málaga: Málaga, Andalucía, ES. For decades the Amazonia’s social and economic development has been distinguished by