Determinación de la sostenibilidad turística de Galápagos, caso Isla Santa Cruz.

Abstract

This project carried out a procedure to determine the level of tourism sustainability on Santa Cruz Island, located in the Galåpagos Archipelago. It was a non-experimental research study, exploratory and descriptive in nature, using the deductive method and supported by techniques such as structured surveys applied to three key stakeholder groups: local residents, national tourists, and foreign tourists. To collect data, a questionnaire was designed based on UN Tourism sustainability indicators, using the Likert scale and the traffic light technique as an evaluation tool. The dimensions analyzed were environmental, economic, and sociocultural. The results show an uneven performance across the different dimensions, highlighting strengths in the economic aspect and in social coexistence, but also revealing significant weaknesses in the environmental area—particularly related to waste management, tourist transportation, and the visibility of environmental certifications. Based on the findings, a preliminary proposal is presented aimed at improving tourism sustainability conditions on Santa Cruz Island, with the goal of strengthening the balance between tourism development and the conservation of its natural and cultural heritage. Keywords: Tourism, sustainability, sustainable tourism, tourism indicators, Santa Cruz, Galåpagos, sustainable development.