Título: BIODIVERSITY AND CULTURE THEME PARK: AN EDUCATIONAL-ENVIROMENTAL AND TOURISM STRATEGY, LA PAZ PARISH. CARCHI PROVINCE

Autor(es): LOMAS TAPIA KENNEDY ROLANDO, TRUJILLO CARMEN AMELIA, ISMAR LIMA, OSWALDO MARTINEZ, TULI GARCIA

Fecha de publicación: 03-jan-2020

Resumen: The La Paz parish, in the province of Carchi, does not have a star tourist product for local economic development, and allows for a “demand type” of tourism. The purpose of this research was to design a theme park with a sustainable approach, which benefits the quality of life of its inhabitants, considering the richness of the native flora and its intangible cultural heritage. The proposed objectives were: (a) To determine the ethnobotanical patrimonial value of the identity cultural wealth; (b) Botanically and systematically identify floristic species; (c) Design the theme park of biodiversity and culture, as a recreational, scientific, environmental and tourism strategy. A field investigation was used, descriptive and documentary, with qualitative approach, action-participatory research. The representative sample of key actors was the senior adults able to share their traditional ethnobotanical knowledge, tourism guides and tourism entrepreneurs of the sector. The results showed a high percentage of medicinal species, herbs, with characteristic aromas, used by the residents in the treatment of various diseases. The design of the theme park is represented by a long-tailed hummingbird, symbol of the birdlife of this area and much appreciated by tourists; its structure integrates four areas: recreation, educational, cultural activities, sculptures of emblematic species of the sector, such as the paramo deer, spectacled bear and an orchid garden; components to generate in the visitors an environmental conscience and to value the patrimonial wealth of the zone, because their patrimony is kept alive and safeguarded for their generations.

Palabras clave: Theme park Ethnobotanical assets Tourism

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37221-7_36

ISSN: 21945357

Tipo publicación: Artículo