Search Results (2)

The sustainable management of natural reserves is increasingly prioritized within the global tourism sector, especially in fragile ecosystems like the Santurbán Moorland in Colombia. As a high-altitude Andean ecosystem providing essential water resources, the Santurbán Moorland faces mounting pressures from tourism growth and mining activity. This study assesses the adoption of sustainable tourism practices among tourism service providers (TSPs) in the region and identifies key gaps to inform policy and academic interventions. A cross-sectional, mixed-methods approach was applied, integrating surveys based on the European Tourism Indicators System (ETIS) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria, as well as structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis identified “sustainable management” as the most robust dimension (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.953); however, no TSPs reported using renewable energy, and less than 5% of employees had received formal training in tourism. The main challenges include the lack of environmental certification, insufficient infrastructure, and limited communication of sustainability practices. Based on these findings, the study proposes targeted public policies, financial incentives, and specialized academic training to strengthen sustainable practices. The results offer insights into the challenges faced by emerging ecotourism destinations and provide strategic guidelines to support a balance between environmental conservation and local socioeconomic development. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the negative impact of neo-extractivism to boost the mining industry and the components that prevent the formalization of ASM as a model of rural economic development in Vetas, California, Suratá, and Matanza, municipalities adjacent to the Santurbán moorland (Colombia). A qualitative methodology with ethnographic design was followed, implementing the NVivo software (v12) for the analysis of information. The results show that the neo-extractivist model stands in opposition to the formalization of ASM in the territory, which prevents the prioritization of rural economic development by regional and local governments. ASM is at a disadvantage with respect to large-scale extractive industry, although this activity has been carried out in this region for centuries; it is also under threat as a result of a delimitation process that seeks the protection of the moor ecosystem, putting at risk the economic and socio-environmental stability of the communities that depend on this activity. Full article