Community-based ecotourism to meet the new tourist's expectations: an exploratory study

 

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Case 4: The Agua Blanca community in Equator 
(Ruiz-Ballesteros, 2011; Ruiz-Ballesteros & Hernández-Ramírez, 2010) 
Agua Blanca is located 5 km from the coast, in the Machalilla National Park, in the province of 
Manabi. It is a small community of 260 inhabitants grouped into 60 families and which belongs 
to the Manta culture. At first, with the development of the National Park, the possibility of 
evacuating the population from the protected area was discussed but the local population set 
against this project and fight for an alternative. The tourism product proposed by the community 
of Agua Blanca is an additional offer to the National Park and combines cultural and natural 
inheritance. Every year, the community receives around 9500 visitors with varied profiles: groups 
of students, university students, Ecuadorian families, and foreigners. Agua Blanca and its 
surroundings enjoy a unique and rich biodiversity and also a great cultural wealth. The main 
element is a one-to-three-hour trail named “Discovering the Manta Trail”. This trail starts with 
the visit of a small local museum where tourists can learn about the Manta culture and see some 
archeological remains. The trail continues through scenic areas, dry tropical forest, cloud forest, 
and banks of the Buena Vista River, during which time the guide explains the fauna, the flora and 
the climatic characteristics. Then tourists visit a plantation where community members grow 
food. There are also recreational activities such as bathing in the sulphurous lagoon, which has 
medicinal properties. The trail is offered and guided by members of the archaeological 
committee, which is also in charge of the maintenance and the adaptation of all of tourist-related 
infrastructure. Agua Blanca community organizes itself to offer tour guide services and this 
activity involves 30 families. The archaeological committee operates by delegation from the 
community assembly, the highest governing body of the community. Others activities linked to 
tourism have developed such as small retailers, family accommodations, catering, and a craft 
industry. Tourism is the main source of revenue and is also the main activity in the community; 
70% of families participate in the tourism activities. The development of tourism has boosted 
consumption and quality of life, enhanced communitarian organization, reduced emigration and 
improved environmental conservation. Aguablanquenses used to depend on charcoal production, 
tree felling, and hunting; now the community is more conscious about its natural environment 
and has discontinued activities that negatively impact the ecosystem. 

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