Tourist security perception by residents and tourists: The case of Guaranda City-Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252290Keywords:
Tourism safety, Perception of safety, Tourism, Residents, TouristsAbstract
Introduction: Guaranda, Ecuador, is an emerging tourist destination renowned for its cultural and natural wealth, where the perception of safety is a determining factor for its sustainable development.
Objective: The perception of tourist safety in Guaranda was analyzed, comparing the perspectives of local residents and visitors.
Methods: A quantitative approach was implemented through the application of structured surveys to a representative sample of residents and tourists. The instrument evaluated six specific areas of tourist safety.
Results: Divergent perceptions were identified between the two groups studied. Tourists expressed a general perception of greater safety at the destination, while local residents expressed more significant concerns, particularly in the areas of public safety and road safety.
Conclusions: The study contributed to knowledge about the perception of safety in emerging tourist destinations, highlighting substantial differences between residents and visitors. The findings provided relevant information for local authorities, tourism sector stakeholders, and the community, facilitating the design of strategies aimed at improving safety conditions and promoting sustainable tourism development in the destination.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Verónica Sánchez Velastegui, Christopher Espinosa Ruiz, Germán Sánchez Chávez (Author)
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