EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVENESS IN TOURISM ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN PEDERNALES, ECUADOR: AN APPROACH BASED ON THE SDGS AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Useful for researchers studying SME-level circular economy indicators and sustainability assessment in tourism.

🏢実務担当者:Relevant for destination management organizations and tourism businesses seeking to align operations with SDGs and circular economy principles.

🏛政策担当者:Provides evidence for targeted policy interventions in renewable energy adoption, certification pathways, and training for tourism MSMEs.

In Ecuador’s tourism MSMEs, persistent gaps remain in energy transition, certification, firm-level innovation, product internationalization, and market definition/targeting; building on this context, this study evaluates sustainable competitiveness in Pedernales using SDG-aligned, circular-economy indicators to inform destination-level action. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with n = 196 ventures (food services, lodging, transport, recreation, tour operations) applying 13 firm-level indicators mapped to SDGs 6/7/8/9/11/12/13; reliability (α = 0.878), sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.806), and Bartlett’s test (p < 0.001); analyses included descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and Varimax-rotated EFA. The factor solution revealed four dimensions - Environmental & Circular Practices; Perception/Training/Energy; Networks & Sustainable Mobility; Competitiveness & Local Human Capital. Key strengths include diversified supply, local hiring, and a positive environmental perception; by contrast, weaknesses persist in the adoption of renewable energy, certification and low-impact mobility. These patterns indicate partial adoption constrained by capabilities and finance at firm and destination levels. In policy terms, priority should be given to service-oriented innovation instruments, clear certification pathways, and targeted training/mentoring, alongside establishing a multi-stakeholder circulareconomy lab coordinated by the Destination Management Organization (DMO). In parallel, a permanent multi-stakeholder advisory council should be established to coordinate a portfolio of demand-driven projects, search for micro-grants, and monitor indicators. Limitations include a single-destination cross-sectional design and self-reported survey data (potential desirability/recall biases); future research should consider longitudinal validation and impact evaluations via small-scale local pilot programs. The contribution consists of a replicable indicator-based diagnosis that supports decisions aligned with the SDGs in coastal destinations.

• semanticscholar https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.64136-1687first seen 2026-05-15 21:37:07 · last seen 2026-05-23 05:59:50