Indicators for a tourism impact monitoring system through Limits of Acceptable Change in the Quilotoa lagoon, Ilinizas Ecological Reserve

Abstract

Monitoring of tourist activity effects on the protected areas visitor sites is a fundamental aspect for its tourist management. This research proposes the indicators for a tourism impact monitoring system in the Quilotoa lagoon, one of the main sites visited in the Ilinizas Ecological Reserve. To carry out the research, the Acceptable Change Limits model was adopted, carrying out three stages of it: identification of area concerns, definition of activities and choice of indicators; for which it was pertinent to apply techniques such as: interview, participant observation and workshop. The indicators of impact proposed are: type of garbage, number of graffiti, extent of graffiti, number of alternative trails, number of visible steps, number of not authorized viewpoints, evidence of bonfires and percentage of visitor dissatisfaction