Rural-Community Tourism: Study of the Competences of Professional Human Talent in Tourism of the Cotopaxi Province

Abstract

Rural-community tourism today represents an opportunity for income and sustainable development for communities, given the richness of their resources and touristic potential of the country, which in turn become attractions that benefit from the economic activity of the sector. Tourism has been considered a strategic axis for the nations of the world, proof of this is the recognition given to the human talent that works in this sector through international organizations (UNWTO, ILO, UNESCO) generating an interest every time higher. The objective of the study was to identify the competencies of human talent that the National University of Chimborazo and the National University of the Armed Forces ESPE propose in the tourism careers, in the provinces of Chimborazo and Cotopaxi. The methodology used was of the mixed or multi-method type. It has an explanatory sequential design. For data collection, a scalar type multiple-choice questionnaire was applied. Theoretical documentary analysis was carried out. The results were analyzed in a quantitative and qualitative way through contrasting or triangulation methods. It was concluded that the improvement of community-based rural tourism requires instrumental, personal, systematic, and complementary skills.