Normativa de calidad turística para el cantón Guano en el proceso de acreditación de Guano como pueblo mágico.

Abstract

This research work aimed the creation of a tourism quality standard at Guano canton, based on its conditions, so the proposal was established form a review of secondary sources of tourism certification standards present in the country such as, Smart Voyager, Distintivo Q, Rainforest Alliance, Distintivo R Dorada, among others. In addition, the structure of the standard took into account the good practices of sustainable tourism implemented in the food and beverage (A&B) operations, lodging, agency and tourist transport services, with a preliminary result of 6 areas, 16 criteria and 115 indicators. For the validation of the indicators, the Delphi method was applied through a group of experts, resulting in a quality standard consisting of 6 areas, 16 criteria and 44 indicators. Finally, the application and approval of the certification standard was defined, which determined the requirements for accessing certification, the score for approving and obtaining certification, the validity of the seal and the benefits. To sum up, the creation and application of the tourism quality standard through compliance with minimum quality standards allows improving tourism services and achieving a more competitive destination, at the same time contributing to the satisfaction and loyalty of the demand.