This research examines the challenges faced by the Galápagos Archipelago in the context of post–COVID-19 tourism recovery, as well as the need to balance economic development with the conservation of a highly fragile ecosystem.
The study focuses on understanding how local community beliefs about ecosystem fragility influence attitudes toward sustainable tourism and levels of knowledge and compliance with conservation regulations, within a context of increasing pressure on natural resources.
The main objective was to assess the relationship between attitudes toward economically sustainable tourism, levels of knowledge and compliance with environmental regulations, and beliefs about ecosystem fragility. To this end, a structured survey was administered to 296 residents and small business owners on San Cristóbal Island. The methodology employed validated scales and statistical analyses to identify correlations and moderating effects among the variables studied.
Fotografia: Andrew Russell
The results show that most participants prioritize nature conservation over economic growth and recognize that tourism sustainability depends on ecosystem health. In addition, a positive relationship was identified between favorable attitudes toward sustainable tourism and higher levels of knowledge and compliance with environmental regulations—a relationship that varies according to the degree of belief in ecosystem fragility. The study concludes that strengthening differentiated communication and awareness strategies can effectively promote sustainable practices, supporting both environmental conservation and the social and economic resilience of Galápagos.
Read the article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11135-025-02448-5
