Public management and its impact on the strengthening of policies applied by the Autonomous Decentralised Municipal Government of the Colta canton for the development of Community Tourism

Abstract

This article analyses the impact of public management on the strengthening of policies applied by the Autonomous Decentralised Municipal Government of the canton of Colta for the development of community-based tourism. Through a mixed approach, combining surveys applied to 80 civil servants and interviews with 5 managers, perceptions on strategic planning, community participation, resource allocation, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were identified.
The results show a significant positive relationship between efficient public management and the strengthening of community tourism oriented policies, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.93. Highly rated areas include community participation and training programmes, while aspects such as resource allocation and evaluation mechanisms offer opportunities for improvement. These findings contrast with previous research, confirming that community-based tourism is a key model for sustainable development and the preservation of cultural identity.
It is concluded that, in Colta canton, public management plays a fundamental role in the implementation of effective policies that benefit local communities, highlighting the importance of strategic, inclusive and sustainable governance. This analysis can serve as a model for replicating good practices in other localities with similar conditions.