Reflection on the situation of the post-pandemic tourism industry

"Tourism and recovery after Covid, a vision from the academy" was the subject of the discussion that took place on June 18 with the participation of experts in this sector.

One of the guests, Enrique Cabanilla, Coordinator of the School of Tourism of the Central University of Ecuador (UCE), said in his speech that uncertainty is the current scenario.

"The challenge is to think, to relearn about ways of doing tourism," said Cabanilla, who was in favor of rethinking this activity from the rural perspective.

"In our country it is an urbanized, concentrated tourism, and sees the rural as a place of passage, of visit, of use and not as a place to promote investments."

But, because in these circumstances the city is seen as a place of fragility, you can expect conscious tourism, friendlier to the natural, cultural, more harmonious, beneficial, and growth.

“The academy has the responsibility to build the foundations of a new tourism; of a more humane tourism, that takes possession of the sustainable objectives of the world; which will allow us to have a triumphant return, overwhelming and where we will need professionals who take on the challenge ”, Cabanilla concluded.

For her part, Clara Gonzaga, Coordinator of the Tourist Observatory of the Southern Region of Ecuador and professor at the Technical University of Loja (UTPL), called to think about the contents that are disseminated in the academy and to reflect on whether the study programs are prepared for this new way of sightseeing.

"Tourism is transversal and we must focus on components such as technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, construction of social spaces, among other axes that must be reviewed in the curricular meshes".

In addition, Gonzaga called for the creation of work articulations between the government, society, businessmen, and academia.

María Isabel Bastidas, Coordinator of the School of Tourism of the Technical University of Machala (UTMACH), agreed in this, who was in favor of reinforcing links between public and private spaces; for example, the action between the academy and the territorial managers.

“Research must be carried out in order for this contribution to the country's development to materialize; for that, it is necessary to innovate, change, reprogram and insert innovation, honesty, ethics, resilience; and, love for the country and the territory ”, concluded Bastidas.

The videoconference was organized by Natalia Rincón, Coordinator of the School of Tourism of the Universidad del Azuay.