Importance and characteristics of a waterfall for sustainable tourism with a focus on the binational Colombian-Ecuadorian border

Abstract

Waterfall tourism can be a source of economic income for local communities, but it is important that it be conducted in a sustainable manner. Promoting responsible tourism implies guaranteeing the conservation of the surrounding ecosystems, respecting established norms, and educating visitors about the importance of protecting these natural areas. In the binational border of Colombia and Ecuador in the last 10 years after the post-conflict process, nature activities have included visits to waterfalls, but there is little information to put into context the importance and characteristics of waterfalls from a landscape approach. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the importance of waterfalls in nature tourism and to describe the aspects that characterize and describe a waterfall from a landscape approach. In order to respond to these objectives, a bibliographic review of the scientific literature in databases such as Scopus and Web of Science was used. The main results indicate the ecosystemic and economic importance for the development of sustainable tourism, and that the characteristics to evaluate its scenic beauty should consider physical and anthropic characteristics. Finally, it is essential to focus efforts on evaluating tourists who have previously visited waterfalls so that they can describe and indicate their preferences.