*4.1. Economic Aspect*

The main economic activities revolve around tourism and the agriculture sector. The predominant crops include peaches, avocados, apricots, potatoes, and corn, which are cultivated and harvested by the local community. Nonetheless, a visit to the town center revealed that the population's limitations have been improving in response to the development of tourist activity. According to community members, as recently as five years ago they lacked basic services, i.e., in the populated center there was no water, sewage, electricity, or gas service. Much was therefore needed to improve their quality of life. For example, preparation of food required the use of wood stoves, while access to water involved the local government occasionally sending cisterns to fill containers that had to last the inhabitants for a certain period. Thanks to development spurred by tourist activity, precariousness has diminished, and now the community has access to all basic services and even internet. This is a direct consequence of increased tourist activity, which has boosted the economy and attracted the interest of local and regional governments.

Economically, sustainable tourism development must take the necessary steps to maximize economic benefits to the host community while creating strong links with the local economy of the destination and with other economic activities in the environment. Thus, the UNWTO proposes that sustainable tourism should promote the creation of viable economic activities in the long term. These should provide all agents with well-distributed socio-economic benefits, including opportunities for stable employment, to obtain income and social services for host communities and to help reduce poverty (UNWTON 2021). In the community under study, the survey indicated that 32.1% of the population has tourism as its main economic activity, with restaurant and accommodation services being predominant, as 7.5% of residents are employed in each area. The second most important economic activity in the community is agriculture, which is the main occupation for 26.4% of the population (see Table 1).

**Table 1.** Main economic activity, according to La Florida residents.


Source: Prepared by the research team on the basis of data from the survey of La Florida's residents.

While 71.3% of residents are aware that tourist activity always generates work and continuous income, which contributes to revitalizing the economy of local households, dents.

dents.

94.8% of residents indicate that the development of tourism activity has improved basic family income (see Figure 1). Thus, 63.8% of residents claim that before tourism development they had an average income of between 100 and 150 USD per month, whereas with the development and promotion of tourism, 87.5% of residents claim that they have now considerably exceeded this income (see Table 2). 94.8% of residents indicate that the development of tourism activity has improved basic family income (see Figure 1). Thus, 63.8% of residents claim that before tourism development they had an average income of between 100 and 150 USD per month, whereas with the development and promotion of tourism, 87.5% of residents claim that they have now considerably exceeded this income (see Table 2).

While 71.3% of residents are aware that tourist activity always generates work and continuous income, which contributes to revitalizing the economy of local households,

*Economies* **2022**, *10*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 18

**Table 1.** Main economic activity, according to La Florida residents.

**Activity Frequency Percentage**  Tourism 85 32.1 Agricultural 70 26.4 Commerce 52 19.6 Forest 32 12.1 Construction 26 9.8 Total 265 100.0 Source: Prepared by the research team on the basis of data from the survey of La Florida's resi-

**Figure 1***.* Contribution to the improvement of basic family income. Source: Prepared by the research team on the basis of data from the survey of La Florida's residents. **Figure 1.** Contribution to the improvement of basic family income. Source: Prepared by the research team on the basis of data from the survey of La Florida's residents.

**Table 2.** Monthly income after tourism development. **Table 2.** Monthly income after tourism development.


Source: Prepared by the research team on the basis of data from the survey of La Florida's resi-Source: Prepared by the research team on the basis of data from the survey of La Florida's residents.

Given the above, tourist activity has clearly helped to generate income for the community's residents, encouraging local development based on production and employment opportunities that energize and diversify the local economy. Nonetheless, much work remains, since the poverty index is still above average. Moreover, it has been noted that many informal services exist, particularly in the areas of catering and accommodation services. During contact with the population, it was observed that lodgings are provided within people's homes (rustic and improvised). When tourists visit, they stay in said houses sharing a small room with several people and paying for each bed that is used, rather than per room. A similar pattern holds true for restaurants, which are informal and scarce establishments (there are only three in the entire community) located in inhabitants' homes. Because they are rustic, these establishments lack quality and safety control for Given the above, tourist activity has clearly helped to generate income for the community's residents, encouraging local development based on production and employment opportunities that energize and diversify the local economy. Nonetheless, much work remains, since the poverty index is still above average. Moreover, it has been noted that many informal services exist, particularly in the areas of catering and accommodation services. During contact with the population, it was observed that lodgings are provided within people's homes (rustic and improvised). When tourists visit, they stay in said houses sharing a small room with several people and paying for each bed that is used, rather than per room. A similar pattern holds true for restaurants, which are informal and scarce establishments (there are only three in the entire community) located in inhabitants' homes. Because they are rustic, these establishments lack quality and safety control for the handling and preparation of food. It is recognized that tourism-related income from informal activities can benefit a community significantly (Ketchen et al. 2014). If, however, steps are not taken to regularize this informality, challenges may arise, e.g., government regulations that limit access to resources such as capital and commercial space. Moreover, there is a latent risk that those involved may encounter problems such as low salaries, long working hours, high work intensity, poor work environment, and lack of social welfare (Tian and Guo 2021; Damayanti et al. 2017; Briassoulis 2001).

It should be noted that SDGs 1, 2, and 10 stipulate that tourism must be promoted to promote economic growth and development at all levels. Moreover, by providing income through job creation, tourism must contribute to reducing poverty and reducing inequality. Tourism is among the sectors with the most rapid economic growth and is capable of generating development at all levels and of providing income through job creation. It also contributes to rural development by giving community members the opportunity to prosper in their place of origin (ONWTO Organización Mundial del Turismo 2015). The development of sustainable tourism, and its impact on communities, can be linked to national poverty reduction objectives. This is particularly true of objectives related to the promotion of entrepreneurship and small businesses and to the empowerment of less favored groups, particularly women and youth (ONWTO Organización Mundial del Turismo 2015; Urkullo 2015). The UNWTO affirms that tourism is an effective means for developing countries to participate in the world economy. In 2014, the least-developed countries received 16.4 billion USD in exports from international tourism, up from 2.6 billion USD in 2000. This considerable increase has made tourism an important pillar of developing economies, constituting 7% of total exports and helping some to ameliorate their condition (ONWTO Organización Mundial del Turismo 2015).
