COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Purpose - This study explores residents’ perceptions of community resilience and satisfaction and their influence on sustainable tourism development. Methodology/Design/Approach - This quantitative research was conducted in the Galapagos Islands, an ecotourism destination. Bivariate techniques such as Spearman correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used. Findings - Findings show that residents are generally resilient and satisfied with tourism; they see opportunities for resident development, especially for young people. There is also a high level of trust and excellent communication within the community, thanks to the associations that help to overcome negative social problems. Originality of the research - his study confirms that a high level of community satisfaction with the sustainable development of a destination is directly and positively related to the level of resilience.