“Jornadas Participativas sobre la percepción de los actores sociales locales para el desarrollo turístico en el cantón de Paraíso de la provincia de Cartago, durante los meses de mayo a diciembre de 2023”

Abstract

The Participatory Workshops on Tourism Development in the Canton of Paraíso (JPP) are an initiative of the School of Social Sciences of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR), implemented through the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Extension (VIE) within the framework of the competitive funding call under the Cement Law No. 9829. The project was carried out in 2023 under the coordination of the School of Social Sciences (ECS) and the Sustainable Tourism Management (GTS) program, with the purpose of analyzing local social actors’ perceptions of cantonal tourism and assessing the feasibility of formulating a participatory, territorial, and sustainable tourism development plan. This article presents the main findings from workshops conducted across the canton’s districts, emphasizing active community engagement, the identification of tourism assets, and the formulation of strategic actions aimed at positioning tourism as a catalyst for local economic development.