Circular Economy as a Foundation for Quality Tourism Services in Latin America
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62452/m2hg3063Keywords:
Circular economy, service quality, sustainable tourismAbstract
This study analyzes the relationship between circular economy and tourism service quality in Latin American companies through a mixed descriptive-correlational approach. We reviewed 127 scientific documents, conducted 30 interviews with business executives, and applied 412 questionnaires to tourists from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Argentina. Results reveal that companies with circular practices achieve superior scores across all service quality dimensions, with an average difference of 0.48 points (1-7 scale) compared to traditional companies. Most implemented practices include waste management (83.3%), water conservation (76.7%), and energy efficiency (70.0%). Significant positive correlations were identified between circular practices and quality dimensions, highlighting environmental responsibility (r=0.742) and empathy (r=0.689). 67.2% of tourists show willingness to pay a 5-20% premium for sustainable services. Findings demonstrate that circular economy not only responds to environmental imperatives but constitutes a competitive differentiation strategy that improves quality perception and generates additional economic value in Latin American tourism.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Víctor Manuel Vera-Peña, Iván Alexander Neira-Reyes, Kimberly Haide López-López, Genesis Noemi Alarcón-Fuentes (Autor/a)
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