Digital governance in conscious tourism and public communication channels: impact on local social development
Keywords:
Digital governance, conscious tourism, citizen participation, public communication, local social developmentAbstract
Digital transformation has reconfigured the relationship between the State and citizens, positioning digital governance as a strategic axis for local social development, particularly at the municipal level. This phenomenon is especially relevant in conscious tourism destinations, whose sustainability demands participatory, transparent, and territory-oriented management. In this context, public communication channels, municipal websites, institutional social media, crowdsourcing platforms, and mobile applications, serve as mediators between administration and community. This article analyzes the impact of digital governance on conscious tourism, examining how these channels influence local social development. A qualitative approach was adopted, using a documentary-interpretive design based on a systematic review of 14 scientific sources published between 2021 and 2026, selected through thematic, methodological, and geographic relevance criteria. Evidence reveals positive correlations between digitalization and citizen satisfaction: 85% of citizens in contexts such as Guayaquil prefer digital formats for accessing public information, while platforms in Bogotá and Montevideo serve as regional benchmarks for active participation. Nonetheless, structural barriers persist, including the digital divide, low technological literacy, and limited political will, conditioning their effectiveness. It is concluded that digital governance, strategically applied to conscious tourism, can catalyze local social development, provided conditions of digital equity, adequate infrastructure, and a sustained participatory culture are ensured.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Carlos Alfredo Llerena-Lasso, Katiuska Tammi Miranda-Salvatierra, María de los Ángeles Chávez-Naranjo, Erwin Edison Sagnay-García

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