An archaeological project and a community museum in Agua Blanca, Ecuador, have helped catalyse a remarkable process of ecological and cultural awareness complemented by economic advances. Some twenty-five years after the museum’s inauguration, as well as visiting the archaeological site and museum, tourists can observe the Machalilla National Park’s distinctive flora and fauna, camp, hike, swim, stay in village homes, buy locally made handcrafts, and eat in the community restaurant. These initiatives have been set up by the village in collaboration with local, national, and overseas agencies, in ways which spread benefits as widely as possible. After the introduction of a new constitution in 2008, which recognizes the multi-ethnic character of Ecuador’s population, Agua Blanca and adjacent communities asked to be officially recognized as ‘Pueblo Manta’ — an identity derived from the area’s pre-Spanish archaeology. Agua Blanca’s experience shows that much can be achieved through confidence in cultural identity, and that locally managed community tourism brings tangible economic benefits to local people, while serving to protect vulnerable archaeological sites from destruction.

中文翻译：

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旅游与社区：厄瓜多尔村庄建立在过去

厄瓜多尔阿瓜布兰卡的一个考古项目和一个社区博物馆帮助促进了生态和文化意识的非凡进程，并辅之以经济进步。博物馆落成约 25 年后，除了参观考古遗址和博物馆外，游客还可以观察马查利拉国家公园独特的动植物群、露营、远足、游泳、住在村屋里、购买当地制作的手工艺品和美食在社区餐厅。这些举措是由村庄与当地、国家和海外机构合作制定的，旨在尽可能广泛地传播利益。2008 年颁布新宪法后，承认厄瓜多尔人口的多种族特征，阿瓜布兰卡和邻近社区要求被正式承认为“普韦布洛曼塔”——这一身份源自该地区的前西班牙考古学。Agua Blanca 的经验表明，通过对文化认同的信心可以实现很多目标，当地管理的社区旅游为当地人民带来了切实的经济利益，同时有助于保护脆弱的考古遗址免遭破坏。