Background

• Ph.D., Health and Human Performance (concentration Recreation, Parks, and Tourism), University of Florida, 2018
• M.S., Planning and Tourism Management, University of Alicante, Spain, 2012
• B.A., Business Administration of Hotels and Tourism Enterprises, University Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, 2009       

Estefania Basurto serves as research assistant professor in The Richardson Family SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development. In addition, she serves as the Destination Management Team Leader for the center.

Previous positions

• Associate Professor, University Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador
• Travel Agency Manager, PROTURIS, Manta, Ecuador
• Tourism Consultant, Manabi Prefecture, Ecuador
• C4I Communication Assistant, FOL – AEOS American Military Base, Manta, Ecuador
• Operator Supervisor, Hotel Mar Azul, Manta, Ecuador                  

Languages

• English TOELF C1 
• Spanish (native)
• French DELF A1

Research interests

• Tourism crisis management
• Destination resilience
• Heritage tourism and preservation
• Heritage gastronomy
• Tourism marketing

Honors and awards

• Gold diploma for outstanding  student performance, UCSG (Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil), 2007
• Manta Ray Diploma for outstanding work performance (FOL), 2009, ( American Air Force Base in Ecuador- ITT) 
• Certificate of Outstanding Merit, College of Health and Human Performance, 22nd Annual Outstanding International Student Award Ceremony, Nov. 15, 2016. (University of Florida)
• Scholarship  doctorados docentes (2014). SENESCYT Secretaria Nacional de Educación, ciencia y tecnología 
• Scholarship Bill Sims (2016). UF College of Health & Human Performance  
• Scholarship Summer A 2018 Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Award, 2018, University of Florida
• Scholarship Supplemental Retention Program Awards, UF Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives, University of Florida 

Research Projects 

• Basurto Cedeno, E., Pennington-Gray, L., & Basurto Cedeno, X., Cabrera Amparo. Project: First steps to enhance resilience in Machalilla National Park Institutionalized by Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (2014-2018).
• Basurto Cedeno, E., & Basurto Cedeno. Project: Training and Empowerment, the Key to Successful Tourism Marketing: The Manta Case – Ecuador.  Institutionalized by Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (2019-2021).
• Basurto Cedeno, E. Project: Manabí Tourist Observatory. Institutionalized by Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (2018-2020).
• Basurto Cedeno, E. Project: Feasibility of the airline route Manta — Cuenca — Manta .  Institutionalized by Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí and the Chamber of Tourism Manta  (2019).
• Basurto Cedeno, E. & Basurto Cedeno. Project: Tourism Development Plan of Canton Manta   Institutionalized by Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí and The Department of Tourism of Manta  (2019 - 2020).

Research publications

• Basurto-Cedeño, E. M., & Pennington-Gray, L. (2016). "Tourism disaster resilience scorecard for destinations (TDRSD): The case of Manta, Ecuador." International Journal of Tourism Cities, 2(2).
• Basurto-Cedeño, E. M., & Pennington-Gray, L. (2018). "An applied destination resilience model." Tourism Review International, 22(3-4).
• Basurto Cedeño, E. M., Pennington-Gray, L., & Basurto-Cedeño, X. (2020). "Recuperación de los destinos turísticos después de un desastre: Una evaluación del Scorecard de Resiliencia Turística para Destinos (SRTD)."  Revista Pasos.
• Cabrera Chávez, A. M. & Basurto Cedeño, E. M.  (2019). "Patrimonio cultural inmaterial del Cantón Manta." ULEAM, FACTUM.
• Felix, A. G. & Basurto Cedeño, E. M. (2020). "Resiliencia y recuperación de destinos turístico, Caso 16A Manabí - Ecuador." ULEAM, FACTUM.
• Basurto Cedeno, E., Pennington-Gray, L., & Basurto Cedeno, X. (2016). "Adopción del pensamiento resiliente en destinos turísticos patrimoniales." Revista Turismo y Desarrollo local sostenible.

Consulting 

• Tourism Management Plan Cordillera del Bálsamo , Prefecture of Manabí – Ecuador, Feb. – July 2021
• Tourism Development Plan Manta-Ecuador, DMO of Manta — ULEAM, Oct. 2019 – Dec. 2020
  • Tourism planning
  • Resilience assessment 
  • Marketing plan
• Resilience Model and Implementation for Ecuador, TCMI of the University of Florida, Ministry of Tourism, ULEAM
  Dec. – Feb. 2018
  • Risk assessment
  • Adaptation Assessment
  • Training 
  •  Creation of a portfolio of Adaptive Strategies for the Tourism Sector
• Ministry of Tourism, ULEAM, Municipality of Manta, April – June 2011
  • Three training in the province of Manabi, Ecuador
  • Areas of training: hospitality, quality of service, tourism marketing, and guidance and sustainable development in protected areas
  • Basurto Cedeno, E. & Basurto Cedeno. Project: Ancestral Gastronomy of Manabí. Institutionalized by Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí and The Department of Tourism of Manta  (2020 - 2023).

Professional Affiliations

• Association of Critical Heritage (ACHS), member
• Ecuadorian Network of Scientific Women (REMCI), member
• Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabi (Ecuador), associate professor
• College of Professionals in Tourism and Hospitality, Manabi, Ecuador, member