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Abstract
With the expansion of tourism in Indichuris, an Amazon community in Pastaza, Ecuador, the local tourism service providers are confronted with communication obstacles when dealing with foreign tourists due to their limited English skills. Therefore, the present study focuses on the position of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and its potential to economically empower local tourism service providers. From a pragmatic perspective, the research adopts a mixed-method approach to the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. This study collected data via surveys, questionnaires using a Likert scale, open-ended questions, and semi-structured interviews with 15 people who actively participate in the tourism sector. Based on the analysis of the data, English is required to carry out daily tasks related to tourism, including describing local goods to potential customers, offering and explaining services, providing and negotiating prices, and conducting commercial negotiations. Participants indicated that learning English would open new economic opportunities for them, but there is a complete absence of localized, affordable language-training resources. The study argues that to a large extent, tourism providers’ professional advancement and economic empowerment in the community of Indichuris would result from introducing training services based on the tenets of ESP. This approach will also serve to close the communication barrier and facilitate community development.
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