Artificial intelligence for biodiversity and tourism governance: predictive insights from multilayer perceptron...

Tourism in biodiversity-rich regions was among the sectors most severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which amplified existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities and placed cultural and natural heritage conservation at risk. In the Peruvian Amazon, Bagua Province illustrates this challenge, where experiential tourism is central to local livelihoods yet lacks adaptive management tools to support a sustainable recovery. To address this gap, this study introduces an integrated approach that combines artificial intelligence with biodiversity conservation through the application of multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks. By analyzing two decades of domestic visitor data (2003-2023), the research explores how predictive modeling can inform tourism governance in fragile ecosystems. Two scenarios were evaluated: one incorporating the complete dataset and another excluding the anomalous year 2020, heavily disrupted by the pandemic. The findings show that MLP models are capable of capturing visitor dynamics and forecasting demand fluctuations with notable accuracy. This predictive capacity allows for more adaptive planning of ecologically sensitive sites, such as the Tsunsuntsa Waterfall, where balancing visitor inflows with ecological thresholds is essential to preventing overtourism. Beyond technical accuracy, the study highlights the strategic potential of artificial intelligence as a governance tool that strengthens resilience in post-pandemic contexts, offering actionable insights for harmonizing socioeconomic recovery with biodiversity preservation. By positioning neural networks as vital instruments for sustainable destination management, this research contributes a reproducible model that can be adapted to other vulnerable regions worldwide. It underscores the value of integrating advanced computational methods into tourism governance frameworks, ultimately bridging technology and conservation to foster long-term sustainability.