Network governance mechanisms are used to manage firms' relations. Literature has proved that firms use formal and informal mechanisms in a complementary manner to manage alliances, cooperatives, or franchises. But research has overlooked governance mechanisms in rural communities dedicated to tourism. Thus, this research aims to contribute to understanding the tourism network's governance mechanisms when different groupings based on their statuses exist in a rural community. The results of a qualitative case study in the rural community of Montañita (Ecuador) indicate that there are three levels in the tourist network governance of the rural community where informal mechanisms (level 1) go through a transition (level 2) to become formal mechanisms (level 3). Also, there is a transition from the individual (level 1) to a collective (level 3) relationship.
