Cities, architectural heritage and tourism: a perceptual analysis from the assessment of residents in Guayaquil (Ecuador)

Abstract

Guayaquil is a city with little attraction for cultural tourism due to the low number, recognition and relative “youth” of its heritage buildings. This paper tries to characterize the historic center of the city, identify its heritage importance and analyze its tourist-cultural potential, using a qualitative method based on the opinion of its citizens to propose functional integration actions in its timid offer of cultural tourism. Contrary to the initial hypotheses, there is evidence of citizen interest in the development of tourism and in the promotion of public policies for the protection and enhancement of its emblematic buildings. At the same time, the need to adopt a more proactive vision in the treatment of architectural heritage is shown, abandoning emergency or merely punctual actions and proposing its management and comprehensive planning.