From culinary heritage to tourist attraction: designing a gastronomic route in Ibarra An analysis of specialized tourism offerings in the province of Imbabura

Abstract

Gastronomic tourism has established itself as an important strategy for promoting cultural heritage and strengthening local tourism development. In the canton of Ibarra, province of Imbabura, Ecuador, this potential has not been fully exploited due to the limited development of specialized tourism products that integrate the local gastronomic identity. The objective of this research is to analyze the current state of gastronomic tourism in the canton of Ibarra and its impact on local tourism development. The methodology applied is a qualitative-descriptive approach, supported by techniques such as participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis. The results show weak coordination between actors in the tourism and gastronomic sectors, as well as insufficient promotion of traditional culinary knowledge and practices. It is concluded that strengthening gastronomic tourism through planning strategies, training, and the design of specialized tourism products can contribute significantly to economic revitalization, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the improvement of tourism competitiveness in the canton of Ibarra.