Design of a Colonial Themed Restaurant Proposal in the City of Guayaquil, Guayas Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i2.889Keywords:
Gastronomy tourism, Cultural identity, Architectural heritage, Theme restaurants, Experiential tourism.Abstract
Gastronomy tourism has evolved toward the search for authentic experiences where visitors not only taste local cuisine but also connect with the identity, history, and traditions of a destination. Under this premise, gastronomy has established itself as a strategic axis for sustainable tourism development and the strengthening of the local economy. This study analyzes the feasibility of implementing a colonial-themed restaurant in the city of Guayaquil, specifically in the heritage sector of Las Peñas, as a strategy to diversify the tourism offer and enhance the city's architectural and culinary heritage.
Through a mixed-methods research approach, integrating direct observation, surveys of residents and tourists, and interviews with key stakeholders, a highly favorable perception of the proposal was identified. Quantitative results reveal that 88% of participants find the idea of an establishment combining colonial architecture, historical ambiance, and traditional Guayaquil cuisine attractive. However, there is a clear limited presence of businesses that structurally rescue the historical-heritage legacy in their value proposition. The study concludes that a colonial-themed restaurant not only meets the demand for experiential tourism but also acts as a vehicle for safeguarding the social memory of Guayaquil. The integration of sensory elements and historical narratives allows for the transformation of a conventional food service into a differentiated and internationally competitive tourism product.
Downloads
References
Chen, Z., et al. (2021). Heritage values and harmonious development in gastronomic tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1), 45-63.
Dixit, S. K. (Ed.). (2019). The Routledge Handbook of Gastronomic Tourism. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315147628
Ellis, A., et al. (2018). What is food tourism? Tourism Management, 68, 250-263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.03.025
Farfán-Pacheco, G., & Espinoza-Figueroa, J. (2024). Turismo Gastronómico: Estrategias de posicionamiento para destinos emergentes. Ediciones Abya-Yala.
Folgado-Fernández, J. A., et al. (2019). Heritage inventory and the creation of gastronomic tourism products. Sustainability, 11(16), 4344.
Gheorghe, G., et al. (2020). Gastronomic tourism, a sustainable alternative for local community development. Cactus Tourism Journal, 1(2), 5-12.
Hwang, J., et al. (2022). The effects of heritage restaurant attributes on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 102, 103-151.
International Journal of Hospitality Management. (2024a). Atmospheric cues and historical authenticity in theme restaurants: A neuro-marketing approach. Volume 116, 103-125.
International Journal of Hospitality Management. (2024b). The role of sensory heritage in customer loyalty. Vol. 118, 103-115.
Lope-Quispe, R., & Cayo-Velázquez, N. (2025). Metodologías emergentes en el estudio del comportamiento del consumidor turístico. Editorial Académica Universitaria.
Medina, F. X., & Santamaría, R. (2021). Gastronomía, patrimonio y turismo: Desafíos actuales en Iberoamérica. Revista de Antropología Social, 30(1), 15-28.
Raju, G., & Rajan, A. (2020). Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings as theme restaurants. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 26(4), 312-328.
RelCOMUNICAR. (2023). Gastronomía y patrimonio: Comunicación de la identidad local en entornos digitales y físicos. Revista de Comunicación y Patrimonio, 5(2), 88-102.
Reyes-Pesantez, M., et al. (2023). La cocina tradicional ecuatoriana como patrimonio inmaterial: Retos para su salvaguardia. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development.
Richards, G. (2021). Rethinking Cultural Tourism. Edward Elgar Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789905441
Rodas, M., et al. (2024a). El impacto de la identidad cultural en la experiencia del cliente: Un análisis de los distritos históricos en América Latina. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 22(1), 45-62.
Rodas, M., et al. (2024b). Impacto de la tematización en el desarrollo de barrios históricos. Turismo y Sociedad, 34, 112-130.
Sánchez-Cubo, F., Lillo-Pradillo, J. L., & Mondéjar-Jiménez, J. (2024). Mix-methods in cultural tourism research: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. Sustainability, 16(2), 789.
Sciendo. (2024). Experiential Tourism: New Trends in Heritage Cities. De Gruyter Press.
Smith, M. K., & Diekmann, A. (2022). Cultural tourism and gastronomy: An evolving relationship. Tourism Recreation Research, 47(1), 1-13.
Sosa-Sosa, J., & Thomé-Ortiz, H. (2020). Restaurantes en edificios patrimoniales: un análisis desde el turismo gastronómico. Estudios y Perspectivas en Turismo, 29(4), 1120-1138.
Taylor & Francis. (2023). Modern Gastronomy and the Search for Authenticity. Routledge Handbook of Tourism Experience.
Timothy, D. J. (2021). Cultural Heritage and Tourism. Channel View Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21832/TIMOTH7710
UNESCO. (2003). Convención para la Salvaguardia del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial. París: UNESCO.
Velasco-Hernández, T. (2023). Estrategias de puesta en valor del patrimonio inmaterial a través de la gastronomía temática. Universidad y Sociedad, 15(3), 210-222.
World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). (2023). Global Report on Gastronomy Tourism: The Case of Heritage Cities. Madrid: UNWTO.
World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). (2024). Sustainability in Gastronomy: Linking Producers and Tourists. Madrid: UNWTO.
Zheng, C., et al. (2023). Heritage storytelling and consumer engagement in historic restaurants. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 18(4), 512-530.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dayana Melissa Narváez Fernández, Gabriela Natalia Torres Jara
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Eres libre de:
- Compartir : copiar y redistribuir el material en cualquier medio o formato
- Adaptar : remezclar, transformar y desarrollar el material
- El licenciante no puede revocar estas libertades siempre y cuando usted cumpla con los términos de la licencia.
En los siguientes términos:
- Atribución : Debe otorgar el crédito correspondiente , proporcionar un enlace a la licencia e indicar si se realizaron cambios . Puede hacerlo de cualquier manera razonable, pero no de ninguna manera que sugiera que el licenciante lo respalda a usted o a su uso.
- No comercial : no puede utilizar el material con fines comerciales .
- CompartirIgual — Si remezcla, transforma o construye sobre el material, debe distribuir sus contribuciones bajo la misma licencia que el original.
- Sin restricciones adicionales : no puede aplicar términos legales ni medidas tecnológicas que restrinjan legalmente a otros hacer algo que la licencia permite.
