INDICATORS (The Balance Between Tourism and Heritage)

Year

2025-2026

Area of Study

City of Cuenca, Ecuador, particularly the Historic Center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Introduction

This project, officially titled “Balance between Tourism and Heritage: Glocal Indicators for Urban Sustainability in the Historic Centre of Cuenca” (Universidad de Cuenca), focuses on understanding how tourism development can be balanced with the conservation of cultural heritage in historic urban environments.

In Cuenca, tourism represents an important driver of the local economy, while the historic center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, embodies a cultural landscape that requires careful protection and responsible management. The project therefore explores how different forms of tourism activity interact with heritage conservation and urban life in the historic city.

To address this challenge, the research proposes a framework of indicators that allows researchers, policymakers, and local stakeholders to monitor the relationship between tourism activity and heritage conservation. The analytical framework groups indicators into three main categories: economic measures, conservation metrics, and sustainable tourism management approaches, providing a structured way to evaluate whether tourism contributes positively to the preservation and vitality of the historic city.

Program Description

The indicator framework developed in the project organizes the evaluation of tourism and heritage dynamics into three complementary dimensions.

Economic Measures focus on understanding the economic contribution of tourism to the city while considering its broader structural effects. These indicators include qualitative assessments of market diversification, economic change in heritage areas, and the overall contribution of tourism to local development. Quantitative indicators, such as the number of overnight stays, visitor flows, and tourism-related economic activity, help track growth patterns and economic relevance over time.

Conservation Metrics address the condition and integrity of cultural heritage assets. Environmental factors, evaluations of cultural authenticity, and assessments of intangible heritage provide insight into how tourism may influence the preservation of cultural values. In addition, sociocultural changes and pressures on heritage sites, including increased visitor activity or shifts in local use of historic spaces, can signal emerging conservation challenges.

Sustainable Tourism Management Indicators focus on governance and planning mechanisms that influence how tourism interacts with heritage environments. Indicators such as visitor flow assessments, tourism pressure levels, and stakeholder satisfaction help evaluate how effectively tourism is being managed. These measures also reflect the degree of coordination between public institutions, heritage authorities, tourism stakeholders, and local communities.

Purpose and Impact

The INDICATORS project aims to support more informed decision-making for tourism and heritage management in Cuenca. By establishing a structured monitoring system, the project contributes to identifying both opportunities and risks associated with tourism growth in historic urban settings.

Ultimately, the framework provides practical tools for policymakers, planners, and researchers to guide strategies that balance economic benefits, cultural preservation, and sustainable tourism governance, helping ensure that the Historic Centre of Cuenca remains both a living cultural space and a responsible tourism destination.