PREIT-tour and CPM participate in the REDU 2025 Congress, presenting research on tourism and heritage in Cuenca’s Historic Center🏛️🌍

The PREIT-tour and World Heritage City research groups from the University of Cuenca actively participated in the REDU 2025 Congress, presenting two papers addressing urban transformations in Cuenca's Historic Center. 🏙️🎓

The first paper, "Learnings from Mixed Methods to Explore Heritage, Leisure, and Tourism in Cuenca’s Historic Center," was presented by Víctor Caldas F., Byron Alvarado, Mateo Erazo, and Shanaya Quezada. This work focuses on participatory methodologies for managing public heritage spaces, aiming to balance everyday use with the dynamics of leisure and tourism. 🗺️🤝

The researchers identified that tourism activity, real estate pressure, and the loss of everyday life are altering the public spaces in the historic center, generating perceptions of gentrification, insecurity, inequality, and weakened identity. 🏘️⚠️

To address this issue, they developed a three-phase methodology implemented between 2024 and 2025:

• an initial approach involving heritage characterization and cultural mapping;

• listening and feedback through surveys, interviews, and workshops in El Vado, San Sebastián, and Parque Calderón; and

• listening and co-creation through itinerant workshops and the collective construction of guidelines.The outcome: consensus and directives for the use and enjoyment of public space. 💡🎯

The second paper, "Tourism and Heritage Balance? Airbnb in World Heritage Sites: Contemporary Dynamics in the Case of Cuenca, Ecuador," was presented by Freddy Espinoza-Figueroa, Gabriela García-Vélez, Karina Farfán-Pacheco, Maricruz Iñiguez-Sánchez, Byron Alvarado-Vanegas, and Víctor Caldas-Freire. 🏠💰

Using web scraping techniques, Python, and QGIS, the team analyzed active Airbnb listings in Cuenca’s Historic Center. The findings reveal a clear market polarization into two clusters. 📊🔍

Cluster 0 (55.49%, 475 units) shows low turnover, with an average daily rate of $45.50, annual income of $646.54, and 15% occupancy. Cluster 1 (44.51%, 381 units) reflects high profitability, with a daily rate of $52.91, annual income of $4,652.97, and 47% occupancy, concentrating benefits in semi-professional operations. 📈💵

The researchers conclude that the expansion of Airbnb reinforces a rent-driven model in heritage cities, where housing loses its social function. Without differentiated regulation and territorial policies, heritage risks becoming just another financial asset in the global accumulation circuit. ⚖️🌍

Both studies contribute empirical evidence and participatory methodologies to address the challenges faced by intermediate heritage cities. ✨🤝

Photos: CPM & PREIT-tour, 2025