Las cafeterías del Centro Histórico de Cuenca y su influencia en el turismo gastronómico

Abstract

The Historic Center of Cuenca has a variety of gastronomic establishments, including cafeterias with a gastronomic offer that encompasses local, national and international dishes. This offer is influenced by the professionalization of gastronomy, innovation, and the tourist interest of the city, as it is a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tourist visits that the city receives is very wide, ranging from national to international tourists looking to experience the local gastronomy. Cafeterias are part of this interesting offer, as they show development and innovation in the city, with emphasis on the Historic Center, which has become the geographical space of greatest tourist interest. This interest has raised some questions, because beyond the offer there is the contribution to the image, the use of the products, the responsibility with the producers, which make up the visitor's experience. It must be remembered that gastronomy is sometimes the motivation to visit a destination, therefore, it has a responsibility with the image that a visitor takes, with local development, the maintenance of traditions, employment and even sustainability. In the last two years, the Historic Center of Cuenca has registered a considerable increase in the visit of a particular type of tourist destination, these are gastronomic tourists. This study analyzes this phenomenon and collects information from the establishments on the factors that influence the supply and demand of the cafeterias located in the Historic Center of Cuenca. Keywords: Cuenca Historic Center, gastronomic tourism, local gastronomy, cafeteria