La adquisición de souvenirs artesanales como elementos representativos de la cultura cuencana

Abstract

The city of Cuenca is the town of Ecuador with the largest number of master craftsmen dedicated to the sale of handicrafts as unique and unparalleled creations that have been the maintenance of several families over the years. These tasks have been transmitted through generations with the purpose that young people resume activities and adapt them to the new demands of use or utility; and that this knowledge of the traditional artisanal branches is not lost. The objectives of this study were to analyze the importance of the acquisition of handmade souvenirs from the city of Cuenca as representative elements of its culture; identify the supply and demand for artisanal souvenirs, determine their importance; and finally, analyze its acquisition within the tourist practice. Methodologically, field research was used, which allowed a direct approach to the phenomenon under study. The descriptive method facilitated the recognition of the characteristics of the phenomenon called artisanal souvenir. Finally, surveys and interviews were applied to collect information. This analysis concludes that the city of Cuenca has the potential to become a shopping tourism hotspot in Ecuador. Nevertheless, it does not have a representative artisan product that serves as a symbol for national and international tourism promotion in which the culture and artisan branches that are characteristic of the artisans form Cuenca are reflected. Additionally, it was determined that tourists prefer artisanal elaborations over industrialized ones, as products that reflect the representative features of the culture of the city visited. Keywords: artisan souvenir, artisan, artisan branches, Cuenca