Tourism Potential of San Francisco and Central Traditional Markets in Quito for the diversification of short-stay urban experiences: an exploratory study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63688/6wf5gc95

Keywords:

urban tourism, food tourism, traditional markets, tourist experiences, Quito

Abstract

The objective was to analyze the tourism potential of the San Francisco and Central traditional markets in Quito, based on their gastronomic offerings, cultural dimension, and potential connection with short-stay urban experiences. A qualitative, documentary, exploratory, and descriptive study was conducted through a narrative review of academic research and institutional documents. The information was interpreted across three dimensions: gastronomic and cultural resources; visitor conditions and tourism experience; and opportunities and limitations for urban integration. As local evidence, a previous study included both markets in an inventory of traditional gastronomy covering four markets in Quito; municipal documents from 2021 also describe characteristic dishes and commercial activities in the selected spaces. The synthesis indicates that gastronomy and everyday practices provide resources for designing complementary tourism experiences, but the reviewed sources do not establish the existence of consolidated itineraries or determine current operating conditions. It is concluded that the two markets offer a relevant documentary basis for diversifying short-stay urban experiences, while implementation requires specific assessment of accessibility, services, management, and merchant participation.

References

Agarwal, R., Mehrotra, A., Mishra, A., Rana, N. P., Nunkoo, R., & Cho, M. (2024). Four decades of sustainable tourism research: Trends and future research directions. International Journal of Tourism Research, 26(2), e2643. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2643

Albuquerque, H., Quintela, J. A., & Marques, J. (2024). The impact of short-term rental accommodation in urban tourism: A comparative analysis of tourists’ and residents’ perspectives. Urban Science, 8(3), Article 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8030083

Aulestia Vizcaíno, A. C. (2021). Los mercados de Quito y su oferta de gastronomía tradicional como recurso turístico. Revista San Gregorio, 1(47). https://doi.org/10.36097/rsan.v1i47.1614

Badu-Baiden, F., & Kim, S. (2022). Is local food consumption memorable? Exploration of a multidimensional measurement scale to explain tourists’ memorable local food consumption experiences. International Journal of Tourism Research, 24(6), 739–758. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2536

Barzallo-Neira, C., & Pulido-Fernández, J. I. (2023). Identification of the main lines of research in gastronomic tourism: A review of the literature. Sustainability, 15(7), Article 5971. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075971

Benalcázar, H., Rodríguez Marín, F., & Guevara Plaza, A. (2024). Gastronomic tourism on the rise: Profile of the gastronomic tourist in Cuenca (Ecuador). Tourism and Heritage Journal, 5, 80–99. https://doi.org/10.1344/THJ.2023.5.5

Campos Quezada, A. R., & Castillo Ortiz, I. (2024). La sostenibilidad en los estudios del turismo gastronómico. Una revisión sistemática de literatura. PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 22(3), 595–614. https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2024.22.039

Cohen, E. (1979). A phenomenology of tourist experiences. Sociology, 13(2), 179–201. https://doi.org/10.1177/003803857901300203

Deng, Y., Lee, H. M., Lee, T. J., & Hyun, S. S. (2024). Co-creation of the tourist experience: A systematic assessment scale. Tourism Management Perspectives, 51, Article 101212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2023.101212

Fusté-Forné, F. (2023). The tourist experience at urban food markets: A qualitative study in Palermo (Sicily). International Journal of Tourism Cities, 9(2), 447–461. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-09-2022-0212

Hall, C. M., & Sharples, L. (Eds.). (2003). Food tourism around the world: Development, management and markets. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Hu, M., Pantano, E., & Stylos, N. (2024). A systematic review of city break travel in tourism. International Journal of Tourism Research, 26(4), Article e2728. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2728

Li, J., Coca-Stefaniak, J. A., Nguyen, T. H. H., & Morrison, A. M. (2024). Sustainable tourist behavior: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Sustainable Development, 32(4), 3356–3374. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2859

MacCannell, D. (1973). Staged authenticity: Arrangements of social space in tourist settings. American Journal of Sociology, 79(3), 589–603. https://doi.org/10.1086/225585

Menor-Campos, A., Hidalgo-Fernández, A., López-Felipe, T., & Jara-Alba, C. (2022). Gastronomía local, cultura y turismo en Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad: El comportamiento del turista extranjero. Investigaciones Turísticas, (23). https://doi.org/10.14198/INTURI2022.23.7

Page, S. J., & Duignan, M. (2023). Progress in tourism management: Is urban tourism a paradoxical research domain? Progress since 2011 and prospects for the future. Tourism Management, 98, 104737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104737

Park, E., & Widyanta, A. (2022). Food tourism experience and changing destination foodscape: An exploratory study of an emerging food destination. Tourism Management Perspectives, 42, Article 100964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100964

Pine, B. J., II, & Gilmore, J. H. (1998). Welcome to the experience economy. Harvard Business Review, 76(4), 97–105. https://hbr.org/1998/07/welcome-to-the-experience-economy

Quito Informa. (2021a, 29 de julio). El mercado Central es un icono en el centro de Quito. Municipio del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito. https://www.quitoinforma.gob.ec/2021/07/29/el-mercado-central-es-un-icono-en-el-centro-de-quito/

Quito Informa. (2021b, 10 de marzo). Mercado San Francisco ofrece combos económicos para preparar la fanesca. Municipio del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito. https://www.quitoinforma.gob.ec/2021/03/10/mercado-san-francisco-ofrece-combos-economicos-para-preparar-la-fanesca/

Richards, G. (2012). An overview of food and tourism trends and policies. Tourism Recreation Research, 37(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2012.11081709

Rojas-Galindo, M. P., Unda-Padilla, M. J., & Pacheco, A. (2024). Entre la informalidad y la inseguridad: Nuevas dinámicas alimentarias y comerciales en el mercado San Roque de Quito. Íconos. Revista de Ciencias Sociales, (79), 99–117. https://doi.org/10.17141/iconos.79.2024.6020

Rubio Huerta, L. M., Rodríguez Corredor, M. A., Cote Daza, S. P., & Barón, J. A. (2022). Las plazas de mercado como espacios territoriales de turismo gastronómico, valoración de la gastronomía típica bogotana. Cuadernos de Geografía: Revista Colombiana de Geografía, 31(1), 128–145. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcdg.v31n1.88754

Spencer, D. M., & Sargeant, E. L. (2024). The use of indicators to measure the sustainability of tourism at cultural heritage sites: A critical review. Tourism Recreation Research, 49(3), 563–576. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2022.2069454

Tort, N. (2024). Food tourism: A systematic analysis. Tourism and Heritage Journal, 5, 135–156. https://doi.org/10.1344/THJ.2023.5.8

Urry, J. (1990). The tourist gaze: Leisure and travel in contemporary societies. SAGE Publications.

Yong, R. Y. M., Chua, B.-L., Han, H., & Kim, B. (2022). Taste your way across the globe: A systematic review of gastronomy tourism literature (2000–2021). Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 39(7–9), 623–650. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2023.2184445

Published

2026-10-16

How to Cite

Garaicoa Fuentes, F. L., Doménica Lilibeth Oleas Moreira, O. M., Moreno Bustamante, J. D., Álvarez Vera, E. M., Rodríguez Blanco, J. D., & Montero Muthre, R. A. (2026). Tourism Potential of San Francisco and Central Traditional Markets in Quito for the diversification of short-stay urban experiences: an exploratory study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Novel Journeys & Explorations, 4(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.63688/6wf5gc95