In accordance with the transparency and access to information regulations, Quito Turismo complied with the Accountability process for the management carried out in 2022. Within this framework, Cristina Rivadeneira, the highest authority of the institution, pointed out that from the Directorate of Development, work was done on the axes of tourist security, rural tourism network, destination management, tourist facilities and technological innovation in the tourism industry.
To provide attention to tourists, the Security Points were strengthened, located in Plaza Grande, La Ronda and Quitumbe; and, at the Information Points, which are located in El Quinde (under the Municipal Palace), Mariscal Sucre International Airport and Quitumbe Terminal. In addition, the implementation of other points that include the two services at the main Metro stops: Labrador, El Ejido and San Francisco is projected.
With the objective of consolidating the Rural Tourism Network in the DMQ, 60 rural tourism managers were trained, with the support and endorsement of the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar; A dozen exchanges of experiences were developed, taking as reference the cases of the Community of Yunguilla and the Hidden Route; and, 23 tourist routes were created that have been validated, executed and delivered to tour operators and local travel agencies to be included in their service offer.
Regarding the management of the destination, the Department of Development strengthened the 'Hands in La Ronda' project that rescues the traditional trades of this traditional neighborhood of Quito and reactivates the economy in the area; generated day and night tourist routes in the Historic Center, La Mariscal, traditional neighborhoods such as San Blas, La Tola, San Marcos and in rural parishes; and created 'QuitoNómika', the gastronomic strategy that promotes the DMQ as a culinary tourist destination.
Through 'QuitoNómika', actions were carried out such as the 'Sal Quiteña' Gastronomic Festival, which brought together more than 100,000 people to taste the best of Quito cuisine; the participation of chefs from Quito was promoted in Madrid Fusión – Bogotá and Madrid Fusión – Madrid, one of the most important gastronomic meetings in the world; and, after a work with experts in the area, the emblematic dishes of Quito were determined, being chosen as the most representative entries the nickname with chicharrón and the morocho empanadas; the chosen soups were the yaguarlocro and the potato locro; the main dishes chosen were the hornado with tortillas, the fritada and the dry goat; the outstanding desserts were the pristiños, the paila ice cream and the fig candy; and the selected drinks: the canelazo and the colada morada.
With the aim of providing accessibility, information, services and comfort to tourists; and with an investment of 124 thousand dollars, signage and furniture such as picnic tables, pergolas, handrails, benches, interpretive tables and other facilities were implemented in the Special Tourist Zones of the Historic Center and La Mariscal; Alangasí, La Merced, Pintag, Calderón, Tumbaco; the parishes of the Hidden Route, of the Spectacled Bear Corridor; and the communes of Ilaló.
On the other hand, Quito Turismo is part of the 'Heritage and sustainable tourism' project, organized by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, through the French organization Sites et cités, with the aim of strengthening knowledge in management and valuation of heritage and promotion for tourism purposes of three cities in France, three Latin American countries: Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador, where Quito, Cuenca and Loja were chosen.
In addition, with the support of the Quito Historical and Convention Center bureaus, Quito Turismo was one of the 10 winners, among more than 100 applicants, to participate in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project on 'Competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector', through which a diagnosis will be made on the level of technological maturity, based on the main challenges; and a detailed action and pre-investment plan for tourist establishments located in the Historic Center, La Mariscal and the Chocó Andino.
Cristina Rivadeneira stated that by 2023 work will continue on the development of urban and rural tourism models in which the generation of new routes and tourism products will be key; in the implementation of signaling and tourist facilities; at security points within the Quito Metro Transportation System; in strengthening the Rural Tourism network; in the operation of the Rural Tourist Information System; in maintaining activations that have become landmarks in the city such as the Fanescas festivals at Easter, 'Más allá de la vida' in the deceased and 'Sal Quiteña' in December; and in other actions that position Quito as the ideal destination for tourism, locally, nationally and internationally.