Segmentation and motivation of foreign tourists in world heritage sites. A case study, Quito (Ecuador)

Research on foreign tourists visiting Quito, Ecuador, reveals that hedonic-gastronomic motivations significantly influence visitor satisfaction and loyalty. Three motivational dimensions—cultural, circumstantial, and hedonic-gastronomic—were identified, along with four distinct tourist segments: hedonic-gastronomic cultural tourists, hedonic-gastronomic tourists, circumstantial hedonic-gastronomic cultural tourists, and alternative tourists. The study highlights that only the hedonic-gastronomic dimension plays a critical role in shaping perceived satisfaction and loyalty among visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. This finding underscores the importance of gastronomic experiences in enhancing tourist engagement and long-term attachment to cultural destinations.

López-Guzmán, T., Torres Naranjo, M., Pérez Gálvez, J. C., & Carvache Franco, W. (2017). Segmentation and motivation of foreign tourists in world heritage sites. A case study, Quito (Ecuador). Current Issues in Tourism, 22(10), 1170–1189. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1344625