Criteria for the Design of Mobile Applications to Cultural Heritage Tourism: The Case of Riobamba

Rosa Belén Ramos Jiménez (), Daniel Sanaguano Moreno, Steven Alejandro Salazar Cazco, Silvia Montúfar, Verónica Yasmín Cuadrado Solís and Franklin David Heredia Sáenz
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Rosa Belén Ramos Jiménez: Faculty of Computer Science and Electronics, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, Ecuador
Daniel Sanaguano Moreno: Faculty of Computer Science and Electronics, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, Ecuador
Steven Alejandro Salazar Cazco: Faculty of Computer Science and Electronics, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, Ecuador
Silvia Montúfar: Faculty of Natural Resources, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, Ecuador
Verónica Yasmín Cuadrado Solís: Independent Researcher, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Franklin David Heredia Sáenz: Facultad de Administración de Empresas, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (UIDE), Quito 170143, Ecuador

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-25

Abstract: This research identifies key criteria for designing mobile applications for cultural heritage tourism, aiming to provide a planned, engaging, and functional solution that enhances the visitor’s experience and strengthens the competitiveness of destinations in the absence of technological tools for promotion and management. The city of Riobamba was selected as a case study due to its significant potential for this type of tourism. The proposed method is structured around three main dimensions: interpretative, inclusive, and immersive. The methodology combines a literature review, benchmarking, and user-centered design. The findings highlight the importance of integrating heritage storytelling, structuring information by levels based on user profiles, addressing the demand for practical data, and complementing digital resources with physical signage. The model is replicable if the tourism demand is adapted to the local supply of each destination.

Keywords: cultural heritage tourism mobile applications; user-centered design; digital transformation; Riobamba (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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