Los personajes tradicionales y las guianzas teatralizadas: Ambato en los siglos XIX y XX

Abstract

Many traditional characters have shaped Ambato's identity over the years. However, some of these characters are forgotten today. For that reason, the objective of this thesis with intense research was to examine Ambato's traditional characters in both the 19th and 20th century and their relationship with dramatized tour guides to diversify the city’s tourism activities. Their importance lies in the fact that dramatized tour guides, when performed in tourist settings, generate enthusiasm, encourage visitor participation, and can make the understanding of local history easier. The research focused on a qualitative approach and an inductive method. For the independent variable "traditional characters," semi-structured interviews were conducted with historical researchers. For the dependent variable, structured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted with theater professionals and tourism and culture professionals. The results demonstrated that traditional characters were recognized through the memories of Ambato’s community. The need to preserve the memories of these characters through dramatized tours was also evident. It was concluded that collective memory is a strategic tool for projecting these memories through guidance that connects people through drama and emotions. Finally, the creation of an inclusive dramatized tour was proposed.