After a tour of several of Cuenca's tourist attractions, the official declaration of the capital of Azuay as the country's new Magical Corner began, within the framework of the Magical Towns and Corners of Ecuador program, implemented by the Ministry of Tourism.

The program promotes the consolidation of new destinations nationwide, ensuring they are ready to be marketed as tourism destinations, both nationally and internationally.

Tourism Minister Niels Olsen explained that, in the case of Cuenca, the declaration was made under the name "Cuenca Magical Heritage" and is framed within a focus on culture, art, and tradition. This city features 38 tourist attractions, including: Cruz del Vado Square, the Márquez Municipal Heritage House, the Municipal Museum of Modern Art La Casa de la Lira, Abdón Calderón Central Park, the Casa del Parque Gastronomic Center, the Old Cathedral Museum of Religious Art, the Sombrero Museum, Bajada del Padrón, the Todos Santos Heritage Complex, Todos Santos Church, the Broken Bridge, the 3 de Noviembre Promenade "El Barranco," etc. Within the area are 45 establishments, including hotels, hostels, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, travel agencies, and tour operators, which make up a quality offering available to the city and to tourists and visitors arriving at the destination.

It also has 25 local initiatives, including the La Forja en Cobre tinsmith workshop, the El Suspiro candy store, Agua de Pítimas, the Atelier de Todos Santos bakery and cafe, and the Toquilla Straw Hat Museum, among others. These initiatives encompass 14 tourist experiences focused on culture, heritage, gastronomy, and tradition, such as the Ahuacuna Experience—weaving along the way—jewelry workshop; the Casa Yangoe Experience—an experience with a sustainable spirit; the Old Cathedral Museum Experience—reviving the past; the Hat Museum Experience—learning about the history and tradition of the hat; and the Paccari Gastronomic Experience, among others.

The minister also spoke about the joint work being done to increase air connectivity and competitiveness, and to hold important events such as Remote Latin America Immersion 2023, which last October brought together more than 200 tourism agents from priority markets such as the United States, Canada, and Europe in this city. He also noted that this declaration is valid for four years, and maintaining it requires continuous improvement actions for the tourism industry. "Therefore, I want to call on citizens to maintain their commitment to working together across the public and private sectors to preserve this designation."

Lorena Aristizabal, director of the Cuenca Municipal Tourism Foundation, expressed that this is a well-deserved recognition of the city's wealth and thanked those who have made it possible. "I am grateful to all the citizens who, with their love for Cuenca, contribute to making this magical corner a very special place."

For his part, Mayor Christian Zamora referred to the declaration as a way to highlight Cuenca's tourism offerings and mentioned that it is one of the cities in Ecuador with the highest production relative to its population. "We have a sleeping lion: tourism in Cuenca, and one of the first signs of this is seeing how people have come to enjoy these festivities," he said.

The National Government is promoting the development of the country's various tourist destinations to attract more visitors and continue to boost local economies.