Cuenca's Easter + Founding Week Hotels Came In Below Projections — Here's the Breakdown

The Numbers

Cuenca's twin holiday stretches — Easter (April 3-5) and Founding Week (April 11-13) — both came in below what the tourism sector was projecting, according to El Mercurio (source).

Easter weekend:

• Hotel occupancy: 60%
• Projected: 70%

Founding Week:

• Hotel occupancy: 40%
• Projected: at least 50%

In the paper's wording: "una ocupación hotelera del 60 %, por debajo del 70 % proyectado" for Easter, and "un 40 %, cuando se esperaba al menos un 50 %" for the founding anniversary.

The Complaints, On the Record

Juan Pablo Vanegas, president of the Cámara de Turismo del Azuay (Azuay Chamber of Tourism), told El Mercurio the anniversary period "no contaron con una agenda robusta de actividades" — there wasn't a strong enough programming slate for the holiday.

José Luis Correa, president of the Asociación Hotelera del Azuay (Azuay Hotel Association), pointed at two things pulling visitors away: "recientes hechos de violencia en la ciudad" — recent incidents of violence in the city — and "el estado de las vías" — the condition of the roads leading into Cuenca.

The Budget Angle

One specific data point: Cuenca's municipal culture budget for the founding festivities was cut "de 200.000 a 30.000 dólares" — from $200,000 all the way down to $30,000, per José Corral, the municipal director of culture. That's an 85% cut, and it lines up with Vanegas's "thin agenda" complaint.

The Informal Lodging Wrinkle

El Mercurio also flags that Cuenca has "más de 2.000 inmuebles" — more than 2,000 informal lodging properties — operating outside formal hotel registration. When occupancy numbers get reported, those 2,000+ units aren't in the count. Meaning the picture for formal hotels could look even weaker in relative terms.

What This Means for You

• If you run a rental or guesthouse, this is a read on demand. Formal hotels at 40% during Founding Week is not a strong signal for the short-term rental market on those same dates.
• Cuenca's tourism story is tied to safety perception. Correa's on-the-record mention of "hechos de violencia" isn't new information — but a hotel association saying it publicly is meaningful.
• Road conditions matter too. Highways into Cuenca affect weekend tourism from Guayaquil and Quito. If you've driven Cajas recently, you already know what he's pointing at.
• Watch for the municipal response. A thin programming slate and an 85% budget cut for festivities are decisions city hall will have to explain next year.

Source: El Mercurio