Babahoyo flotante: el encanto de sus casas balsas en una promoción audio visual bilingüe.

Abstract

The balsa houses of Babahoyo, located in the Los Ríos province, are a distinctive symbol of Ecuador’s riverine cultural heritage. However, this place one of the most welcoming in the city has gradually become invisible, mainly due to the lack of audiovisual materials highlighting its history and relevance. This absence has limited public awareness of the balsa houses, especially among younger generations. This study aims to develop bilingual audiovisual content for the strategic promotion of the balsa houses, with the goal of fostering local and international tourism, boosting economic development, and strengthening the region’s cultural identity. The method used was qualitative, as it allows for an accurate interpretation of the data collected. The findings revealed that most participants recognize the balsa houses as an important part of Babahoyo's cultural heritage. However, they emphasized the absence of actions for their promotion and preservation.