La repercusión del turismo en la identidad cultural de los Pueblos Mágicos de Chiapas

Tourism is strategic for Mexico due to its socio-economic impact. Its heritage brings together diverse traditions, beliefs, and cultural expressions. Its identity implies recognition and appropriation of historical memory. The Magical Towns Programme (Programa Pueblos Mágicos, PPM) values cultural identity and is among the most successful in Mexico. Chiapas has got four magical towns (PM): San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapa de Corzo, Comitán, and Palenque. They are essential for tourism in the state and are endorsed by the business community and the government. It is crucial to know, from the perception of its inhabitants, what the impact of tourism has been on their cultural identity. A quantitative study was carried out through a survey applied to experts and local people. There were analyzed impacts on cultural preservation, heritage appreciation, sense of belonging, respect, and socio-economic benefits, as well as on changes in culture, loss of identity, and migration. The conclusion was that the local population of the Magical Towns perceives that tourism has had a positive impact on both the socio-economic level and cultural identity, contributing favorably to the sense of belonging and preservation of culture. However, immigration in San Cristóbal de Las Casas is a critical issue that could be perceived negatively and should be studied in depth.