Tourism and its impact on Mexico's economic, cultural and tourism policies in the early 20th century: the perspective of the press of the time

Abstract

Previous research has shown how the Mexican government used culture to attract tourism to the country in the first half of the 20th century. However, one aspect that has not been sufficiently researched is why this shape was given to tourism and what choices lay behind the heritage values highlighted in the tourism promotion and marketing of the times. Using the press as the basis of our present research, above all the Spanish and national press, the shared historical context of tourism between the two countries is pieced together in order to understand how ideas and knowledge circulate, influencing tourism policies. The present article also aims at settling the debate about using tourism as a means toward the economic valuation of cultural heritage.