Voices about the impact of tourism on the Agave Landscape: comparisons between Tequila and Teuchitlan, Mexico

Tourism development in UNESCO World Heritage Sites can yield both positive and negative social impacts, as evidenced by a comparative study of Tequila and Teuchitlan, Mexico. Both communities, associated with prominent tourist attractions—the Magic Town of Tequila and Los Guachimontones Archaeological Site—expressed mixed perceptions about tourism's effects. While locals recognized benefits such as job diversification, cultural revival, and new business opportunities, they also highlighted significant drawbacks, including increased crime rates, pollution, and uneven distribution of tourism gains. The study, conducted through surveys of residents since 2006, underscores the complex relationship between tourism growth and community well-being in this Agave Landscape region.

Dansac, Y., & González, L. (2014). Voices about the impact of tourism on the Agave Landscape: comparisons between Tequila and Teuchitlan, Mexico. International Journal of Tourism Anthropology, 3(4), 325. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijta.2014.065587