From the lived city to the Heritage City: Antigua Guatemala and the Medina of Fez in front of tourism and the staging of daily life

UNESCO World Heritage designation, while preserving buildings and boosting tourism, often displaces local populations and alters urban dynamics. A comparative study of Antigua Guatemala and the Medina of Fez reveals that heritage status leads to economic and cultural pressures, pushing original inhabitants to peripheries due to rising costs and tourism-driven transformations. The research, based on statistical analysis, documentary review, and ethnographic observations from 2017, highlights how urban policies favor foreign investment while constraining local living traditions. It advocates for rethinking heritage protection to prioritize resident populations and the authenticity of their cultural practices over historical preservation alone.

Ríos-Llamas, C.,. (2018). From the lived city to the Heritage City: Antigua Guatemala and the Medina of Fez in front of tourism and the staging of daily life. Anuario de Espacios Urbanos, Historia, Cultura Y Diseño, 25, 161–174. https://doi.org/10.24275/azc/dcyad/aeu/n25/rios