Papers by Blanca Alejandra Camargo
Tourism is an important economic activity in Latin America. In 2017, Mexico, Central and South Am... more Tourism is an important economic activity in Latin America. In 2017, Mexico, Central and South American, and the Caribbean countries attracted 112.9 million international tourists, 53.5% of all international tourists to the Americas, who generated US$ 94.9 billion in international tourism receipts (UNWTO 2017). Most research into tourism in Latin America tends to focus on examining tourism in natural and protected areas (e.g. Costa Rica, the Amazon), in sun, sand, and sea destinations (e.g. Cancun, the Caribbean), or to iconic landmarks (e.g. Machu Picchu) with little attention paid to tourism in urban environments. In this chapter we will provide an overview of international tourism in Latin America, identify opportunities and challenges for tourism development, and present three case studies of emerging urban destinations. We hope to contribute to the understanding of trends and challenges faced by Latin American urban destinations and innovative approaches to develop and promote tourism in this region.
Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2020
Indigenous groups continue to experience injustices in relation to tourism development, managemen... more Indigenous groups continue to experience injustices in relation to tourism development, management, and marketing despite calls for equity, justice, and fairness in sustainable tourism. Economic interests continue to dominate and, consequently, the social, environmental, and cultural wellbeing of minority and Indigenous groups tend to take a secondary position in tourism development plans. Progress has been made in developing frameworks to examine justice for Indigenous groups, but they do not take into account the concepts of dignity, which we argue is a core principle in a humanistic approach that seeks fairer outcomes for Indigenous and minorities groups. Drawing upon humanism and humanistic management theory, we examine the Mayan Train megaproject in southern Mexico, propose guiding principles and identify responsibilities for key actors that prioritize the restoration, protection, and promotion of the dignity of groups and prevent potential injustices resulting from tourism projects. We also suggest transformative actions that revalue the cultural identity and status of Indigenous groups, increase their capabilities and self-esteem, and promote their autonomy and wellbeing.
Indigenous groups continue to experience injustices in relation to tourism development, managemen... more Indigenous groups continue to experience injustices in relation to tourism development, management, and marketing despite calls for equity, justice, and fairness in sustainable tourism. Economic interests continue to dominate and, consequently, the social, environmental, and cultural wellbeing of minority and Indigenous groups tend to take a secondary position in tourism development plans. Progress has been made in developing frameworks to examine justice for Indigenous groups, but they do not take into account the concepts of dignity, which we argue is a core principle in a humanistic approach that seeks fairer outcomes for Indigenous and minorities groups. Drawing upon humanism and humanistic management theory, we examine the Mayan Train megaproject in southern Mexico, propose guiding principles and identify responsibilities for key actors that prioritize the restoration, protection, and promotion of the dignity of groups and prevent potential injustices resulting from tourism projects. We also suggest transformative actions that revalue the cultural identity and status of Indigenous groups, increase their capabilities and self-esteem, and promote their autonomy and wellbeing.
aposta: revista de ciencias sociales, 2020
La producción y comercialización de cerveza en México se presenta como una de las actividades eco... more La producción y comercialización de cerveza en México se presenta como una de las actividades económicas más relevantes del país, posicionándose como una de las principales bebidas entre la generación millenial. El incremento en su consumo entre jóvenes presenta una paradoja interesante. Por un lado, su consumo en exceso representa una preocupación asociada a los efectos que genera en términos de actos violentos, accidentes y muertes. Por otro lado, su consumo está asociado a factores socioculturales, especialmente en regiones caracterizadas por la producción de esta bebida y las altas temperaturas, tal como es el caso del Área Metropolitana de Monterrey. Ante este contexto, la presente investigación tuvo como objeto el identificar los inicios y motivaciones en el consumo de cerveza de los millennials de esta área, así como los efectos percibidos en su bienestar y su socialización. Para cumplir con este objetivo se realizaron entrevistas a profundidad a 111 jóvenes de diferentes segmentos socioeconómicos, de las cuales se identificó la relevancia que tiene el contexto, tanto cultural como familiar, en los inicios del consumo de la cerveza. Resultado de este análisis fue la identificación de cuatro categorías asociadas a las motivaciones que incitan al consumo de cerveza, y los efectos positivos y negativos de su consumo para los participantes. El presente trabajo demuestra que la cerveza es considerada como un elemento cultural y social, en donde su consumo ha sido impulsado por la sociedad mediante su normalización y aceptación, teniendo como variantes importantes el género y los niveles socioeconómicos de los jóvenes que la consumen.
What do tourism students know about sustainability and sustainable tourism? An exploratory study of Latin American students
While research has started to pay attention to the content and delivery of sustainable tourism ed... more While research has started to pay attention to the content and delivery of sustainable tourism education, little is known about what students actually know and feel with respect to sustainability. This preliminary study explores students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward sustainable tourism as well as their sense of competence and empowerment to make sustainability-related decisions. The focus was on Latin America, where tourism has caused severe negative impacts and where sustainability knowledge and skills are most needed to protect fragile natural and cultural resources. Results show that although most tourism students think sustainable tourism is important, they have limited knowledge of sustainability principles and technical aspects related to sustainable tourism. Implications for teaching are discussed.
P alenques or quilombos were organized communities founded by escaped slaves during the colonizat... more P alenques or quilombos were organized communities founded by escaped slaves during the colonization of the Americas. Established throughout Central and South America, they had a strong presence in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Peru. Palenques were strategically located in areas of difficult access, becoming a haven for slave refugees (cimarrones) and a place for organizing freedom uprisings. With time, palenques developed their own economic and social structures and acquired political recognition from the colonial powers. San Basilio de Palenque (Colombia) henceforth referred simply as Palenque, is the most popular palenque that has survived to this day. It symbolizes the struggle of Afro-Colombian communities for the abolition of slavery, ethnic re-vindication, coexistence, and recognition of cultural diversity in Colombia. 1 In recognition of its intangible cultural heritage and historic significance, this village was declared a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. 2 As the Palenque struggles to meet its basic socio-economic needs, ethnic tourism has emerged as an alternative to bring development to their historically marginalized and discriminated residents. In this case study, we examine issues associated with ethnic tourism planning and development and the economic and socio-cultural changes taking place in the community as a result of increasing attention from tourists, tourism developers, and government officials. Expanding on frameworks by Swain ("Developing Ethnic Tourism") and Yang and Wall (2009) that examined critical areas in ethnic tourism planning, this study discusses important considerations regarding the community's readiness for tourism development, ethnic tourism product, conflict and tensions within the ethnic groups, and cultural equity. A particular consideration will be given to the (re)presentation and gender relations in the production of tourism, through the commodification of the Palenquero women in tourism imagery and marketing that perpetuates pervasive stereotypes about blacks and thus contrasts with Palenquero self-conceptions, as descendants of cimarrones freedom fighters.
Families are one of the most important markets for the tourism industry, yet research about famil... more Families are one of the most important markets for the tourism industry, yet research about family tourism is scant and, moreover, focuses on traditional nuclear families. Very few studies have embraced the diversity of family forms, which includes single parent, extended, same sex, or foster families, among others. The purpose of this study was to explore the travel and tourism potential of a new, growing, and lucrative market segment: the Professional Aunts with No Kids (PANK). This study found that PANKs represent an untapped tourism opportunity in family travel due to the strong bond between aunts and their nieces and nephews that extends to leisure activities, and travel and tourism.
Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Cases, 2014
The evolving role of Destination Management Organizations
(DMO) is highlighted through a case s... more The evolving role of Destination Management Organizations
(DMO) is highlighted through a case study related to accessible tourism development in Monterrey, Mexico. Specifically, it allows the future DMO professional to understand the characteristics, market potential and travel and service needs of the segment of more than one billion people with disabilities in the world, as well as the requirements of an accessible destination. The benefits, training needs and challenges that arise in developing and promoting accessible tourist infrastructure and services for this market segment will be discussed.
This paper traces the history and evolution of sustainable tourism and identifies some critical i... more This paper traces the history and evolution of sustainable tourism and identifies some critical issues and omissions in this and related approaches such as responsible tourism, ecotourism and pro-poor tourism. The academic, institutional and practical intersections of sustainable tourism and responsible tourism are examined. It reveals that important theoretical and practical considerations around well-being, inclusion, and sustainability have been omitted. A critical look at ecotourism reveals additional concerns, such as a cornucopia of guidelines and principles, without clear ethical justifications to support them. At the same time, academics in this domain have been slow to consider the modernist and neoliberal influences shaping ecotourism and sustainable tourism development, such as through the discourse of ecological modernization. We identify some key omissions, such as the missing ‘body’ in sustainable tourism discourse, lack of critical analysis of postcolonial and dependency issues, and propose re-situating ‘sustainable tourism’ within a micro–macro, local-global systems approach informed by a clear framework of justice and ethics.
Journal of Sustainable Tourism (available at http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/bz9tRihCrXczZdkDuQQS/full#.UcnsZpyMJjk)
While a strong knowledge base has developed in sustainable tourism, theoretical links to justice ... more While a strong knowledge base has developed in sustainable tourism, theoretical links to justice and ethics have been slow to emerge at the destination level, especially about fairness, equity and justice for disadvantaged local groups, including poor, minority and indigenous populations. This paper draws upon, and justifies the use of several key philosophical traditions and social-political perspectives on justice to tackle this issue. A case study illustrates a range of justice issues experienced by local Mayan residents in Quintana Roo, Mexico, related to procedural and distributive justice, fairness and equity in the development and marketing of their natural and cultural heritage for tourism, as well as discriminatory and exclusionary practices toward that ethnic minority. Together, theoretical and empirical insights corroborate the need for a justice-oriented framework that addresses the social and cultural well-being of disadvantaged populations, and attempts to ensure that the poor are better off through tourism development and marketing. Following Rawls’ concept of justice, and linked to Fainstein's Just City, a preliminary framework, based on a joint ethic of justice and care, is outlined to guide tourism development, marketing and policy making in the Just Destination and to offer performative resistance to a globalized culture of consumption.
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Papers by Blanca Alejandra Camargo
(DMO) is highlighted through a case study related to accessible tourism development in Monterrey, Mexico. Specifically, it allows the future DMO professional to understand the characteristics, market potential and travel and service needs of the segment of more than one billion people with disabilities in the world, as well as the requirements of an accessible destination. The benefits, training needs and challenges that arise in developing and promoting accessible tourist infrastructure and services for this market segment will be discussed.