We explain what magical towns are and what the objective of this program is. In addition, we explain their characteristics, requirements, and more.
The Mexican Ministry of Tourism encourages and rewards the preservation of traditions.
What are Magical Towns?
The Magical Towns are a group of communities that are found throughout the territory of Mexico and are considered representative of the nation’s cultureThey are towns that preserve ancient indigenous traditions, colonial historical heritage, legacies from the revolutionary era and other unique attributes that make them attractive for tourism development.
The designation of Magical Town has been granted since 2001 by the Ministry of Tourism of Mexico (SECTUR).and encourages and rewards the preservation of traditions and the Mexican historical cultural heritage through an intense national and international tourism promotion campaign.
In this regard, SECTUR and other government institutions monitor compliance with the requirements that towns must present to be included or remain within this program. In this way, The designation of Magical Town is not a permanent title, but the communities must renew it periodically..
Characteristics of the Magical Towns
The Magical Towns share the following characteristics:
- They are communities that preserve the country’s cultural and natural heritage.
- They are selected by the Mexican Ministry of Tourism to promote national and international tourism.
- They preserve indigenous traditions, colonial historical heritage, legacies from the revolutionary era, and their landscapes and biodiversity.
The Magical Towns Program
The Magical Towns Program was implemented for the first time during the government of President Vicente Fox in 2001It was the idea of Eduardo Barroso Alarcón, who at that time held the position of Undersecretary of Tourism Operations.
The first town to be declared a Magical Town was Huasca de Ocampoin the state of Hidalgo. That same year, Mexcaltitán, Tepoztlán and Real de Catorce were added to the list. The total number of towns that currently have the status of Magical Town is 132 localities. and are distributed among the 32 federal entities that make up the country.
Benefits of the Magical Towns Program
The main benefits produced by the Magical Towns Program are:
- Increase in tourism. Tourist influx in the locations selected by the program increased by more than 50%, bringing in more than $400 million per year to the country. Tourism is a key economic activity for Mexico and represents more than 7% of its GDP.
- Increase in employment. The increase in tourists arriving in the Magical Towns generated job opportunities for the communities in various areas, such as gastronomy, hospitality and the sale of handicrafts.
- Revaluation of Mexico’s historical and cultural heritage. By obtaining the designation of Pueblo Mágico, communities receive economic support from the government to enhance their cultural and historical heritage. In this way, they can restore and preserve monuments, historic buildings and cultural traditions.
- Improvement in the quality of services and infrastructure. Thanks to the increase in the number of tourists they receive, the Magical Towns have improved the quantity and quality of the services they offer through public and private investments. This led to improvements in transportation infrastructure, accommodations and restaurants.
The impact of the program at the international level has been so positive that countries such as Spain, El Salvador, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador have requested advice from the Mexican Ministry of Tourism in order to launch local variants of the program in their territories.
Location and population of the Magical Towns
The number of Magical Towns in Mexico varies constantly because new locations are accepted as part of the program and others are withdrawn for not meeting the established requirements.
These towns are located in all the federal entities of Mexico and They have a population of approximately 2.5 million inhabitantsThe states with the largest number of Magical Towns are Jalisco, Puebla and the State of Mexico, with seven each. Baja California and Tabasco, on the other hand, have only one each.
On the other hand, the Magical Towns concentrate more than 3,000 hotels and there are about 35 protected natural areas and 21 archaeological zones.
Many Magical Towns have a majority indigenous population: In Huautla de Jimenez, this is 98.1% of the inhabitants; in Zozocolco de Hidalgo, 93.2%, and in Cuetzalán del Progreso, 80.9%.
Besides, Since their designations as Magical Towns, some localities have considerably increased their populationThis is the case of Chiapa de Corzo and Tulum, which have increased their numbers by 52% and 37%, respectively, in recent years.
Selection criteria and permanence in the program
Some towns are no longer magical towns due to failure to meet requirements.
The Mexican SECTUR requires that communities aspiring to the title of Magical Town meet the following requirements, among others:
- Be within 200 kilometers of a major tourist destination.
- Formally create a Magical Town Committee.
- Have a local tourism development program for the next three years.
- Guarantee health and public safety services for tourists.
- Have connectivity and communication conditions.
- Highlight the symbolic or cultural appeal of the location.
Likewise, populations already designated must annually renew their status on the list. To do so, they are required to:
- Keep the Magical Town Committee active and up to date with its resolutions.
- Carry out the established tourism plans and programs.
- Maintain the logistical, health and security services necessary to protect tourists.
- Increase the quantity and quality of hotel and restaurant offerings.
- Ensure the operation of a statistical information system.
If a town does not meet some of these characteristics, it may lose its Magic Town status and be removed from the program.
Criticism of the program
Unequal territorial distribution is one of the criticisms that the program has received.
The most common criticisms that the Magical Towns Program has received are:
- Its inequality in territorial distribution. The program has been criticized for having favored certain regions of the country in its selection of Magical Towns and leaving aside many other localities with equal or greater tourism potential. This has led to some states or regions having a higher concentration of Magical Towns, while other areas were practically not considered.
- The impact on cultural authenticity. The tourism boom in some Magical Towns has raised concerns about the loss of cultural authenticity and the over-commodification of local traditions. These critics argue that the massive influx of tourists can lead to an adaptation of cultural expressions to satisfy visitors, which could alter the original essence of the community’s culture.
- Lack of adequate infrastructure. Some Magical Towns have experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors without having the necessary infrastructure to meet the demand. This has led to problems related to waste treatment, water shortages and some inefficient public services.
- The environmental impact. Some critics claim that increased tourism may have a negative impact on the local natural environment. Tourist arrivals, infrastructure construction and lack of regulations have contributed to environmental degradation in some communities.
- Economic dependence on tourism. In some cases, the local economy of the Magical Towns became highly dependent on tourism, which can lead to economic difficulties if there is a decrease in the influx of visitors or in crisis situations such as happened with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Lack of ongoing follow-up and support. The lack of follow-up and ongoing support from the government in developing and promoting Magical Towns after receiving the designation has been criticised. Some towns have reported difficulties in accessing resources and advice, which has limited their ability to take full advantage of the potential of the programme.
- The increase in insecurity. The increased circulation of people in the Magical Towns also caused an increase in insecurity. Many critics point out that these towns, which were quiet and did not have these problems, began to suffer more and more robberies, traffic accidents, alcohol and drug consumption, among others.
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References
- Equihua Elias, G., Messina Fernandez, SR, Ramírez-Silva, JP (2015). Magical Towns: a critical view on their impact on sustainable tourism development. New Era Fountain Magazine, 6(22).
- Government of Mexico. (2020). Magical Towns of Mexico. Ministry of Tourism. https://www.gob.mx/
- Government of Mexico, Ministry of Tourism and Magical Towns. (2019). National Strategy for Magical Towns. http://sistemas.sectur.gob.mx/
- Millán, H. and Cota, C. (2021). Magical Towns: poverty and inequality. Tourist dimensions, 5(8), 63-86. https://doi.org/
- Visit Mexico (sf). Magical Towns. https://visitmexico.com/