Desarrollo, identidad cultural y turismo en los oasis de Baja California Sur, México

Abstract

This article provides an analysis of the integration of San Miguel and San José de Comondú to the process of economic globalization lived in Baja California Sur, in northwest Mexico. These rural communities are located in one of the largest oasis in the arid Baja California peninsula and face the risks of cultural commodification from the growth of the real estate and tourism sectors. In a context of diffuse integration to new markets and a weak local community involvement in the initiatives to foster economic growth, without a cultural policy that involves comundeños in defining their own heritage and the benefits of its use, the goal of local development attached to the recent public policies is questionable. We propose that a cultural policy should form the backbone of the development programmes now being elaborated, so as to articulate regional development needs with cultural heritage conservation, seeking to avoid the simple commodification of local traditions and recognizing the role of the local community in (re)defining their cultural values.

Keywords

• local development
• patrimonialization
• comodification
• tourism
• oasis
• Baja California Sur
• Mexico