%A J. Engel
%X This research project is designed to unravel the ways in which tourist place in San Cristóbal is produced for and consumed by international tourists. Earlier research on tourism in the town by American Anthropologist Van den Berghe serves as a basis on which to build this research. He observed ethnic tourism; tourism motivated by the visitor’s search for exotic cultural experiences through interaction with distinctive ethnic groups. He warned for San Cristóbal not to become a Cancún-in-the-mountains; a tourist bubble little connected to the surrounding environment and host-communities, a mere enclave of international tourists.

Since 1992 San Cristóbal nowadays offers tourists a bohemian tourist place as well. It are mainly expats and NGOs who have created this aspect on the tourist place, something which is little produced by governmental actors to international tourists. Tourist place San Cristóbal has been diversified, and it has not become a Cancún-in-the-mountains.
%L theses_frw1640
%T Tourist Place San Cristóbal: A place of international tourists, expats, ladinos and indígenas
%D 2012