TOURISTIFICATION IN “LOS FUERTES DE LORETO Y GUADALUPE” PUEBLA, MÉXICO

Abstract

The installment of tourism in urban areas of the global south creates a link to gentrification
processes making it the main vector of socio spatial change of cities. This article explores the
local dynamics generated by touristic public investment in Puebla city, México, in the area
known as Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe and the surrounding neighborhoods that were also
intervened with touristic infrastructure between the years of 2011 and 2018. Under the argument
of a site recovery this area now holds museums, a cable car and a tunnel, that are visited by
tourists and local visitors that contribute to a new use of the space and the representation of it.

This article operates under the hypothesis that there is tourism gentrification in the area, which
sets the tone for an analysis of the works, events and transformations that have gone under way
since the recovery from the residents point of view, and complementing with indicators of socio
spatial change in order to articulate a wide picture of the problem. As we show, the sequence of
these changes demonstrates the existence of new dynamics and the stimulation of others that
were already present in the area aiming towards the revitalization of economic activities and
showing the first results of the touristic intervention.