Urban Patrimony and Cultural Tourism in Mexico City the Chinampas In Xochimilco and the Historic Center

This article addresses the conflicting relationship between Urban Heritage & Cultural Tourism in Mexico City, with special focus on two emblematic sites recognized as World Heritage. We firstly analyze the dispute on the use of cultural heritage, collective by definition, which has become an important tourist activity (the third largest source of income in the country). Then we discuss the public policies that, since the 1990s, have mainly encouraged tourism, leisure & cultural consumption over the socio-economic problems in those territories. These policies threaten to turn Xochimilco into a thematic Park, & a portion of the Historic Center into an enclave for tourism & new high-income residents. Adapted from the source document.