Aux origines de la « mise en tourisme » du Mexique maya : les archéologues et anthropologues américains comme entrepreneurs transnationaux

Abstract

Archaeologists and anthropologists have played a pivotal role in tourism development in Mexico’s Maya regions. This article explores the parallel history of early research and entrepreneurial innovation at Chichen Itza (Yucatan) and San Cristobal de Las Casas (Chiapas). It traces the origins of today’s mass tourism back to the pioneering work of scientific pioneers at top US universities who identified sites of interest and promoted them, sparking worldwide curiosity for Mayan heritage and culture. These Mayanists established a long-lasting, profitable partnership with Mexican authorities and businessmen. Clearly, they invented an entrepreneurial model for the subsequent commercialization of Mexico’s indigenous past and present, thereby contributing to the creation of Mexico’s brand image