Mass Tourism And Damage Tourism Essay

Chichen Itza is a celebrated touristry and archeological site in Mexico. It is situated in the Yucatan Peninsula province of Mexico. Chichen Itza was built by the Mayas, one of the oldest bing habitations of Mexico and the universe. The site was besides known “ Uucyabnal ” , which means “ Seven Great Rulers ” ( Henderson,1997 ) . It is located at about 25 stat mis south-east of the metropolis of Merida. It is besides known as one of the most celebrated archeological sites in the universe. In twelvemonth of 1988, it was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Since 2007, when Chichen-Itza ‘s “ El Castillo ” ( Kukulkan Pyramid ) was named in the list as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World after a world-wide ballot, the figure of sing tourers increased by 75 per cent. Now the Mexican touristry board is anticipating to duplicate this tourer figure by 2012. Almost 2.5 million tourers visited Chichen ltza in 2009 ( Mexico touristry statistics, 2010 ) .

The pyramid of Kukulkan, the Feathered Serpent God ( besides known as Quetzalcoatl to the Toltecs and Aztecs ) is the largest and most of import ruin construction at Chichen Itza. The old Spaniards ( Mexico was ruled by Spain in yesteryear ) called it El Castillo, which means the Castle. However, the pyramid does non look like a palace and in old times it was used for spiritual and astronomical intents.

This legendary ninety-foot tall pyramid was built during the 11th to 13th centuries. The basic construction is based upon the old pyramid ( Barkin, 2000 ) . The architecture of the pyramid shows some specific information about the old Mayan calendar, it is straight linked to the solstices and equinoxes. Harmonizing to equinoxes two times a twelvemonth there is an semblance of a serpent, which is created by the Sun, the pyramid has a set of 91 stairss each side, which when linked together with the shared measure of the phase at the top, entire 365 stairss which is declarative of the figure of yearss in a twelvemonth.

The nucleus ball tribunal was the biggest ball tribunal of those times, the size of the ball tribunal is 166 ten 68 metres and the sides are lined with sculptures of ball participants ( similar to the game of hoops ) . El Caracole ( the cardinal pyramid ) , or the Snail, is a unit of ammunition edifice with a writhing stairway that served as an observatory. The pyramid contained assorted instruments to assist find of import day of the months and inside informations in the Mayan calendar. Particularly, the equinox and the solstice were of import in position of uranology. An interesting and celebrated fact by the Mayan calendar is December 21, 2012 as this is the last twenty-four hours of the Earth which is besides depicted as “ Judgment Day ” ( Tencati, 2007 ) . This site is unfastened about every twenty-four hours of the twelvemonth during the hours of 8 am to 5 autopsy. There is a light and sound show performed at 7 pm every twenty-four hours to pull tourers. Research says, this visible radiation and sound show is really harmful for Chichen Itza in position of sustainability.

Management issues at the site

1. Mass Tourism and Damage

1.1 Current and Future of Mass Tourism

Since the late 1930s touristry has grown worldwide. Due to the fact that after World War II western people were important in presenting free clip and leisure activities to the working category, accordingly there is more spending money for vacations ( Judd & A ; Fainstein, 1999 ) . This phenomenon has been the major cause in the increasing volume of touristry in Mexico. In the book “ Archaeological Tourism ” Walker ( 2009 ) refers to four H ‘s of cultural or autochthonal touristry: home ground, history, handcrafts and heritage researched by Valene Smith ( 1996 ) : home ground means the geographic scene and implicit in platform for the visit. History implies post-contact dealingss between Westerners and Aboriginal groups. Handicrafts frequently are created for keepsakes and made from local goods, which are comparative to the market demands of touristry. Last, heritage refers to the organic structure of cognition and accomplishments associated with human endurance in footings of single values and beliefs. In this instance, the touristry interaction of Chichen Itza offered all of these elements and more.

Chichen Itza and its dominating characteristics have become the symbol of Mexico for illustration ; the pyramids of Kukulcan and El Catillo. The accomplishments of the Mayan Riviera in uranology are besides widely known in the rhythms of the celestial spheres viz. in the Maya calendar. As a consequence, there is an inflow of visitants to Mexico who are clocking their travels, to co-occur with astronomical phenomena.

Furthermore during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the pyramid presents a in writing word picture of darkness and visible radiation, typifying twenty-four hours and dark. The Sun of the late afternoon creates the semblance of a serpent crawling easy down the northern stairway ( The University of North Carolina, 2011 ) , big crowds of visitants come to the site to see this spectacle. Juan Jose Marti Pacheco, a secretary for the Tourist Promotion of Yucatan has identified the figure of visitants to Chichen Itza has increased by 75 per centum since being named a admiration of the universe ( New 7 Wonders, 2010 ) . In add-on the figure of tourers expected to see Chichen Itza will duplicate by 2012 ( Lyn M, 2008 ) .

In response to this inflow of tourers for the close hereafter, the World Heritage Alliance ( an international organisation which is responsible for back uping World Heritage preservation, sustainable touristry and local economic development for communities in and around UNESCO World Heritage sites ) . Is working with the Secretary of Tourism for Mexico and the Mexican Tourism Board, along with the establishing spouses of the World Heritage Alliance, Expedia, Inc. ( NASDAQ: EXPE ) and the United Nations Foundation, have extended more partnership to advance and continue World Heritage sites particularly Chichen Itza through 2012 ( Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Mexico, 2007 ) .

1.2 Carrying Capacity Management

The impact of over touristry is besides related to the natural resources in Chichen Itza . Many archeologists are concerned about the public effects of their research and Restoration in heritage sites and are doing of import attempts to supply archaeologically and environmentally responsible, sustainable, and educationally sound parts to local communities and national authoritiess ( Walker, 2009 ) .

In peculiar the responses of local authorities, the Nature Conservancy and the Rainforest Alliance have been working to construct capacity for preservation by working with local communities and advancing sustainable supports that support forest wellness and biodiversity preservation in the Maya Forest part ( Ayen, 2007 ) . On the other manus the planning for the building of H2O direction in the ancient metropolis of Chichen Itza takes into history practical considerations for the demands of a turning population, every bit good as forestalling deluging during the rainy season that may be the cause of architecture prostration ( Rocio, Osorio & A ; Schmidt, 2009 ) .

1.3 Security in Mass Tourism

The security concerns divide into two issues. First is the security of their ain stuff patrimony such as artefacts on show in a museum, memorials and archeological stuffs. Second is the safety and comfort of visitants. Breglia ( 2006 ) explained that preventative steps at that site included the installing of ropes or ironss to help in mounting certain constructions and to forbid public entree to others. The steps of the construction are narrow bridgeheads and besides hard for visitants to voyage even under dry conditions. Furthermore, there is no an official policy to warn visitants against mounting, even when the lightest rains turn mounting into a slippery and unsafe project.

Although touristry is the lone merchandise where the consumer must travel to the beginning to devour, this is more evident in the Maya universe where major archeological finishs viz. Chichen Itza in Mexico, expected in the order of over million visitants a twelvemonth ( Meethan, Anderson & A ; Miles, 2009 ) . However, mentioning concerns over safety after assorted incidents of decease and serious hurt that visitants have sustained over the old ages at Chichen Itza , the National Institute of Anthropology and History ( INAH ) in Mexico has closed down most of the popular memorials to work out the tourer traffic job on the site ( Cyark, 2011 ) . For case, El Castillo, the chief pyramid of Chichen Itza was closed after a tourer fell to her decease in 2006. In add-on, the Jaguar Throne room was besides closed down in 2007.

2. Sellers

The following job on this site is the local sellers, who try to sell local trade carved rock, inexpensive monetary value Mexican fabric and nutrient. This site has more than 500 sellers in the corridor of the pyramid. These sellers create some large fusss for tourers and direction because they try to up sale their vending points to the tourers. The more of import thing is that these sellers have unstructured stores in the protected country of the pyramid. During the season, this figure reaches in the 1000s. The ocular entreaty of site is affected by their tabular arraies and covers in the park. Almost every tourer is affected by these sellers and their push merchandising schemes.

The federal authorities has developed a new program for these sellers. The manager of Regional Programs on site, Juan Carlos Arnau says, “ There is a undertaking to construct a infinite outside the archeological zone for the sale of trades and to offer complementary productive options for the local communities ” . This program is in advancement with coordination of the province authorities of Yucatan and diverse local municipal authoritiess. But yet, there is no defined day of the month to get down this undertaking but it is targeted to complete by the twelvemonth 2012.

3. Economic Inequality

Tourism in Chichen Itza is a chief beginning of economic growing in the Yucatan Peninsula. Harmonizing to the book ‘Population, Development and Environment on the Yucatan ‘ Lutz, Prieto and Sanderson ( 2000 ) identified that the following 20 old ages of touristry in Yucatan Peninsula, touristry will be the most dynamic economic activity on Yucatan peninsula in both the short and average footings. With the increasing touristry and population, it might be a chief factor which affects environmental jobs straight. Therefore ecotourism should be a right technique to equilibrate both a large sum of tourers and environment. Due to that fact that ecotourism is an accessible ‘Engine of economic growing ‘ which without overly heavy investing can assist a state bring forth foreign exchange and added to this is the hope it will be green and sustainable ( Barrow, 2006 ) .

Infrastructure Development

Improvements have been made in Yucatan since 1990, for illustration ; the international airdrome and main road transit system. The intents of this pattern is to supply a more accessible gateway to the antediluvian Maya site of Chichen Itza and besides to the new maquila workss opening around Valladolid ( Baklanoff & A ; Moseley, 2008 ) . At this clip, the chief causeway under building purposes to entree straight and indirectly to the centre of the Chichen Itza site, integrated by the Group of the Castle and the Group of the Thousand Columns, both built on top of the Great Leveling ( Ruiz, 2009 ) . Chichen Itza has become the link of this great city, and the rigorous internal political control that existed through this sophisticated web.

4. Land Ownership

Chichen Itza sold ( A struggle between belongings proprietor and authorities is finished )

It is a great enigma for the 1000000s of visitants around the universe who trip to the site each twelvemonth that, Chichen Itza has been in private owned for the past 500 old ages. On March 29, 2010, Hans Jurgen Thies Barbachano, proprietor of the 200 acre belongings on which some of the universe ‘s most identifiable memorials stand, EL Castillo, the ball tribunal and the temple of warriors, decided to sell his properties to the province of Yucatan for $ 220 million Mexican ( $ 17.6 million US ) .

This belongings war ended after more than a decennary of argument between the belongings proprietor and the province federal authorities. Assorted stakeholders such as the sellers and the local people have been affected by this determination.

Harmonizing to an interview of Barbachano Gomez Rul, brother of the belongings proprietor during the old ages of 2005 and 2006, the proprietor has received a certain per centum of tourer tickets sold. The proprietor has his ain entryway gate and has developed his ain hotel in forepart of the pyramid named the Maya land resort ( Alright, 2000 ) .

The proprietor said in interviews that he was non opposed to selling Chichen Itza, he merely wanted a sensible monetary value, which he estimated at $ 250 million in US dollars which was a immense sum. Harmonizing to the manager of INAH at the clip, Alfonso Maria Y Fields, INAH made a formal offer for pyramid and that all archaeological zone of $ 8 million Mexican, but once more received no response from the proprietor. By the terminal of 2006 the proprietor was dead and his Chichen Itza belongings belonged to his grandson, Han Jurgen Thies Barbachano. The new proprietor had accepted the new trade of the authorities and Chichen Itza was sold to the province authorities for $ 220 million Mexican peso or $ 17.6 million US dollar, on 29 March 2010. Although, the proprietor is still waiting to have the money, the chief parties signed a purchase contract in forepart of a imperativeness conference.

Jorge Esma Bazan, manager of Yucatan ‘s Culture, illustrated a 10-point policy program for the hereafter of this archaeological site. This policy ordinance explained future work with cooperation INAH. This contract besides has some points to discourse with sellers and seek to happen out a solution for them. The policy is focused on the creative activity more chances for the local Mayan people. The policy besides illustrates future major undertakings for the province authorities in the field of research and Restoration of Chichen Itza.

Current Management Practices at the site

To back up the turning touristry of Chichen Itza in 2012, the authorities has to pull off the chief issue that is aggregate touristry. Dr. Steven Fly ( 2011 ) , the writer of Pluging Yucatan into the Tourism Circuit in Yucatan Living Online Magazine, references Plan Maetro Chichen Itza ( Master program of Chichen Itza ) 2011 that this Yucatan touristry undertaking is portion of an incorporate program with the archeological sites, two new attractive forces ( Museum of the Maya World in Merida and Palace of the Maya Civilization ) and the circuit of substructure.

With the big figure of tourers predicted for the hereafter, Chichen Itza will non be the lone topographic point to meet this fast touristry in the Yucatan. New attractive forces have been created for this ground. The Palace of the Maya Civilization is a museum which is proposed in Yaxcaba, located about 10 kilometres from Chichen Itza . The museum reveals the beginnings of the Maya universe and includes a 300-seat IMAX theatre and gift store, a courtyard and out-of-door amphitheatre. Museum of the Maya World in Merida closed to the Siglo XXI convention Centre on December 21, the important day of the month is from the belief of the Maya calendar, which is the terminal of the universe in 2012. Furthermore the authorities is besides making the tourer composite in Rio Largartoes metropolis with authorities owned resorts and hotels. Equally good as a tourer intelligence information system offered by the province authorities will present tourers to the new attractive forces and will help the province in a portion of capacity direction.

The circuit of substructure consists of the web of four characteristics in the peninsula are archeology, colonial, ecological and coastal circuits. These tourer circuits are redesigned and rebuilt roadways. In portion of substructure in the Mayan World will be started with betterments and remodeling of the Chichen Itza International Airport in Kaua. Next undertaking will be the redesign and redevelopment of the Malecon in Progreso which is a major port that will hold an addition in traffic due to several sail ship lines each twelvemonth. Finally, there is the building of cross peninsular trenes rapidos ( fast train ) named “ Bullet Train ” . The major path will be across the Yucatan Peninsula, from Merida to Chichen Itza and Valladolid.

Recommendations for Sustainable Management

The province authorities should restrict the Numberss of tourers on the site per twenty-four hours and set up a timetable by on-line reserve for group Tourss and separately.

To heighten security on the site, the authorities has to supply more substructures, for illustrations ; the international public marks, the Gatess environing the site and general installations.

Due to the mass touristry, the impact may take to pollution jobs in the hereafter. Thus the authorities should fix for waste direction.

Local authorities and INAH should back up the vicinity by purchasing the art works and decline buying merchandises from endangered animate beings or being offered illegal merchandises. Furthermore, most of autochthonal merchandises can be value added when displayed in art galleries and art museums.

Government should cut down the trading hours of the site. Currently its unfastened 365 yearss dwelling 10 hours each twenty-four hours. Possibly it should be 5 yearss a hebdomad for touristry sustainability.

Local authorities and INAH can purchase this art and can sell to tourers in proper art gallery or can demo in an art museum which is good for both, sellers and authorities. Tourist can besides bask this art in meaningful mode and can bask trip without sellers hassle.

Local Craft institute can be an option to back up this art and sellers to educate the locals and sellers.

Decision

With support and publicity by the Mexican authorities, Chichen Itza has become one of the globally well-known sites as the symbol of Mexico. Chichen Itza is besides faced with many direction issues such as mass touristry, sellers, economic inequality and land ownership since being one of Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. As a consequence, the province authorities has to put the budget in substructure, new attractive forces and adjustments to meet an increasing figure of tourers everyday. However, the side-effect of this pattern leads to excessive touristry accessing the chief attractive forces. Therefore, the authorities should get down restricting the figure of tourers allowed at the site. Due to the fact that uncontrolled touristry will damage bing constructions, new substructure and nature. Equally good as the authorities needs to happen the solution for the waste job from over-visitation in the close hereafter.