Mexico unleashes cultural heritage

thenews.mx

BY ALBERTO VALDERRÁBANO
The News

Mexico has a rich cultural heritage that includes customs, traditions, fiestas, food, carnivals, traditional garb and indigenous communities.

One of the most enduring treasures that Mexico has is its cities, from the grand urban areas to towns far removed from modern civilization. These places will continue to pass on to future generations that indelible energy that is Mexico.

The Tourism Secretariat defines Pueblos Mágicos as localities with symbolic characteristics, history, legends, a routine character or transcendental facts. In general, the magic that emanates from each of its socio-cultural manifestations that become an important element in the promotion of national tourism.

The Pueblos Mágicos program contributes to re-imagine the significance of a set of towns that always played a part in the collective imagination of the nation. The towns represent traditions, which are emblematic of important eras that draw national and international visitors.

CHARACTERISTICS

The elements that must be present in order for a town to become part of the Pueblos Mágicos program are that it must be near a tourist area or a large urban center, be accessible by highway and have important cultural, historical or religious value.

The common denominator is that all the towns in the program have played a significant role in the national tradition. They should have enclaves that house cultural treasures, spaces where the routine is resplendent in colors and places that the quotidian life inspires passion through its foods, aromas and are capable of captivating the visitor’s spirits.

Travelers should be able to discover the traditions that the streets of these towns hold. Tourists are transported by the landscape, buildings and homes, most of which have tile roofs, and the facades represent different eras.

The residents of Pueblos Mágicos are committed to tourism. The government reports that they benefit from the flow of tourism by becoming excellent hosts for the national and international travelers.
These enchanted places have narrow streets, peculiar construction and in the majority of cases the residents have deep rooted traditions. These towns, much to the delight of national and international tourists, dot the national landscape.

THE FIRST PUEBLO MÁGICO

The Secretary of Tourism and Culture in Hidalgo Roberto Pedraza said that the program spurs economic development, strengthens the sense of belonging for residents and increased employment for locals.

Hidalgo has the honor of having the first Pueblo Mágico, Huasca de Ocampo. The town was nominated in 2001 and has the famous Basalt Prisms located within its boundaries. Three other towns rich in tradition, history and culture in Hidalgo are also part of the program. Mineral del Chico, with the national park El Chico, Mineral del Monte, with its traditional mining pastry and Huichapan, a historical place where you find El Chapitel, the place where the first “Grito de Independencia” was given by revolutionaries Ignacio López Rayón and Andrés Quintana Roo.

Pedraza said that petitions to incorporate Villa de Tezontepec, Tecozautla, Omitlán de Juárez and Chapuluacán in the Pueblos Mágicos program have been submitted.



NEW MAGIC

Presently there are 83 Pueblos Mágicos in the country. After not registering any new towns in the past two years, in 2015 the Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) opened the competition for new applications and provided a new set of criteria.

The federal agency received 74 applications from towns wishing to be incorporated into the program. Once the requirements have been met, Sectur officials will tour the towns to ensure they meet the standards of the program.

All of the 83 towns presently in the program will be visited and evaluated in 2015. At the end of the year Sectur will announce the results of its evaluation and decide if the towns will continue to form part of the Pueblos Mágicos program.

Since the founding of the program in 2001, Sectur said that indirectly, 5 million people have been employed in various areas of the tourism related to the program.

MILLION INVESTMENT

The federal government announced a 500 million peso ($33.5 million) investment to reactivate the Pueblos Mágicos program. However, it said that the towns themselves are responsible for the sustainability and long-range development.

The 83 towns already enrolled in the program will begin to run all of their telephone, cable and power lines underground. This project will commence with the most emblematic towns with the highest rate of tourism. With the cables underground, the image of the towns is expected to greatly improve.
During this remodeling of the towns, free Wi-Fi access will be installed in all public plazas so that tourists may further enjoy their stay.

The 2014-2018 National Infrastructure Program has a budget of 4 billion pesos to cover costs for the Pueblos Mágicos program.

STRATEGIC SECTOR

The Pueblos Mágicos program represents an integral part of the tourism sector. It generates 8.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 6.8 percent of the national population.
The Tourism Secretariat stated that the Pueblos Mágicos program should be analyzed to identify the strengths, weaknesses and areas of progress.

Once the analysis has been completed, the towns may serve as a tool for community development. They will strengthen social participation to create an agenda with institutions and government agencies to re-evaluate the land and work toward environmental sustainability, Sectur reported.

Mexico to Dish Out Awards for Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants

laht.com

MEXICO CITY – Mexico will succeed Peru as the country where the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America will be honored with awards from the British magazine Restaurant, both this year and next, the Mexican presidency said Friday in a communique.

The Mexican presidency called the awards ceremony “an event that contributes to raising the profile of restaurants in the Latin American region, and of showcasing its culinary diversity.”

“Mexico is a leading culinary destination in Latin America, Mexican restaurants are among the best in the world and its designation as the scene of this important event reflects its standing in gastronomical matters,” the note said.

Restaurant magazine has awarded prizes internationally for years, during which Spain’s El Bulli under Ferran Adria and El Celler de Can Roca of the Roca brothers have been standouts.

Latin America’s first two ceremonies for Restaurant awards were held in Lima in 2013 and 2014.

Winner of the first edition was the Peruvian restaurant Astrid y Gaston, under chef Gaston Acurio.

D.O.M., directed by Alex Atala of Brazil came in second, and Pujol run by Mexico’s Enrique Olvera was third on a list whose top 10 were dominated by Peru, with Central under Virgilio Martinez in fourth place and Pedro Miguel Shiaffino’s Malabar in seventh.

In the second edition, held last September, the host country took first and second places, while D.O.M. from Brazil was third.

Since 2010, traditional Mexican cooking has been on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Canirac to Print Gastronomical Guide in English and Spanish

by Maureen Dietrich

5 Nov 14  

mazmessenger.com

 

The Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Restaurantes y Alimentos Condimentados of Mazatlán (Canirac) will present its second annual restaurant and food guide at the November 27 national Canirac meeting in Mazatlán.

However, this year the 60 page publication including 150 restaurants affiliated with Canirac will be in English as well as Spanish.

Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas, President of Canirac Mazatlán, explained they want to promote typical local dishes to Americans and Canadians visiting the port this winter and to cruise ship passengers. The first edition of the guide “Saborea Mazatlán” was printed in 2013 with a run of 20,000 copies.

At the annual Canirac meeting here in November they are going to propose they approach Unesco to name Sinaloa cuisine as a Cultural Heritage as has been done in other States such as Michoacán, Puebla and Yucatán.

 (from Noroeste)

Unesco heritage designation sought for Mexico’s national dog

Horacio Almanza and a World Heritage dog breed.CNN

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico News Daily

Monday, August 4, 2014

 

Mexico already enjoys a prominent place in the world in terms of World Heritage Sites. Indeed, it has more such designations than any other country in the Americas, and ranks sixth in the world with such historied places as Palenque, Oaxaca and 30 more.

Now there’s a campaign under way to add another, but this time it’s a dog.

Horacio Almanza, a geneticist and molecular biologist, believes that the Mexican canine species xoloitzcuintle, or xolo for short, should be considered for World Heritage status by Unesco.

Almanza wants to see the original species preserved and studied to be able to identify the characteristics of the dog. Among those characteristics are its short face, its gait and absence of hair, and the three sizes in which it comes.

But in many countries the species is being crossed with other breeds, such as the German shepherd and the greyhound, and the offspring are born with hair. Around the world, says Almanza, the xolo is well regarded.

“People like it, it is seen as being rare and different.”

The world’s largest breeding kennel is Criadero Caliente in Tijuana, where businessman Jorge Hank Rhon has some 600 xoloitzcuintles. His dogs have won 150 world championships and 250 international titles, says kennel director Ricardo Forastieri González, who describes the breed as having “a marvelous character.”

The breed, which is the national dog of Mexico, is believed to have existed here for more than 3,000 years. It was considered sacred by the Aztecs, who regarded the meat as a delicacy.

The xolo won’t be found on dinner tables today, but it is valued as a good companion.

Source: Diario Presente (sp), Milenio (sp)

National Geographic Spotlights the Marietas Islands

Riviera Nayarit CVB

banderasnews.com
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July 29, 2014

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - The Marietas Islands, located along the coast of the Pacific Ocean facing the shores of the Riviera Nayarit and geographically situated within the State of Nayarit, were highlighted during an exploration conducted by National Geographic, which resulted in a post with an ample spectrum of readers.

The expedition took place on July 19th headed by anthropologist Dr. Kenneth Broad, who was recognized by National Geographic as the top in his field in 2011. Broad was one of the special guests at the Second Annual Punta Mita Beach Festival; the author of the content was Erick Pinedo, who published the piece on July 21st.

The post was originally created for the website and the Spanish-language version of NatGeo magazine, but it was also published on social media accounts within the different departments of this conglomerate, which has resulted in thousands and possibly millions of impressions for the destination.

Just 48 hours after publishing, the post already had eight thousand "likes" in the Traveler section on the website. During this same time period both Facebook accounts for NatGeo Magazine in Spanish (with more than five million followers) and NatGeo Traveler (with more than 1 million followers) already had over 300 shares each per account.

From the article: "Thanks to the detachment of a part of the dome of the caves, the islands have created small beautiful beaches in the middle of the ocean. The crystal clear waters, which sometimes resemble the Caribbean sea, make this a special place to go diving or snorkeling and enjoy the colorful marine life that abounds here, including brilliant fish, dolphins and turtles, among others."

The Marietas Islands are a Bioshpere Reserve Recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and have become an icon representing the Riviera Nayarit around the world.

The post, titled "Descubriendo Las Islas Marietas" ("Discovering the Marietas Islands"), can be seen HERE.

Canirac Seeks Cultural Heritage Designation for Sinaloa Cuisine

by Maureen Dietrich

4 Jul 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

Gastronomically speaking, Sinaloa has everything to obtain the recognition.

The national chamber of the Industria Restaurantera y Alimentos Condimentados (Canirac) will fight to have Sinaloa cuisine recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), said Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas, president of the restaurant organization.

The project is an offshoot of the recognition of Mexican food internationally, in particular diverse dishes from specific States. Velarde Cárdenas wants to include Sinaloa in that category given, he says, the wide culinary tradition and original cuisine of Sinaloa.

He told media the national Canirac delegation is in agreement with the proposal and it will be at the center of discussions at the next meeting of national representatives to take place in Mazatlán in September or October this year.

Gastronomically speaking, Velarde Cárdenas pointed out Sinaloa has everything to obtain the recognition but it will take work and coordination. The Sinaloa Secretary of Tourism has already made some advances in the process and would be interested in taking up the project, he added.

In the meantime, the organization is continuing with its plan to establish a gastronomy route in cities along the Northern Economic Corridor.

Canirac Mazatlán will participate in Durango city´s national fair beginning July 18 and ending August 10, where it will display the best of Mazatlán cuisine, principally dishes based on seafood, to entice tourists to vacation in the port. Velarde Cárdenas said they expect 20 or 30 Mazatlán restaurants to participate. 

(from Noroeste)

UNESCO Names 2 World Heritage Sites in Mexico

laht.com

MEXICO CITY – The Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul in Mexico’s Campeche state have been named “mixed natural and cultural” World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, the National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH) said.

The World Heritage Committee added the two Mexican sites to the World Heritage List at its meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday.

This is the first mixed site in Mexico added by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to its list, the INAH said.

“The city played a key role in the history of this region for more than 12 centuries and is characterized by well-preserved structures providing a vivid picture of life in an ancient Maya capital,” UNESCO said in a statement posted on its Web site.

The area added to the list is in the southern part of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and is considered the second-largest stretch of tropical forest in the Americas and the best protected, covering 723,000 hectares (1.78 million acres).

The Ancient Maya City of Calakmul was added to the World Heritage Sites list in 2002.

Mexico to Oversee Unesco’s International Hydrological Program

laht.com

MEXICO CITY – Mexico has been chosen to head the inter-governmental council that oversees UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program, or IHP, officials said.

The director of Mexico’s National Water Commission, or Conagua, David Korenfeld, was named the council’s president for the next two years, Mexico’s Environment Secretariat and Foreign Relations Secretariat said in a joint statement.

In his acceptance speech, Korenfeld said “improving the management and administration of water resources requires evolving toward a new stage of greater synergy between decision makers and specialists to combine theory and practice.”

Although great strides have been made in the water sector, significant challenges remain, including integral basin management, application of the human right to water and water security and sustainability in the context of climate change, he said.

Korenfeld said, therefore, that he will work to strengthen IHP’s national committees through mechanisms that ensure they have the necessary funds for their optimal and self-sufficient development.

He also said efforts will be carried out to strengthen international ties in the technical and scientific area and consolidate cooperation schemes.

These actions will enable a confluence of science, technology and public policy aimed at reducing the social and environmental vulnerability of emerging and developing countries amid the challenges of climate change.

The inter-governmental council is in charge of planning and defining the priorities of the IHP and supervising its execution.

The IHP is the only inter-governmental program of the U.N. system devoted to water research, water-resources management, and education and capacity building.

Tourism needs cultural promotion

Friday, 30 May 2014 01:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thenews.com.mx

THE NEWS

Even though Mexico has a rich culture and a vast and diverse culinary tradition, only 3 percent of foreign tourists come to the country with the objective of learning more about this the nation’s cultural and culinary heritage, hotel entrepreneur Rafael García González said Thursday.

During acrimony in which García González announced that he would be putting his hat in the ring for president of Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels (AMHM), he said that there is a need for a more aggressive campaign to instill among visitors a desire to learn about Mexican culture.

He pointed out that Mexico ranks sixth worldwide in the number of World Heritage Sites and that Mexican cuisine has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of all humanity.

Mexico has the most important hotel infrastructure in Latin America.

According to García González, the size and value of Mexican hotels puts it in an excellent position to compete for the global cultural tourism market.

Mexican cuisine is in renaissance

Monday, 16 December 2013 00:10 
THE NEWS

Mexico’s traditional food has attracted more domestic and international interest since it was included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010, Catherine Good, a researcher with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), said on Sunday.

Good’s comments were made at the “Sabores de Nuestro Saber” (“Flavors of Our Knowledge”) contest in Bogotá, which awards research into the culinary traditions of Latin America.

“The impact has been very big,” she said. “Now the whole world wants to know more about traditional culinary experiences at the personal, family and community level.”

According to Good, since its 2010 recognition by UNESCO, there is now a renewed interest in traditional food among Mexico’s urban population, who increasingly want to learn about how the ingredients they use every day are produced.

“There’s a great appreciation for the sophistication of cooking in rural areas, because it’s part of a pre-Hispanic cultural relationship that also incorporates elements from the colonial period,” she said. “Traditional cooking is a creative process in Mexican culture.”

She went on to say that there has been a rise in the number of students at culinary schools who specialize in Mexican food, including professionals in the tourism and communication sectors, which she added shows sufficient interest to deepen research in the country’s culinary traditions.

“In Mexico, chef training is traditionally designed to teach Italian, French, Chinese or Japanese cuisine, without showing interest in traditional Mexican food. This has changed,” she said, adding that Mexican cuisine is valued by all social sectors of the country, without political, ideological and religious distinctions.

Beyond an increase in domestic interest in Mexico’s culinary traditions, Good said that there is also increased interest abroad in the country’s food, which is usually misrepresented by Tex-Mex cooking instead of authentic Mexican food.

“The entire world has had a great interest since the UNESCO declaration,” she said, adding, “The UNESCO declaration has also driven other countries to value their own culinary traditions, to examine what they create in their own kitchens.”

Good said that the 2010 UNESCO declaration has boosted a movement across Latin America to recover the traditional cuisines of each country.

“We have a continental movement, and it’s therefore important for all of the countries of Latin America to work more closely together to understand and exchange experiences relating to each of our traditional cuisines.”