Abstract

BRINGAS RABAGO, Nora L.  and  VERDUZCO CHAVEZ, Basilio. La construcción de la frontera norte como destino turístico en un contexto de alertas de seguridad. Región y sociedad [online]. 2008, vol.20, n.42, pp.3-36. ISSN 2448-4849.

Security has become a key factor shaping the preferences of visitors to the Mexico-United States border region. In addition to violence in the Mexican border cities, security alerts issued by the federal or state governments in the United States contribute to create a hostile context for border tourism. This constitutes an important challenge for the social construction of the border region as a safe place for visitors. In this paper we analyze the situation and identify institutional, organizational and economic factors that need to be addressed to create a better image of the border. Despite the fact that security alerts contribute to create an adverse scenario, there are opportunities that could be used to maintain a long term competitiveness of the border as a tourist destination. We suggest that local actors and policy makers could use public policy to overcome the challenges imposed by security alerts.

Keywords : border security; border tourism; competitiveness; U.S.-Mexico border.

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