La Petatera and its Living Treasures

A Project to Promote Cultural Tourism in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26512/rev.cenario.v13i1.60826

Keywords:

Living treasures, cultural heritage, tourism products

Abstract

For over 150 years, the Charro-Bullfighting Festivals in honor of Saint Philip of Jesus, patron saint of the state of Colima, have been held in Villa de Álvarez, Colima. The Petatera, a temporary bullring in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico, represents a unique intangible cultural heritage, built annually by the tabladeros (bullring builders), guardians of ancestral techniques using local materials such as logs, ropes, and petates (woven mats). This project, "The Petatera and its Living Treasures," seeks to promote municipal identity through sustainable cultural and tourism products. Inspired by the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) and the Living Human Treasures program, it proposes a program of intergenerational transmission, workshops, and ethical documentation to preserve this knowledge. For tourism, the initiative involves designing tourism product proposals that integrate UNWTO guidelines for memorable experiences, with visitor limits and community benefits. This approach avoids over-commercialization, promoting social cohesion and resilience to technological change, and positioning La Petatera as a global model of living heritage.

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Published

2026-02-23

How to Cite

Zavala Cordero, M., Amaya Molinar, C. M., & Schmidt Cornejo, N. E. C. (2026). La Petatera and its Living Treasures: A Project to Promote Cultural Tourism in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico. Cenário: Revista Interdisciplinar Em Turismo E Território, 13(1), e-60826. https://doi.org/10.26512/rev.cenario.v13i1.60826

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