TITLE:
Categorization of Cancun Host Community as a New Model to Build Cultural Identity
AUTHORS:
Lucia Abreu-Rangel, Diana Sanchez-Estrada, Angelina Gatica-Santamaria, Karla Landa-Acosta, Deheny Torrealba-Tinoco
KEYWORDS:
Host Community, Cultural Identity, Destination, Migration, Sustainability, and Categorization
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.11 No.11,
November
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: This qualitative research studies Cancun as a tourist destination and its
community, assuming that the tourist identity is formed by its host. Cancun has
struggled with migration since its founding, as people came to seek new work
opportunities; such migration led to the generation of cultural diversity, and
the absence of a perceptible cultural identity. In addition, this study aims to
identify the cultural identity of the host community in Cancun as well as who
integrates it. This study developed a theoretical framework of concepts for the
community, with heterogeneous groups divided by 1) host
community, 2) natives, 3) migrants, and 4) residents, which aligned with the factors of time of residence,
occupation, and origin, resulted in the structure of the Cancun community. The
categorization of the community will allow an analysis and proposal of the
host’s knowledge in a second phase. The outcome will allow a cultural identity
model, contributing to the internal branding of the destination.