Revitalizing Indigenous Communities and Culture in Morelos
The state of Morelos, Mexico, is moving towards a new tourism model focused on indigenous communities and culture, sectors that lost momentum during the previous administration. This shift aims to reverse the trend where even UNESCO Magic Towns like Tepoztlán became recipients of tourism that strayed from traditions.
Daniel Altafi’s Vision for Culinary Tourism
Daniel Altafi, the state’s Secretary of Tourism, emphasized this change during the presentation of the Sixth Ensemble of Traditional Cooks. He stated, “We are changing the narrative through our culinary richness.” This initiative includes reviving events that strengthen the state’s culinary identity, such as the Ensemble of Traditional Cooks, which hadn’t been held since 2019.
The Sixth Ensemble of Traditional Cooks
Held on May 24 at the Dilao Sculpture Garden in Tepoztlán, the event featured 20 cooks, 16 from Morelos and four from Mexico City. Both entities signed a convention to promote traditional cuisine as a regional development and tourism identity axis.
- The event generated an economic impact of over 3 million pesos and attracted more than 1,800 attendees.
- The format was a fair where cooks and invited artisans sold their dishes and products, fostering economic autonomy while preserving ancestral recipes.
Broader Policy and Collaboration
This initiative is part of a broader public policy coordinated by the Secretariats of Tourism, Culture, and the Institute of Indigenous Peoples. Governor Margarita González requested professionalizing and highlighting traditional cooks. The project includes creating a unified database, improving working spaces like traditional “teciles” (cooking hearths), and linking cooks with local restaurants and banquet services.
The newly active Sustainable Tourism Observatory will provide lasting statistics and records beyond government periods, addressing the issue of lost data with each administration change.
Ley de Turismo Reform
The Tourism Trust, funded by the Hospitality Tax, plays a crucial role in this promotional phase. Morelos is also advancing in the reform of the Tourism Law, allowing platforms like Airbnb to operate without withholding the ISH while traditional hotels contribute 3.75% of each reservation.
However, a legal gap remains.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the new tourism model in Morelos focusing on? The new model emphasizes indigenous communities and culture, sectors that lost momentum previously.
- Who is Daniel Altafi and what is his role? Daniel Altafi is the Secretary of Tourism in Morelos, who envisions a tourism model centered around the state’s culinary richness.
- What is the Sixth Ensemble of Traditional Cooks? It’s an event reviving traditional cooks’ identity and promoting culinary tourism in Morelos.
- What is the broader policy behind this initiative? It’s a coordinated effort by the Secretariats of Tourism, Culture, and the Institute of Indigenous Peoples to professionalize and highlight traditional cooks.
- What is the Sustainable Tourism Observatory? It’s a tool providing lasting statistics and records for Morelos’ tourism sector.
- What changes is the Tourism Law undergoing? The reform allows platforms like Airbnb to operate without withholding the Hospitality Tax, while traditional hotels continue contributing 3.75% of each reservation.
- What legal gap remains in the Tourism Law reform? The specifics of this gap are not mentioned in the provided text.
