From Resources to Ruins: Perpetual Plundering and Cultural Tourism in Latin America

The domination and exploitation of Latin America by the West are well-established within global studies and anthropology. Tourism studies further analyze a wide range of related subjects in the region. Despite this, there is a notable gap in the literature concerning cultural commodification and commercialization through tourism. To this end, this paper analyzes how early colonialism and imperialism led to cultural tourism in Latin America. Economic and social imperialism has led to employment and economic deficits that have been met by the ever-growing cultural tourism industry. Specifically in Latin America, cultural tourism has enabled the longevity of some “dying” cultures while employing those most vulnerable to marginalization. Ultimately, the impacts of globalization and capitalism must be analyzed to understand the extent of cultural commodification and tourism.