Motivations, and Challenges of Wooden Handicraft Production for a World Heritage Site: Maya Community Perspectives

Tourism activities at Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Yucatán, México have opened up opportunities for wooden handicraft production and commerce. Scholars have widely explored the impacts of tourism and handicraft production in Pisté, the central tourist town close to Chichén Itzá, but little has been done to explore handicraft production from the perception of Maya artisans from the surrounding communities. The purpose of this study is to explore artisans’ perceptions of handicraft production as a base of knowledge for understanding how handicraft production relates to livelihoods and natural resources management in a Maya community. The consideration of motivations and challenges among artisans might help to implement development policies that fulfill artisans’ needs, improve their livelihoods, and promote the use of sustainable wood carving species.