The Nayarit State Tourism Secretariat, under the direction of Governor Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero, implemented strategic actions that were vital to what has become a global legacy.
Among these actions, the strengthening and connection of the cultural sector with the tourism and business sectors stands out through the formalization of strategic relationships that have positioned the state as a benchmark for cultural tourism by rescuing, preserving, and disseminating the state’s cultural heritage as an expression of identity, belonging, dignity, and memory of our society.
More than 64 families belonging to the Wixárika, Na’ayeri, O’dam, and Meshikan indigenous peoples, from different locations in the municipalities of Huajicori, Acaponeta, Del Nayar, La Yesca, Tepic, San Blas, and Compostela, joined for rotating monthly periods to staff points of sale and conduct experiential workshops in the Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Puerto Balleto.
As a result, the operation of the artisan rotation model in Islas Marías was consolidated through closer ties, which strengthened the logistics, selection, and conditions of the Nayarit State Tourism Secretariat Calzada del Ejercito and Av. México S/N Col. Centro C.P. 63000 Tepic, Nayarit t311 214 8071 / 74 stay for Nayarit artisans.
More than 170 people from indigenous communities were trained in tourism culture, visitor services, the use of foreign languages, and artisan development, as part of a cross-cutting policy of inclusion, self-sufficiency, and community development.
This model fostered fair trade, promoted responsible cultural tourism, and positioned indigenous art as a central part of the destination’s tourist experience. It changed the lives of participating artisans, allowing them to bring significant income to their communities and connect with consumers to market their pieces. This allowed them not only to expand their art but also to convey pride, visibility, dignity, and promote the active preservation of ancestral knowledge.
The presence of artisans and craftspeople was also strengthened through exhibitions at major events, which allowed for the promotion and exposure of Wixárika culture.
These events include the Tianguis Turístico (Tianguis Turístico) from 2023 to 2025, the Houston Travel Fest, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Mexicanizing the World in Madrid, and Mexicanizing the World in Barcelona. These events also include important collaborations with the renowned master craftsman and promoter of Wixárika art, Cesar Menchaca, with the notable collaboration of the “From Trash to Art” project, which promotes art, culture, and sustainability by harnessing plastic collected from beaches to transform it into works of art and fostering cultural identity in the destination. This effort has dignified its role within the tourism ecosystem, recognizing and revaluing its cultural identity as a destination with a human spirit. This effort has also led to a progressive improvement in the quality of community tourism services and income generation, which has helped prepare it to connect and interact with national and international visitors. After being included on the tentative list in 2004, Nayarit, in coordination with UNESCO, INAH (National Institute of Natural History), SEMARNAT (Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture), CONANP (National Institute of Natural Resources), and INPI (National Institute of Natural Resources) recovered the file and catalyzed its progress, making a major contribution in 2025 to the historic declaration that honors not only our state but all of humanity. This international milestone reflects the Government of Nayarit’s firm commitment to sustainable cultural tourism, the inclusion of indigenous peoples in the development agenda, and the strengthening of identity pride as the foundation for the future. In Nayarit, tourism not only generates income: it transforms lives, honors roots, and connects the world with the sacred.
Source: msn
