PROCEEDINGS | Scientific Symposium
quake in September 1, 2017, there was a significant reduction in the agricultural sector and in the economy
of the communities where these edifications are located, making the tourism their main income. Due to the
effort they invested to position the Talavera handcrafts from Puebla as World Heritage by the UNESCO in
2019 the touristic activity has increased in that area, placing it as an economic source in the country, with a
contribution of the 11.1% of their earnings in 2019. Even though Morelos has the biggest amount of Monasteries
on their region, this only adds up to 8.1% of the economy of the country.
The past period January - November 2019, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported
an increase of the touristic arrival with 405,451 visitors more than in the same period of 2018, which
means an increase of 1.7%.
From this figure, it has been identified that the total number of foreign tourists only corresponds to 22.7%
of the tourist activity in the country. Most of the tourists arrived from the United States with an approximate
flow of 58.2%, followed by Canada with 12.8%, the European Union with 10.9%, being the United Kingdom
more constant with 3.2%, South America with 10.8%, mainly from Colombia with 2.9% and Argentina
with 2.0%. It should be noted, that the vast majority of tourists visit the coastal areas rather than the central
and historical areas of the country, so Morelos and Puebla have a minimum flow of tourism. In 2018, the visitors
to the historical and archeological areas of the country represented only a profit of 24.4 million pesos.
These data can also explain why tourism life and activity is so necessary in these areas, not only historical
heritage but also the culture cradle and millennial traditions that were affected by the natural disaster. The
expenses for its restoration and conservation in the future depend on the flow of visitors to these areas rich in
heritage and beauty, to recover not only their social value but also their heritage identity for the communities
that host them.
Current Situation of Route of Monasteries
“It has been two years from the earthquake of September 19, 2017, the reconstruction of the convents built
in the 16th century progresses slowly.” (Gaviña 2002).
People in the communities are desperate and upset since the jobs that were promised to them haven’t been
accomplished. Some communities are desperate with the culmination of the restoration projects. They say
that what they care the most is to be able to get inside of the temples and pay tribute and adore their gods as
they did before. To be able to play the bells to announce their mass and to be able to communicate between
them by the chimes 6 .
With this becomes a fear that due to the desperation, the communities will intervene the cultural assets with
help of people without right training to achieve an appropriate restoration to the Heritage assets. Since it
has happened in other regions of the country and other temples, sometimes causing losses in the value of
the piece.
Since the Monasteries remain closed, the tourism has decreased in these areas and their economy has been
affected. The tourists go to visit the Monasteries, but they also consume local food, buy their handicrafts, etc.
The head of the department of Historical Monuments of INAH Morelos in an interview with the newspaper
El Sol de Cuernavaca mentioned that due to the lack of resources this year (2020) the jobs of restoration
in the properties that make up the Route of the Monasteries will not be concluded. “In some cases we no
longer have the resources for the restoration and reconstruction of this properties coming from the insur-
6
Some Mexican communities use the church bells as a way to call the community together for sacred and secular purposes.
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