Devoción y Desarrollo: Un Análisis Cualitativo de las Dinámicas Socioeconómicas y Culturales del Turismo Religioso en la Basílica de Guadalupe de la Ciudad de México

Abstract

Religious tourism stands as a strategic pillar for economic development and cultural preservation in Mexico City, with the Basilica of Guadalupe as the epicenter of massive pilgrimages with transnational impact. This study, using a qualitative approach, analyzes how this phenomenon boosts local economies—benefiting sectors such as commerce, hospitality, and gastronomy—while revitalizing ancestral traditions, strengthening collective identity, and intangible heritage. Through ethnographic observation, photographic evidence, and on-site testimonies, two key dimensions are identified: its role as a catalyst for micro-enterprises and temporary employment, and its contribution to the symbolic revaluation of cultural practices, such as pilgrimages and Guadalupe festivities. The findings reveal a tension between the commercialization of the sacred and the preservation of ritual authenticity, proposing that sustainable management requires balancing economic profitability with heritage safeguarding. This model, replicable in contexts of religious syncretism, positions Mexico as a global reference for studying the intersection of faith, economy, and culture.