Exploring the relationship between tourism and development in Mexico's premier resort

PhD student Itzel San Roman Pineda
Itzel San Roman Pineda
PhD student
Supervised by Dr Miguel Kanai
Clustering from Below: A tool for Development in The Yucatan Peninsula.

Supervisors

Dr Miguel Kanai & Professor David Robinson

Funding

CONACYT Scholarship

Current research

The aim of my PhD project is to learn the effects that associativity among small-scale tourism service providers has on the development outcomes of the communities where these operate. The geographic context of this project is the Yucatan Peninsula, the most touristic region in Mexico, and in Latin America, where tourism generates an extraordinary economic pledge, but also unequal development.

This research is based on the experience of indigenous and rural communities that have organised community-based tourism projects and tourism networks to reduce inequality and poverty and draws attention to the potential benefits of empowering local people in the decision-making processes that inform the industry’s growth.

Wider research interests

  • Economic Geography
  • Development Geography
  • Tourism for development
  • Regional development
  • Businesses agglomeration theories

Education

  • MA in Business Administration, Universidad Tec Milenio
  • BA in Marketing, Universidad Anahuac

Previous experience

For more than 14 years I have conducted research of the tourism industry in one of the most important touristic regions of Mexico and in the globe: The Yucatan Peninsula.

I have also participated in the design and implementation of productive projects in benefit of vulnerable population groups in Cancun.

Teaching experience

Autumn 2018-19:

  • GEO257 Qualitative Methods (Teaching Assistant)
  • GEO6802 Research Design and Methods for Development (Teaching Assistant)
  • GEO246 Environment, Society and Politics (Marking)

Contact

Email: isanromanpineda1@sheffield.ac.uk

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