Glocal Innovation: Gamification as a Catalyst for Sustainable Tourism in "Magical Towns"
Keywords:
Pueblos Mágicos, gamification, innovation, tourismAbstract
The article examines gamification as a glocal strategy to promote sustainable tourism in Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos, a program recently restructured as “Community Tourism.” After defining gamification as a mechanism that integrates digital innovation with community participation, the study reviews international experiences and contrasts them with the technological lag observed in these destinations. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines interviews with local stakeholders and questionnaires administered to tourists in El Fuerte and Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico. The findings reveal that gamification has the potential to redistribute tourist flows, stimulate the local economy, and enrich the cultural experience. The study concludes that gamification is a viable catalyst for sustainable tourism, although its successful implementation requires overcoming infrastructure gaps, fostering a culture of innovation, and establishing multisectoral partnerships. Future research is recommended to explore scalability, long-term impacts, and the adaptation of gamified frameworks to rural contexts.
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