Taquile Entretejidos Identity Construction and Presentation in Touristy Taquile Island

Abstract

This study provides an insight in how the local Peruvian community Taquile experiences and responds on tourism. A demonstration of the local voice contributes to a better understanding of the social, economical and cultural impact of mass tourism on host communities in the modern globalizing world of today. Key concepts are identity, authenticity and commoditization. In literature the tendency is to consider commoditization as a negative effect of tourism, however, in this study it will become clear that commercialization of culture does not stand equal to cultural devaluation, because there are many dimensions of identity and authenticity. On Taquile tourism was seen as a new strategy to survive, and on the longer term, to create a better future, to modernize. The interaction between Taquileans and tourism related others like tourists, guides, agencies, NGO’s etc. had forced the islander to reflect upon themselves and to actually define their cultural identity: who are we, and how do we present ourselves? The presentation of their cultural identity is constructed through a negotiation between the islanders and tourism related actors about the preferences, expectations and interpretations of concepts like cultural identity and authenticity.