Dark Tourism Grows in Mexico

Janeen Christoff
by Janeen Christoff
Last updated: 4:00 AM ET, Thu July 21, 2016

Alvaro Lopez Lopez, a tourism researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico is currently trying to track dark tourism in all forms in Mexico.

"He believes that dark tourism helps remove social taboos and fears of people about visiting places once considered unthinkable," notes the Shanghai Daily.

The article provides details on one tourist attraction in Parque EcoAlberto in Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo - 700 miles away from the U.S. Border, but where visitors can participate in a staged illegal border crossing to experience what it is like to be an illegal immigrant crossing the border from Mexico to the U.S. Locals act as border guards and people smugglers.

"The terrain is rough, the trip is uncomfortable and throughout the experience, tourists are insulted, searched and roughed up by the actors," says the Shanghai Daily.

The article also talks about growing interest in exploring sites linked to drug trafficking. Want to know more?


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