Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America

This article presents a social and historical analysis of Barranco district in Lima, Peru, examining its evolution as a postmodern tourism destination. Through documentary analysis of historical records, guidebooks, press articles, and novels, we investigate the significant social milestones along h...

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Main Authors: Javier Benedí-Artigas, Victoria Sanagustín-Fons, J. Antonio Moseñe-Fierro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/7/184
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author Javier Benedí-Artigas
Victoria Sanagustín-Fons
J. Antonio Moseñe-Fierro
author_facet Javier Benedí-Artigas
Victoria Sanagustín-Fons
J. Antonio Moseñe-Fierro
author_sort Javier Benedí-Artigas
collection DOAJ
description This article presents a social and historical analysis of Barranco district in Lima, Peru, examining its evolution as a postmodern tourism destination. Through documentary analysis of historical records, guidebooks, press articles, and novels, we investigate the significant social milestones along history with cultural, and economic impacts on tourism development in Barranco. The research employs a methodology to identify key elements that have shaped Barranco’s trajectory from a fishing settlement to a bohemian district in a lively city and finally to its status as a “hipster” neighbourhood. Drawing on postmodern tourism theory and Hawley’s socioeconomic development theory, we argue that Barranco represents a distinctive case of how cultural capital transforms and resignifies tourism spaces through complex identity processes. Findings reveal that Barranco’s development follows three clear phases: rural settlement (until the 19th century), seaside resort (mid-19th century to 1940s–60s), and urban district with postmodern tourism appeal (1990s onward). The study concludes that while Barranco’s bohemian and artistic identity has become a distinctive tourism asset, the district faces gentrification challenges that threat its sociocultural diversity and authenticity. This research contributes to understanding how postmodern tourism influences territorial identity transformation and illuminates the social, historical, and economic forces that shape distinctive urban tourism destinations.
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spelling doaj-art-81bb3da3d0d840c8a9a7ec825babb6352025-08-20T03:07:57ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982025-07-0115718410.3390/soc15070184Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin AmericaJavier Benedí-Artigas0Victoria Sanagustín-Fons1J. Antonio Moseñe-Fierro2Hotel Management and Tourism Department, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima 15842, PeruDepartment of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Accounting and Finance, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, SpainThis article presents a social and historical analysis of Barranco district in Lima, Peru, examining its evolution as a postmodern tourism destination. Through documentary analysis of historical records, guidebooks, press articles, and novels, we investigate the significant social milestones along history with cultural, and economic impacts on tourism development in Barranco. The research employs a methodology to identify key elements that have shaped Barranco’s trajectory from a fishing settlement to a bohemian district in a lively city and finally to its status as a “hipster” neighbourhood. Drawing on postmodern tourism theory and Hawley’s socioeconomic development theory, we argue that Barranco represents a distinctive case of how cultural capital transforms and resignifies tourism spaces through complex identity processes. Findings reveal that Barranco’s development follows three clear phases: rural settlement (until the 19th century), seaside resort (mid-19th century to 1940s–60s), and urban district with postmodern tourism appeal (1990s onward). The study concludes that while Barranco’s bohemian and artistic identity has become a distinctive tourism asset, the district faces gentrification challenges that threat its sociocultural diversity and authenticity. This research contributes to understanding how postmodern tourism influences territorial identity transformation and illuminates the social, historical, and economic forces that shape distinctive urban tourism destinations.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/7/184postmodern tourismtourism gentrificationsocial and historical analysiscultural capitalurban tourismPeru
spellingShingle Javier Benedí-Artigas
Victoria Sanagustín-Fons
J. Antonio Moseñe-Fierro
Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America
Societies
postmodern tourism
tourism gentrification
social and historical analysis
cultural capital
urban tourism
Peru
title Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America
title_full Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America
title_fullStr Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America
title_full_unstemmed Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America
title_short Tourism Gentrification and the Resignification of Cultural Heritage in Postmodern Urban Spaces in Latin America
title_sort tourism gentrification and the resignification of cultural heritage in postmodern urban spaces in latin america
topic postmodern tourism
tourism gentrification
social and historical analysis
cultural capital
urban tourism
Peru
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/7/184
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AT jantoniomosenefierro tourismgentrificationandtheresignificationofculturalheritageinpostmodernurbanspacesinlatinamerica