Title of Paper

Identifying tourism potential and appreciation at the U.S.-Mexico border: A photo-elicitation approach

Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Connor Clark is a fourth-year PhD candidate at Arizona State University. His research focuses on how communities can create social, cultural, health, and economic benefits through protecting natural and cultural resources. His research interests include destination management, sustainable tourism development, natural resource management, nature-based tourism, economic empowerment, and community resilience.

Gyan Nyaupane is a professor at Arizona State University. He has extensive research experience in the fields of parks and public lands, planning and policy, and sustainable/eco/heritage tourism. Dr. Nyaupane’s research interests include understanding human-environment interactions, sustainable communities, resilience, indigeneity, nature-based tourism, and policy and planning.

Abstract (150 Words)

This study utilized in-depth and photo-elicitation interviews to identify the potential for tourism development and appreciation for shared cultural and natural heritage in the Sky Island borderlands, a remote section of the U.S-Mexico border severely impacted by recent border wall construction. Data were collected from 21 participants, 10 of which were primarily located in Mexico and 11 primarily located in the U.S. We performed a direct and indirect analysis of the interviews and photos and found common focal points within the photos and major themes. Common focal points within photos included images of natural landscapes and local culture while the major themes included rebordering a shared landscape; debordering through restoration, biodiversity conservation, and mobility; and destination development by promoting unique culture and ecology. We discuss the contribution of these findings to border theories and frameworks and their implications for cross-border tourism in regions undergoing increased border militarization in the name of national security.

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Identifying tourism potential and appreciation at the U.S.-Mexico border: A photo-elicitation approach

This study utilized in-depth and photo-elicitation interviews to identify the potential for tourism development and appreciation for shared cultural and natural heritage in the Sky Island borderlands, a remote section of the U.S-Mexico border severely impacted by recent border wall construction. Data were collected from 21 participants, 10 of which were primarily located in Mexico and 11 primarily located in the U.S. We performed a direct and indirect analysis of the interviews and photos and found common focal points within the photos and major themes. Common focal points within photos included images of natural landscapes and local culture while the major themes included rebordering a shared landscape; debordering through restoration, biodiversity conservation, and mobility; and destination development by promoting unique culture and ecology. We discuss the contribution of these findings to border theories and frameworks and their implications for cross-border tourism in regions undergoing increased border militarization in the name of national security.