Dzibilchaltún ‘Museo vivo’ project presented to boost community tourism

The Mérida City Council has presented ‘Museo vivo’ (Living Museum), the winning conceptual design for the first tourist stop in the Dzibilchaltún archaeological zone. Developed by architecture students from the Universidad Marista de Mérida, the project aims to strengthen community-based tourism by integrating local identity, sustainability, and functionality.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the municipal government, academia, and local residents. Flora Zapata Mendiolea, General Coordinator of Social Justice and Human Development, emphasized that the project seeks to provide direct economic benefits to local families while protecting the area's cultural heritage.

The design process included community participation to ensure the needs and visions of Dzibilchaltún residents were incorporated. The winning proposal was selected from five competing concepts, which included ‘Tu espacio vivo’, ‘Entre raíces’, ‘El solar’, and ‘Parador gastronómico’.