Mayan Craftsmen in Crisis: Battling Chinese Imports

Mayan artisans in Quintana Roo, Mexico, are under threat from the mass-produced goods of the Chinese industry. These goods are sold at low prices to tourists, putting pressure on local craftsmen who take longer to create their products and cannot compete commercially. Many are being forced to abandon their craft and find other work to survive, according to Trinidad Gómez Machuca, co-founder of Fab Lab Maya, an NGO dedicated to preserving these crafts through technological support.

Quintana Roo is a major contributor to Mexico's tourism industry, attracting international visitors keen to experience Mayan culture. However, artisans using traditional techniques are struggling to sell their products. "Original artisans create everything by hand, using skills they have honed over a lifetime. But their products are not tailored to the international market. Most tourists prefer a keychain that says Riviera Maya over a traditional Mayan dress," explains Gómez Machuca.

She adds that the artisan's traditional techniques and processes make their products less commercially viable, leading many to abandon their craft for jobs as taxi drivers or waiters. "The Chamber of Commerce in the Riviera Maya states that 60 percent of crafts sold in Mexico are Chinese. This is because, despite a demand for Mayan crafts, artisans are not permitted to use technology and struggle to adapt to the market," she says.

Hermelindo Be Cituk, president of the National Indigenous Assembly for Autonomy (Anipa) in Quintana Roo, agrees that the unregulated sale of Chinese crafts threatens the cultural identity of Mayan areas. He suggests organizing events or fairs to showcase registered and copyrighted work, ensuring customers buy 100% original products and help to preserve the craft.

Artisans working in Market 23 report that for every ten Chinese crafts sold, they sell only three or four locally made items, such as seashell decorations or sand-filled bottles. The most popular Chinese products include keychains, bottle openers, and tequila shot glasses.

Artisans in local markets note that Mexicans are the primary buyers of crafts, often purchasing items as gifts for relatives. In contrast, American tourists tend not to spend much on these items, preferring other activities.

Local traders and artisans fear it's only a matter of time before Chinese imitations replace local products entirely, as they struggle to compete with the lower prices.