Culture and Tourism in the Navajo Country

Abstract

The Navajo Country of the American Southwest has long attracted tourists, not only for its spectacular landscapes but also because of its cultural attractions. These include prehistoric Anasazi ruins, historic trading posts, and other buildings, as well as visible manifestations of Navajo culture, including traditional dwellings and costumes. In addition, Navajo handicrafts are a long-standing attraction. Tourism to the Navajo Country has been encouraged over the years by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, the National Park Service, the states, certain Indian traders, and the Navajo Tribe. The latter has established a Recreational Resources Department, nine Tribal Parks and Recreation areas, a Tribal Museum, and an Arts if Crafts Guild. This study gives historical background on the creation of the Southwest-Indian image and on Navajo Country tourism, discusses the role of cultural attractions and their “packaging” in drawing tourists, and briefly assesses the physical, economic, and cultural effects of tourism.