The tourist gaze of Mexico is that of an exotic destination composed of sun, beaches, a tropical climate and turquoise waters. Tourism in Mexico began in the 1970s, and over the past two decades the country has become a popular tourist destination. Currently, tourism revenues constitute the third largest source of foreign exchange (Wilson, 2008, 6). Mexican tourism is primarily marketed in the United States (Swords & Mize, 55). These Western tourists visit Mexico to experience a feeling of exoticism. Exoticism is defined as “a romanticization, fetishization, and/or commodification of ethnic, racial, or cultural otherness (Chandler and Munday, 2011). » Exposure to an unfamiliar place creates an adventurous environment for tourists. This allows them to discover a pleasant environment that is different from their usual routine. Tourists acquire a nonchalant mentality, which leads them to seek connections that cannot be replicated (Van Den Berghe & Keyes, 1984: 345). The exoticism of Mexico produces an “authentic” experience. This is very marketable to tourists and makes the country an attractive getaway destination. This essay will explore the role of exoticism in Mexican tourism. The emphasis will be placed on two categories of exoticism: Mexican folklore and the sexualization of “exotic” bodies. These topics will be discussed separately but they share common links related to culture. Mexican folklore will be analyzed through the commodification of specific rituals, “traditional” clothing and “authentic” souvenirs. The sexualization of “exotic” bodies will be specifically observed in tourist work. This will explore the benefits that objectification creates for the tourism worker. The aim is to show how the exotic...... middle of article ......d Tourist views and performances: American consumption of land and labor in Puerto Rican and Mexican destinations. Latin American Perspectives, 35(3), 53-69. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27648097Wilson, T.D. (2008). The impact of tourism in Latin America. Latin American Perspectives, 35(3), 3-20. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27648094Wilson, T.D. and Ypeij, A. (2012). Tourism, gender and ethnicity. Latin American Perspectives, 39(5), 5-16. doi:10.1177/0094582X12453896Van Den Berghe, PL (1995). Mayan Marketing: promotion of ethnic tourism in Mexico. Annals of Tourism Research, 22(3), 568-588. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(95)00006-RVan Den Berghe, PL and Keyes, CF (1984). Tourism and recreated ethnicity. Annals of Tourism Research, 11(3), 343-353 Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1016/0160-7383(84)90026-4