WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC COMPONENTS OF CHIAPAS? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The economic components of Chiapas, one of the 31 states of Mexico, are mainly tourism, agriculture, handicrafts and mining; in the latter, the exploitation of amber, gold and limestone stands out.

Chiapas is one of the most appreciated and visited tourist destinations in the country, especially for its climate, geographical location, and cultural and archaeological wealth, since its territory was the cradle of the Mayan civilization and famous cities were built there, such as Palenque.

The state is also one of the largest producers of coffee, corn and mango. Lately the production of gas and oil has had an important advance, as well as in livestock, poultry and industry.

The 5 main economic components of Chiapas

1- Tourism

Chiapas is located in the southeast region of the country, in the Gulf of Mexico belt. Its landscapes and diversity of microclimates have favored the development of the tourism industry, which represents the main economic component of Chiapas.

The tertiary sector, which has its main engines in national and international tourism and trade, occupies 69% of the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Tourism generated in 2015 income to the state of almost 290 billion pesos, according to figures from the Economic Secretariat of Mexico. While the general contribution of Chiapas to the national GDP was 1.7%.

Chiapas offers different options to tourists, such as trips to the ruins and archaeological sites of Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilán and other places. It also offers ecological tourism, with walks to the jungle or the Sumidero Canyon.

During the walks through San Cristóbal de Las Casas and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the state capital, you can see the colonial architecture present in temples and other buildings.

Chiapas has a rich cultural heritage exhibited in its museums, in the customs of its people and in its gastronomy.

2- Coffee

Among the most important agricultural activities in Chiapas is the coffee exploitation, whose peculiarity is that most of the coffee growers are small producers, mostly of indigenous origin.

Some 176,000 workers depend on this crop. Its annual production is 1.8 million bags, according to official figures.

Coffee is planted on small areas of land no more than five hectares in area.

The coffee variety that is most cultivated in Chiapas is Arabica (85%), followed by other organic species. Chiapas coffee has a particular chocolatey and almond flavor.

3- Mining

A little more than 1 million 125 thousand hectares have been granted in concessions to national and foreign companies for the exploitation of amber, gold, limestone, quartz, lead, zinc, barite, copper, iron, titanium and zhanghengite, among other minerals.

Mineral exploitation represents revenues for the state of Chiapas in excess of 690 million pesos per year.

In the case of non-metallic minerals such as sand, clay, sulfur and limestone rocks, they generate about two billion pesos a year.

4- Amber

This precious stone is a fossil resin that is extracted in quantity in deposits in Chiapas, whose hardness and quality are internationally recognized. The exploitation and processing of amber is done in a traditional way.

In San Cristóbal de Las Casas and Simojovel de Allende there are two amber museums, where various samples of the best and rarest of these stones are exhibited, which have their own designation of origin.

5- Crafts

Chiapas is one of the largest producers of arts and crafts in Mexico.

Its artisans produce a wide variety of fabrics, ceramics, lacquerware or lacquerware, and goldsmiths with amber.

6- Hydrocarbons

Chiapas has large deposits of oil and natural gas. 7% of Mexico's oil production comes from this state, as well as 25% of natural gas production.

Although for many years the federal government refused to allow the exploitation of these resources by foreign companies, in 2005 it granted 50 concessions to various companies, mainly from Mexico, Canada and the United States.

References

1. Chiapas: Guide to discover the charms of the state. Mexico, DF Editorial Ocean of Mexico. 2009
2. Chiapas. Retrieved October 3, 2017 from es.wikipedia.org
3. Ramos Maza, Teresa. "Crafts and handicrafts: Indigenous and mestizo of Chiapas building spaces for change". LiminaR. Social and Humanistic Studies, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico, 2004.
4. Analysis of the Gross Domestic Product of Chiapas. Ministry of Economy. Consulted of fec-chiapas.com.mx
5. Chiapas coffee, elite of national and world production. Consulted of ntrzacatecas.com
6. Coffee Producers in Chiapas. Consulted from mycoffeebox.com