Tourism has become a double-edged sword for Real de Catorce. The small town, where 'The Mexican' was filmed, has become a popular destination for both Christian and indigenous pilgrims and receives over a million visitors a year. Since its silver mining operation closed, it has become heavily reliant on the tourism industry, however, local people are voicing their concerns regarding the impact that tourism is having on the environment. Lack of infrastructure to cope with the extra traffic, erosion of the town's heritage and the accumulation of waste are some of the points that have been raised. To help tackle these issues, a foundation has been set up to find sustainable solutions.
Further reading on the topic of mass tourism:
