Ecotourism and community development: the case of "Natural Valentine" in southeastern Mexico

We present the case study "Valentin Natural" promoted by the Mexican government as a successful community-based ecotourism project in southeast of Mexico. From the perspective of local people describe how ecotourism has changed their lives, particularly as a source of employment and income...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anuario turismo y sociedad 2016-01, Vol.18
Main Authors: Márquez, Ricardo Isaac, Ayala Arcipreste, María Esther, Sandoval Valladares, Jorge Luis, Burgos Salazar, Francisco C, Arteaga Aguilar, Marco Antonio, Isaac Márquez, Angélica P, Sánchez González, María Consuelo, Manzanero Acevedo, Luis A
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Subjects:
Community development
Ecotourism
Local economy
Projects
Rural areas
Studies
Sustainability
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We present the case study "Valentin Natural" promoted by the Mexican government as a successful community-based ecotourism project in southeast of Mexico. From the perspective of local people describe how ecotourism has changed their lives, particularly as a source of employment and income for the population described. The results indicate that beyond the official rhetoric "Natural Valentine" cannot be considered a success. Ecotourism has not been a source of jobs and income for the population, participation has been limited and important sectors have been excluded from the decision-making process. We conclude that for this kind of projects require consistent long-term public policies that strengthen local capabilities and provide the necessary resources to consolidate ecotourism projects in rural communities in a framework of sustainability.
ISSN:0120-7555
2346-206X