Ramírez Mendoza identified three primary challenges for advancing community tourism: fostering close collaboration among researchers, authorities, and service providers; generating comprehensive knowledge to assess social and environmental impacts for continuous improvement; and exporting this innovative model to reinforce Mexico’s position as a leader in ethical and sustainable tourism.
Violeta Vázquez-Rojas, the Undersecretary of Science and Humanities at Secihti, reported that the Mexican Government is backing 53 research projects across 30 institutions aimed at enhancing community tourism, productive development, training, and the social economy. These initiatives are designed to generate applicable knowledge addressing national priorities and supporting community well-being.
Among the projects showcased at the Meeting, 33 focus on partnerships with fishing communities, cooperatives, tourism collectives, producers, and service providers from diverse regions, including the Gulf of California and the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
A key objective of the Meeting is to advance the National Research Network for Strengthening Community Tourism by uniting academic institutions, authorities, and service providers. UNRC Rector Alma Herrera Márquez underscored the University’s commitment to practical engagement with communities, collaborating with various ministries to offer a diploma course in community tourism and to promote field projects in urban areas like Mexico City.
UNESCO supports Mexico’s community tourism policy, recently reinforced by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s decree declaring it a national priority. The organization has facilitated training sessions across nine Mexican states, leading to the National Guide to Community Tourism Experiences, and continues to assist in developing indicators to measure not just economic factors, but also social and environmental impacts.
Andrés Morales Arciniegas, UNESCO’s Representative in Mexico, stressed the importance of measuring the impact of community tourism and commended the Government of Mexico’s dedication to developing indicators that authentically reflect the community tourism framework.
