Amigos de Sian Ka’an

By Gonzalo Merediz Alonso

In the manifesto, the Mayan communities show their vision of a living and nature-based tourism, which allows the sustainable development of the communities, in deep respect for their culture and nature.

The importance of nature-based community tourism in Maya Ka’an is highlighted as an opportunity to demonstrate that rural development can be sustainable, fair and equitable.

The manifesto was delivered in the hands of the Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco and witnessed by the governor Mara Lezama and the municipal president of Carrillo Puerto Mary Hernández, within the framework of the inauguration of the Mexican Caribbean Pavilion.

The Mayan communities of the Maya Ka’an Destination, the Mayan zone of Quintana Roo, today presented a manifesto within the framework of the Tianguis Turístico de México, handing it over to the Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco Marques. The manifesto, which was developed by community tourism companies, highlights the importance of nature-based community tourism in Maya Ka’an as an opportunity to demonstrate that rural development can be sustainable, fair and equitable.

The tourism model developed in the region has been built with the active participation of the communities, and focuses on the conservation of biodiversity, the preservation of culture, and the generation of jobs and development opportunities for families. This model is rooted in bioculturality, a concept that represents the deep and complementary relationship between nature and culture.

The Mayan communities and the community tourism companies that sign the manifesto make a respectful request to the tourism and environmental authorities of the 3 levels of government and other decision makers that promote the development of tourism in the state of Quintana Roo.

Among the requests are the strengthening of the Maya Ka’an tourism model, the recognition of the communities and their rights, the facilitation of dialogue between the interests of the conservation of the Natural and Cultural Heritage and the interests of the Tourism industry, communication on the importance of sustainable community tourism and the promotion and management of sustainable community tourism in its various modalities.

The Mayan communities also call on the authorities to adopt the “Sustainable Community Tourism Guidelines”, and to formulate concrete policies and programs that promote the development of nature-based sustainable community tourism that contain measurable objectives and strategies for implementation. of biodiversity criteria and social and environmental safeguards.

This manifesto is a sample of the commitment of the Mayan communities of Maya Ka’an and the community tourism companies for the sustainable development of the region, and the implementation of a community tourism that contributes to the new agreement proposed by the governor of Quintana Roo Mara Lezama, of a tourism that respects the culture and nature of the region with prosperity and social justice.

www.amigosdesiankaan.org