When we talk about tourism in the state of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, we are talking about one of the leading destinations in Latin America, if not the world. With more than 8 million tourists arriving to the area as well as 3 million cruise ship visitors, the destination has grown exponentially over the last 40 years. However, besides bringing great economic stability to the zone as well as other social benefits, the impact that tourism has on the environment in Quintana Roo is great. Thankfully the potential for responsible tourism in the region is high, as can be witnessed by the sustainable developments within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere.
Responsible Tourism in Sian Ka’an
The Sian Ka’an biosphere is a protected nature reserve endorsed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Not only is the Sian Ka’an Biosphere rich in culture and history, having preserved the traditions and customs of the villages that surround this protected preserve, it has one of the most breathtaking virgin coastlines in Mexico that is ideal for responsible tourism that works in harmony with the natural surroundings.
Despite there being a scarcity of local public policies in place to consolidate the promote community tourism programs within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, international organizations and associations such as the United Nations and the Inter-American Development Bank have joined with the Amigos de Sian Ka’an Actions for Nature association to promote responsible tourism in Sian Ka’an. The idea is to create a project that positions the Sian Ka’an Biosphere as a world-class destination for eco-tourism.
According to studies evaluating the appropriateness of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere for eco-tourism, there are currently more than 17 companies in biosphere dedicated to eco-tourism, all of which are beginning to build positive links with tour operators specialized in responsible tourism, eco-tourism, tourism fairs and voluntourism. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere has been identified as a region in Mexico that offers authentic responsible tourism with low environmental impact, high social benefit and quality to both international and domestic visitors to the region.
The Future of Responsible Tourism in Sian Ka’an
2014 was a crucial year for consolidating programs for responsible tourism in Sian Ka’an, launching a series of programs to establish the area as a leader among sustainable and responsible tourism. These programs were set to generate benefits for local communities in both the long and the short term, with the view to develop more products that fit the profile of responsible tourism year on year. In 2016 and 2017, we can expect to see the fruits of these programs as more and more visitors arrive to Sian Ka’an to experience nature at its finest.