Abstract

DALTABUIT GODAS, Magalí; CISNEROS REYES, Héctor  and  VALENZUELA VALDIVIESO, Ernesto. Globalización y turismo en el sur de Quintana Roo. Estud. cult. maya [online]. 2006, vol.27, pp.99-124. ISSN 0185-2574.

This article analyses the interactions between social actors involved in sustainable tourism in southern Quintana Roo, due to the fact that the tourism industry is a fundamental element of the process of regional development that is immersed in a global economic dynamic. We present a comparative analysis of the tourism projects "Costa Maya" and "Corredor Ecoarqueológico" focusing in the integration of local inhabitants to these new initiatives via sustainable development. The situation of the communities in the Costa Maya, Mahahual and Xcalak. contrasts with the community of Tres Garantías located within the Corredor Ecoarqueológico. Costa Maya is part of the government plan for regional development and is supported by a large capital investment, while the project at Tres Garantías is an example of community based tourism that springs from the strong local organization with previous experience in social forestry. The results of this study show that ecotourism in southern Quintana Roo has not been able to achieve the goals of real sustainability such as environmental conservation, a rise in the standards of living of local population, and the empowerment of local culture.