Resumo

GOMEZ-MERINO, Fernando Carlos et al. Landscape and rural tourism in Mexico: strengths and challenges for their empowerment. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.spe5, pp.1027-1042. ISSN 2007-0934.

Mexico is a mega-diverse country, and their genetic and natural resources can contribute to the improvement of the landscape and enhance rural tourism as detonators axes of sustainable and inclusive development, as an alternative to agricultural production that is occurring in these regions that are home to 35% of the population of the country, all under the umbrella of scientific knowledge. In terms of basic and applied research, Mexico has made significant progress about biodiversity studies, it has centers and robust entities and more than ten institutions have initiated teaching and research on the subject of landscape and rural tourism. To generate the transformations required to catapult the use of these activities, it is necessary to include these issues on science, technology and innovation schedules, join to the great challenges facing the country related to climate change, the increased need for food production and extreme poverty same as those are incubating social problems such as insecurity, due in part to the lack of opportunities for citizens to achieve total welfare. This paper analyzes the current situation of landscape and rural tourism in Mexico and suggests some strategies to promote these activities as main triggers of development of the country in rural areas, with a focus on sustainability and social responsibility based on science.

Palavras-chave : alternative tourism; scientific research; innovation; technological development; landscaping.