The use of tourism as a social intervention in indigenous communities to support the conservation of natural protected areas in Mexico

Abstract

Tourism has been considered a tool for sustainable development (SD) of rural/indigenous communities living within natural protected areas (NPAs) since the 1980s. This article examines the use of tourism as a SD intervention in the management of NPAs. Based on the theory of social change and on the realist methodological approach to social research, the study focuses on the case of Mexico. It seeks to establish causal chains to identify mechanisms that trigger (un)expected outcomes within a specific sociocultural context. The research distinguishes between development of tourism, and SD through tourism. Preliminary findings from on-going research in the indigenous community of Sta. Cruz Tepetotutla in Oaxaca, Mexico point to the necessity for an alternative approach to the design, application and assessment of tourism interventions. It is argued that specific contextual features trigger mechanisms which lead to (un)expected outcomes. Considering traditional social organization is fundamental to achieve improvement in collective well-being, biodiversity preservation and cultural heritage. The article seeks to help decision-makers improve their outcomes from interventions, and to generate further discussion on the use of tourism for the management of NPAs, and on the role tourism can play in the improvement of the living conditions of the communities.

Keywords:

• Natural protected areas
• Indigenous communities
• social intervention
• sustainable development
• comunalidad
• theory of change

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Grinding stone

2 Thick, small tortilla-like flatbreads

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gerda Warnholtz

Gerda Warnholtz is a Mexican PhD Research Student in the School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University, UK. Gerda specializes in tourism as a tool for local sustainable development, as well as in the sustainable management of tourism and of the tourism enterprise.

Neil Ormerod

Neil Ormerod is a Research Fellow in the School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University, UK. Neil specialises in evaluation studies within the fields of events, tourism, business and leisure. His current research interests focus on the social impacts of sports events, event funding models and event management education.

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper is a Professor of Tourism at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He has published and edited widely in tourism. He works with international tourism agencies, including the United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO), and was awarded the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for contributions to tourism policy and education in 2009. He is a Co-Editor, with C. Michael Hall, of the journal Current Issues in Tourism.