Indigenous ecotourism in preserving and empowering Mayan natural and cultural values at Palenque, Mexico
Paper
Paper/Presentation Title | Indigenous ecotourism in preserving and empowering Mayan natural and cultural values at Palenque, Mexico |
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Presentation Type | Paper |
Authors | Mendoza-Ramos, Adrian (Author) and Zeppel, Heather (Author) |
Editors | Watson, Alan, Murrieta-Saldivar, Joaquin and McBride, Brooke |
Journal or Proceedings Title | Proceedings of the 9th World Wilderness Congress Symposium (WILD9) |
Number of Pages | 7 |
Year | 2009 |
Place of Publication | Fort Collins, CO, United States |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_p064.pdf |
Conference/Event | 9th World Wilderness Congress Symposium: Science and Stewardship to Protect and Sustain Wilderness Values (WILD9) |
Event Details | 9th World Wilderness Congress Symposium: Science and Stewardship to Protect and Sustain Wilderness Values (WILD9) Parent World Wilderness Congress Symposium Event Date 06 to end of 13 Nov 2009 Event Location Merida, Mexico |
Abstract | Indigenous tourism in the Mayan Area has virtually not been mentioned in the literature. As a result of the course of tourism in the Mayan Area, this study assessed the level of empowerment in the Mayan communities surrounding a major archaeological site and tourism attraction of the Classic Maya: Palenque, in Mexico. The empowerment framework was used to assess whether or not tourism develops in terms that ultimately benefit economically, psychologically, politically, socially and environmentally the local communities. A checklist of empowerment indicators identified from the literature were tested and contrasted to the interviews conducted with Mayan tourism stakeholders. Results indicate that local indigenous participation in tourism has not been easy to occur due to a lack of knowledge in tourism, limited economic resources and negotiation skills which has significantly disempowered Mayan communities. NGOs have not participated in the local tourism development until recently and the investment from the private tourism sector has not stood out with its presence. The Mexican government is tracing the course of indigenous ecotourism with several support programs. These results form the basis for more effective strategies to maximize involvement of Mayan communities in managing their cultural and natural resources and the tourism on which they depend. |
Keywords | empowerment indicators; Maya; indigenous ecotourism; tourism development |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 380116. Tourism economics |
350803. Tourism management | |
440713. Tourism policy | |
350805. Tourism resource appraisal | |
Public Notes | c. US Department of Agriculture Forest Service. |
Byline Affiliations | James Cook University |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q0q8w/indigenous-ecotourism-in-preserving-and-empowering-mayan-natural-and-cultural-values-at-palenque-mexico
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