Indigenous ecotourism in the Mayan rainforest of Palenque: empowerment issues in sustainable development

• Published in: Journal of sustainable tourism Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 461 - 479
• Main Authors: Ramos, Adrian Mendoza, Prideaux, Bruce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 03.04.2014; Taylor & Francis; Multilingual Matters Ltd
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Community; Community support; Development Policy; Ecotourism; Empowerment; Environment and sustainable development; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Government Agencies; indigenous ecotourism; Indigenous Populations; Interest Groups; Mayan civilization; Mayan rainforest; Mayans; Mexico; Native North Americans; Natural resource management; Private Sector; Stakeholders; Studies; Tourism; 旅游流动性; 环境意识; 行为改变; 身份; Central America; Mexico; America; Palenque Mexico; Empowerment (socioeconomy); Rain forest; Wild life; stakeholders; Mayan rainforest; Sustainable development; indigenous ecotourism; empowerment; Sustainable tourism; Stakeholder; Mexico; Autochthonous; Ecotourism
• ISSN: 0966-9582; 1747-7646
• DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2013.828730

Indigenous ecotourism in the Mayan rainforest has received little research attention. This study examines issues related to the level of empowerment in a Mayan village located near the Palenque World Heritage Site in southern Mexico. An adapted empowerment framework was used to assess community empowerment and its relationship with stakeholders' participation by collecting the views of internal and external stakeholders in indigenous ecotourism. Using a checklist of 60 empowerment indicators, the study developed a wheel of empowerment tool that graphically illustrates and compares levels of empowerment/disempowerment in local communities. Results indicate that although there is a will from many villagers to participate in tourism, lack of knowledge, limited economic resources and the poor negotiation skills of local leaders have disempowered the community from undertaking ecotourism ventures. Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have not supported the community until recently, the private sector has played little part, and while the Mexican government is shaping the course of indigenous ecotourism with support programmes, state agencies have resisted local ecotourism development. Overall, the community fell below the midpoint on the Wheel of Empowerment Scale. These findings show a need for more effective empowerment strategies to maximise community involvement in managing cultural and natural resources for tourism development.