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SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED

ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM:

OAXACA AND PUEBLA CASES IN MEXICO

MECANISMO PARA EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE

DEL ECOTURISMO COMUNITARIO:

LOS CASOS DE OAXACA Y PUEBLA, MÉXICO

Naotaka Hirami

Kagawa University, Japón

Martha Rosa Hidalgo Morales

Kagawa University, Japón

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v8i4.13334

Sustainable Community-Based Ecotourism Development Mechanism:

Oaxaca and Puebla Cases in Mexico

Naotaka Hirami

hirami.naotaka@kagawa-u.ac.jp

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1889-630X

Kagawa University

Japón

Martha Rosa Hidalgo Morales

hidalgo.martha@kagawa-u.ac.jp

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2526-9490

Kagawa University

Japón

ABSTRACT

This research intends to identify the processes and factors of Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET)

development in indigenous communities, focusing specifically on the states of Oaxaca and Puebla,

Mexico. Six different CBET initiatives were investigated. Two methodologies were used for data

collection. One approach involves conducting in-depth interviews with community representatives to

potentially refine the hypothesis from prior studies and preliminary fieldwork. The other approach uses

a questionnaire for the quantitative validation of the hypothesis. The findings revealed core factors

influencing CBET success, such as deep community pride, an active community-centered approach,

management skills, and the integration of ecotourism with traditional lifestyles. Surprisingly,

communities demonstrated a willingness to embrace government support as a pivotal catalyst in the

initial phases of CBET endeavors. This openness is influenced by specific national laws that endorse

and safeguard indigenous autonomy, ensuring that accrued benefits are retained within the community.

This study underscores the delicate balance between heritage preservation and a thoughtful acceptance

of modern progress, offering valuable insights to CBET.

Key words: community-based ecotourism, indigenous communities, sustainability, CBET development

factors

Autor principal.

Correspondencia: hirami.naotaka@kagawa-u.ac.jp

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Mecanismo para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Ecoturismo Comunitario:

Los Casos de Oaxaca y Puebla, México

RESUMEN

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo identificar los procesos y factores clave en el desarrollo del

Ecoturismo Comunitario (CBET) en comunidades indígenas, con un enfoque específico en los estados

de Oaxaca y Puebla, México. Se analizaron seis iniciativas distintas de CBET, utilizando dos

metodologías de recolección de datos. Primero, se realizaron entrevistas detalladas con representantes

comunitarios para ajustar la hipótesis propuesta a partir de estudios previos y observaciones de campo.

Posteriormente, se aplicó un cuestionario para validar cuantitativamente dicha hipótesis. Los resultados

revelaron factores esenciales para el éxito del CBET, como un fuerte sentido de orgullo comunitario,

un enfoque participativo centrado en la comunidad, habilidades de gestión eficaces y la integración del

ecoturismo con el estilo de vida tradicional. De manera inesperada, las comunidades mostraron una

disposición a aceptar el apoyo gubernamental como un catalizador crucial en las fases iniciales de los

proyectos de CBET. Esta apertura está influenciada por leyes nacionales específicas que respaldan y

protegen la autonomía indígena, asegurando que los beneficios generados permanezcan dentro de la

comunidad. Este estudio subraya el delicado equilibrio entre la preservación del patrimonio y la

adopción consciente del progreso moderno, ofreciendo valiosas perspectivas para el CBET.

Palabras claves: ecoturismo comunitario, comunidades indígenas, sostenibilidad, factores de desarrollo

del CBET

Artículo recibido 10 julio 2024

Aceptado para publicación: 15 agosto 2024

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INTRODUCCIÓN

The tourism industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, accounting for about 10% of the

world’s Gross Domestic Product. As stated by the World Travel & Tourism Council (2022), this level

of participation involves 10% of the global population. These figures highlight tourism’s broad impacts

on society and the environment.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift from traditional mass tourism to more sustainable

models (Baloch, et al., 2023, Mudasir, et al., 2020, Salman, et al. 2020, Lazic, S., & Gasparini, M.L.,

2023). A prominent example is community-based ecotourism (CBET), which emphasizes local

communities. However, CBET's growth is uneven, with some regions experiencing swift development

while others lag. This disparity suggests underlying factors influencing its success.

This report aims to clarify the position of CBET through an overview of prior studies. Later, we address

the research question: "What factors drive local community members to form successful CBET?” Our

approach involved field research focusing on specific regions of Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico, chosen

for their blend of indigenous communities, cultural heritage, and abundant natural resources. We

performed qualitative interviews with community coordinators and quantitative questionnaires directed

at community members involved in local ecotourism.

Legal Protection of Indigenous Rights

Examining Mexico as an example, indigenous rights are stipulated at both the federal and state levels.

At the federal level, there exists the "National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples

Act” (Ley de la Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas, 2003). At the state

level, for instance, the "Law on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the State of

Oaxaca” (Ley de Derechos de los Pueblos y Comunidades Indígenas del Estado de Oaxaca, 1998) can

be cited. These laws address self-determination, autonomy, and socio-economic development for

indigenous peoples. Specifically, in the case of Oaxaca, each indigenous community is recognized to

have its own "internal normative system". These internal norms, related to family relationships, civil

life, community life, and conflict resolution, are valid as long as they do not contradict state or federal

laws.

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Local governments must fairly distribute funds and other revenues among municipality communities.

Development plans and programs are formulated and evaluated in agreement with indigenous

communities, with activities and services executed transparently and efficiently, including budget

allocations.

Important factors applicable to CBET

Rodrigues and Prideaux (2017) conducted interviews on Marajó Island in the Brazilian Amazon to build

a model based on an action pathway approach. Their findings indicated that participation, partnerships,

encouragement, and the acquisition of skills are important elements in developing CBT, which is a core

component of CBET, stating:

“…transfer of ownership from an external actor to the community will only be successful if the

community has the required management skills necessary to run the project as a commercial business.”

Fletcher C, etal (2018), on the other hand, discusses the factors influencing successful indigenous

tourism development through literature review of selected cases and interviews with key government

& non-government organizations, indigenous tourism organizations and operators. A detailed technical

development process has been summarized with detailed enabling factors, concluding:

“…the effectiveness of governance structure and the level of involvement of Indigenous stakeholders

as well as the selection of legislative and policy instruments are key to ensure a more sustainable

approach to Indigenous tourism development, …”

Sartika, I. and Wargadinata, E. (2019) attempted to clarify the specific requirements by identifying CBT

success factors in Indonesia, highlighting six key determinants: ownership, participation, responsibility,

sharing of resources, leadership and partnership based on the simple Yes/No survey of stakeholders

involved in CBT management. They concluded that the first three factors―ownership, participation

and responsibility are the important factors.

The prior researches mentioned above indicate that involvement of indigenous stakeholders to CBT

development with required management skills is essential for CBT development, and a number of

factors play an important role; however, simpler explanation of the development process with enabling

factors, which can be applicable to general cases, is yet to be addressed.

Successful Cooperative Association case for CBET

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Takeda (2017) studied the effectiveness of a CBET case in Costa Rica, focusing on the cooperative

association Coopesilencio R.L., established by the residents of the wildlife-rich El Silencio region. After

a national wildlife conservation center was closed due to government policy, Coopesilencio R.L.

received authorization to operate at the intersection of conservation and tourism initiatives.

Consequently, El Silencio emerged as a popular tourist destination, with the sustainability of its tourism

operations tied to environmental conservation efforts. This case suggests that the cooperative

association involving local community members would be effective for sustainable CBET development.

It is assumed that such associations empower communities by enabling input at every decision-making

stage concerning managements of local operation, touristic activities, environmental preservations

(Toko, 2014).

These cases demonstrate that local cooperatives often oversee successful CBET initiatives rather than

individual stakeholders or external entities. Also, these cooperatives can sustainably and equitably

tackle poverty and conservation challenges in unison. By providing essential services and educational

opportunities, CBET can have positive effects beyond tourism, fostering broader economic

development and societal well-being.

Research Question

While there has been extensive research on CBET establishments, the factors identified so far span

across different stages or provide specific explanations, making them partial and unclear in illustrating

the overall connections. This research aims to uncover the variables that shape the entire CBET journey,

from its inception to its evolution into a sustainable industry. By adopting a stage-oriented approach,

this study addresses the earlier research question: “What factors drive local community members to

form successful CBET?”

Pride and its Impact on Cooperative Formation

The term “pride” consistently emerges in various prior studies. Having pride in the place where one is

born and/or lives naturally motivates the preservation of its nature and culture. Based on an extensive

review of the literature, Guerrero-Moreno, M.A. and Oliveira-Junior, J.M.B. (2024) describe CBT as

follows:

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“CBT constitutes a type of tourism that focuses on environmental, social, and cultural sustainability. …

used as a tool for rural growth …. As a result of these incentives, many CBT programs in developed

countries have evolved into community-based enterprise development.”

Furthermore, the concept that indigenous pride associated with a desire to preserve environmental,

social, and cultural sustainability drives cooperative organization is generally supported in community-

based tourism (Usmonova, etal., 2022)."

Participation of Local Community Members in the Management of CBET

Building on the understanding of pride and motivation as central themes in the previous section, we

focus on another critical element in CBET－the participation of local community members. To explore

this aspect further, one of the authors, Hirami, N., visited Uakari Lodge in the Mamirauá Reserve, Brazil,

and conducted a preliminary study (Hirami, N., 2021). The findings are summarized as follows:

Uakari Lodge is famous for the presence of red-faced "Uakari" monkeys exclusive to this region. This

unique establishment, which floats on the Amazon River, offers many activities like trekking, bird

watching. Guests can also visit the indigenous communities within the Mamirauá Sustainable

Development Reserve, gaining insights into their way of life. The indigenous inhabitants are encouraged

by the opportunity to host tourists and are invariably warm and welcoming with a pride of their

community.

Ecotourism activities at Uakari Lodge seemed well-established and managed. Much of this success can

be attributed to the Mamirauá Project, initiated in 1992 to promote ecotourism. While funded by the

national government, the organization operates autonomously, positioning it as a quasi-governmental

agency.

Building upon the establishment and management of Uakari Lodge, there is a strong emphasis on its

relationship with the local community. As mentioned on their homepage (Uakari Lodge, n.d.):

“Most of the employees are from the riverside communities, from management to local guides,

housekeepers, cooks and assistants. The Lodge's team works on a rotating basis - each person works an

average of 10 days a month and then returns home. The objective is that there is no dependence on

tourism and that they can continue to exercise their traditional activities.”

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This policy shows Uakari Lodge's commitment to balance. While the lodge requires varied roles, it

ensures that community members can maintain their regular lifestyles. This approach supports local

employment, strengthens the community's economy, and preserves traditional activities. It also provides

a buffer against the unpredictability of tourism, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. This adaptable

employment model emerges as a cornerstone for the lodge's sustainable operations.

With these practices in place, further insights were sought. A semi-structured interview was conducted

on-site with the lodge manager on October 22, 2019, highlighting the following key strategies:

Incentive Program for Local Communities: For every overnight guest at the lodge, 60 Reais (October

22, 2019) is accrued throughout the year. This amount is later distributed to the communities based on

their contribution, which are measured in points. This system encourages community members to

collaborate, fostering unity and pride within the community.

Transfer of Operating Entity: Currently, eight non-indigenous staff employed by the Mamirauá Institute

for Sustainable Development run the lodge. In addition, more than 20 employees from the local

community work in three rotating shifts. Remarkably, nearly 90% of the lodge's operations are already

managed by indigenous locals. By 2022, the goal was to transition 100% of the lodge's operations from

the institute to the local community

(†1)

This strategic incentive program provides practical education and training to local community members,

equipping them with a sense of ownership, responsibility, and the necessary skills. It also instills pride

in their heritage, encouraging them to actively engage in ecotourism, which in turn strengthens

community bonds.

Given these insights, Uakari Lodge's approach to ecotourism emerges as a potent model for establishing

CBET that fosters active local community involvement.

Development Factors and Their Relationship

Based on the observation mentioned above, one of the authors, Hirami, N., hypothesized specific

development factors（Factors 1 to 4）and their interrelations for the sustainable CBET, as illustrated

in Figure 1

(†2)

. Recognizing and understanding these factors may make replicating and expanding CBET

models in various communities feasible. Each factor is characterized as follows:

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Factor 1: Community pride/Motivation for the maintenance of nature and culture – driving the

community to establish local cooperative associations.

Factor 2: Cooperative association establishment – providing an avenue for members to be actively

involved in all decision-making and operational phases.

Factor 3: CBET management and operational skills – ensuring ecotourism is operated and overseen by

community members.

Factor 4: Ecotourism as a complementary activity – preserving traditional occupations and lifestyles

while integrating them with ecotourism initiatives

Figure 1: Key factors and their relationship to establish CBET

METHODOLOGY

To validate the hypothesis presented earlier, we selected the states of Oaxaca and Puebla in Mexico as

our investigation sites for CBET, searching for a compelling combination of factors. These states harbor

a substantial part of Mexico's indigenous population, with 14.4% residing in Oaxaca and 9.1% in Puebla

(Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía [INEGI], 2020), hosting three major indigenous groups:

Nahuas, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs (Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas [INPI], 2020). Moreover,

Oaxaca and Puebla rank among the top 5 states recognized for their high biodiversity, prompting

conservation efforts by the Mexican government to safeguard their rich ecosystems (Comisión Nacional

para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad [CONABIO], 2011, 2022).

We examined six distinct CBET initiatives, three in each state, as outlined below. Notably, communities

(†1) Due to the pandemic, tourism activity seems to have stopped for a few years, and the transition plan.

(†2) The concept of Factors 1 to 4 was originally presented in the “Second Trilateral Symposium on SDGs” at Kagawa

University on 30 August 2023 by one of the authors, Hirami, N., and have been updated.

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➀ to ⑤ are situated along the Sierra Norte mountain region in Oaxaca, and all are affiliated with the

"Pueblos Mancomunados" (PM) initiative.

Locations visited in Oaxaca includes:

① Cuajimoloyas (PM initiative)

② Benito Juárez (PM initiative)

③ La Nevería (PM initiative)

④ Latuvi (PM initiative)

⑤ Capulalpam (PM initiative)

⑥ El Almacén Mujeres Milenarias

⑦ Apoala

Locations visited in Puebla:

⑧ Taselotzin Hotel

⑨ Cuetzalan Ecoturismo Rural

⑩ Tosepan Kali Cooperative

Two Separate Methodologies

In this research, two complementary methodologies were simultaneously conducted, one being in-depth

interview to a representative of each community, and the other being face-to-face questionnaire survey

to the people involved in the local CBET on-site. The first methodology aims to investigate the potential

update of the hypothesis presented earlier with representatives such as community coordinators or their

equivalents in a semi-structured style wherever they are available during our visits.

The second one is to validate the hypothesis quantitatively. We distributed questionnaires to actively

engaged CBET members, such as tour guides, tourist information staff, transport drivers, restaurant

workers, and housekeepers. We used a quantitative approach with a 5-point Likert scale to gather

valuable insights about their perspectives. For further details on the questionnaire content, refer to [Q.1]

to [Q.32] described in Figures. 2 to 10.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The interviews with community representatives revealed valuable insights into motivations, cooperative

characteristics, and CBET activities in five selected projects. We delve into the distinctive dynamics of

each project below, providing a deeper understanding through the coordinators' perspective.

Pueblos Mancomunados

Pueblos Mancomunados, a project comprising eight Zapotec communities, is a remarkable model of

regional development and CBET (Palomino et al., 2016, Rosas-Baños et al., 2016).

Benito Juárez, a pioneer in CBET activities since 1994, provides tourists with nature, adventure, and

rich social and cultural experiences. Coordinator Mr. Nelson Ceballos, highlights the project's

commitment to preserving nature and traditions by intertwining communal activities with responsible

tourism. As the project expands, Mr. Nelson plans to reinvest profits for service enhancements. Notably,

despite receiving government funding for cabin construction, the community autonomously managed

funds. They have been self-sufficient for over two decades and have received environmental

certifications.

La Nevería, the smallest town among Pueblos Mancomunados, is also in a strengthening phase.

Coordinator Engineer Gaudencio Yescas pointed to preventing migration and cultural loss as the

original motivation of the project. The main attractions and the infrastructure were carefully planned to

reduce environmental impact. He underscored the success of Pueblos Mancomunados, highlighting the

project's uniqueness rooted in preserved Zapotec traditions. This aligns with previous reports on the

influence that pre-existing experiences of collective organizing in rural communities have on the

success of CBET (Kieffer, 2019). We noted that this feeling is widespread. Therefore, community pride

comes from their cultural and historical roots as a Zapotec people and is reinforced by sharing CBET

responsibilities.

We also spoke with the general manager of Expediciones Sierra Norte, the tour operator owned by the

communities and led by Lic. Angelina Martínez Pérez. She shared insights into the project's foundation,

organization, cooperative structure, benefit distribution, activities, and statistics, affirming the

motivations stated by Eng. Gaudencio. The cooperative encourages community involvement through

rotating jobs (tequio), enhancing training and administrative capability. This structure ensures efficient

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profits return to the communities and supports reinvestment. Lic. Angelina emphasized autonomy and

internal governance, even with early government support, reflecting a preference for limited external

intervention.

Mujeres Milenarias

Mujeres Milenarias is a women's cooperative positively impacts 40 Mixtec families devoted to pulque

production across three municipalities and six towns in Nochixtlán, Oaxaca. Focusing on guided tours,

pulque production and palm handicraft workshops, they also implement soil and biodiversity

conservation measures.

Tourism activities began in 2019, but today, they face challenges such as a lack of basic infrastructure,

setbacks related to the pandemic, and continued development needs. Although they received

government funds for pulque production equipment, CBET activities lack direct financial support. Their

long-term plans include 1) seeking governmental funding to construct lodges and a pulque museum and

2) using their collaboration with tour operator Rutopia (González, R.O., et al., 2023) for promotion.

They aspire to carve a niche as a destination preserving pulque traditions, adding a distinctive layer to

their CBET activity.

Hotel Taselotzin

In Cuetzalan, Hotel Taselotzin embodies the synergy between cultural preservation and economic

sustainability. This hotel is managed by the artisanal women's cooperative, "Mujeres tejiendo nuestra

historia," comprising 55 female members from six Nahua communities to preserve culture, language,

and handicrafts. This cooperative exemplifies profit-sharing and reinvestment practices, ensuring

standard salaries for their members, training support, and emergency reserves.

The cooperative received early financing (1995-1997), a loan from the federal government (now repaid),

and the UN World Food Program. Moreover, they underwent training from the INPI, acquiring expertise

in cooperative administration and indigenous rights, which they, in turn, shared across generations. The

cooperative owns the land, and much of the profit is reinvested. Hotel Taselotzin offers diverse

experiences embracing ecotourism to preserve and share cultural richness.

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Cuetzalan Ecoturismo Rural

Shifting our focus to the emerging neighborhood project led by Mr. Miguel Ayala Rosario, we encounter

a nascent initiative in the highlands of Cuetzalan. This agrotourism-centric endeavor aims to provide

unique experiences through themed routes dedicated to coffee, native bees, artisanal cane sugar

(piloncillo), and culinary immersion.

Mr. Miguel underlines the project’s educational essence and holistic approach to sustainable tourism,

exemplified by the implementation of dry toilets and the attainment of certifications as cultural

ecotourism interpreters by their guides. Their target audience primarily includes adults and young adults,

aligning with the goal of raising awareness about nature and local Nahua culture. They intend to create

a cooperative and build lodging zones, underscoring the long-term vision of this emerging CBET

initiative.

Tosepan Kali

Tosepan Kali, a branch of the broader Tosepan cooperative, specializes in bioscaping, agrotourism,

guided tours, spa services, and conservation initiatives. Stemming from the necessity to provide

accommodation during cooperative meetings, this initiative comprises 16 members and operates with

five rotational staff members annually through the traditional practice of “collective community service”

(tequios). Initial financing from INPI and bank loans facilitated its creation, leading to financial

independence.

A cooperative representative provided insights into their well-organized structure, challenges, and

future aspirations, aiming for community survival. Despite robust organization and better infrastructure,

ongoing challenges persist in management, marketing, promotion, and sales. Their strategy involves

decentralizing services and establishing an ecotourism network with central hubs in nearby

municipalities.

Common Observation from In-depth Interview

We observed common elements contributing to the success of the studied CBET projects. State laws

ensuring autonomy in fund management, decision-making through periodic assemblies, and fair task

distribution via tequios are consistent practices. Significantly, CBET activities align with the

communities' primary economic activities, emphasizing a harmonious balance. Unity and cultural pride

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emerge as crucial factors, with indigenous traditions playing a pivotal role in CBET's success. This

interconnectedness underscores the delicate balance between tradition and progress in indigenous

communities' pursuit of sustainable ecotourism.

Insights from the Questionnaire with Community Members

The questionnaire consisting of 32 questions for community members revealed valuable insights, which

are summarized in Figures 2 to 10 (The questions are described in each figure, which presents a common

theme). These findings shed light on factors contributing to community pride, motivations for

participation, and the effectiveness of management and operational practices within the CBET

initiatives.

Figure 2. Sense of community pride

Regarding pride and motivation, which are among the proposed key factors for establishing CBET,

responses to Questions 1 and 2 (abbreviated as [Q.1] and [Q.2] in Figure 2) indicate that most

respondents believe there is a sense of community pride. This sentiment is widespread among

community members.

Figure 3. Main motivation for this ecotourism project

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Meanwhile, responses to [Q.3] to [Q.8] in Figure 3 suggest that various motivations exist for CBET.

The primary motivations are the preservation of environmental richness (response to [Q.3]) and cultural

heritage (response to [Q.4]), followed by ensuring the community's relationship, education and survival

(responses to [Q.5] to [Q.7]). Notably, financial benefits and business considerations [Q.8] are less

valued as motivations. The responses to [Q.9] and [Q.10] (Figure 4) indicate that community members

are involved in ecotourism development and decision-making processes. The response to [Q.11] further

confirms that community members are empowered in the management and operation of CBET.

Figure 4. Ecotourism activity empowerment

Figure 5. Additional jobs

Figure 6. Implication of CBET education for conservation

It is worth noting that approximately 60% of the community members have another job besides their

involvement in the CBET project as the response to [Q.12](Figure 5) indicates.

Responses to [Q.13] to [Q.15] (Figure 6) suggest that ecotourism helps educate both the local people

and the tourists about the importance of natural resource conservation, contributing to its actual

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conservation. Additionally, local individuals believe that acquiring new skills and reinforcing

community pride are added social benefits as the responses to [Q.16] and [Q.17] in Figure 7 indicate.

Specifically, they feel that this project aids in passing down local knowledge, such as local history and

forest species, from one generation to the next as shown in the response to [Q.18].

Figure 7. Implication of CBET on individuals

Figure 8. Personal sense of rewards and satisfaction

Regarding personal rewards for participating in CBET (Figure 8), most local members view

communication with tourists (response to [Q.19]) and the appreciation they receive for their work

(response to [Q.20]) as significant rewards. Also, collaborating with fellow local members (response to

[Q.21]) and deriving satisfaction from their work (response to [Q.22]) are perceived as valuable rewards.

Additional factor

Indigenous communities often have a strong desire for independence and autonomy. As such, they

prefer to avoid having government involvement in their projects, aiming to avoid external control.

However, they often lack the resources to set up CBET facilities like lodges. Without these facilities,

their activities could be limited, and success might be elusive. Despite these sentiments, successful

CBET projects, such as Pueblos Mancomunados in Oaxaca and Taselotzin Hotel in Puebla, often receive

support from local governments or equivalents, particularly in the early stages of the project, as

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highlighted above.

This support is grounded in national and local laws that ensure indigenous communities can

autonomously manage budget allocation and project implementation, aligning with their internal needs

and desires.

This kind of government support is regarded as a process booster, which should be defined as the fifth

factor, as depicted in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Factor 5 addition to the key factors for the CBET establishment

CONCLUSIONS

This research delves into delicate dynamics in the context of CBET establishment. Initially, we

conducted in-depth interviews with community representatives to potentially refine our hypothesis; then,

aimed to validate the hypothesis about the key elements driving CBET through questionnaires.

One of the noteworthy findings in this research was the unexpected openness of communities to seek

and receive government support, primarily economic. This contrasts with the initial assumption that

such support would compromise their autonomy. Federal and state laws guaranteeing funding without

sacrificing sovereignty are functioning and vital to this process. CBET projects usually receive these

funds at an early stage, and as they grow, management structures are established in the community

independently. Such was the case of Benito Juárez and Hotel Taselotzin. This transition enhances

communal pride, fostering autonomy and self-sustainability. Indigenous communities appear to

navigate the delicate balance between preserving their heritage and adapting to modern society.

Field research and data demonstrate that communities neither rush nor intend to replace ancestral

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practices with tourism entirely. Instead, they seek a balance between the two activities. CBET, therefore,

primarily revolves around preserving the community's environment, culture, and traditions—not merely

as a business endeavor but as a means to sustain their unique way of life while guaranteeing their

livelihood through conventional work.

In short, these communities are making wise choices. They are honoring their past while thoughtfully

stepping into the future. It is a blend of culture, conservation, and commerce, providing insights that

need to be widely remembered and applied.

Funding Information

This work has been supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22K12615.

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