Yucatán, a Mexican state located in the south - east of the country, in the northern part of the peninsula of the same name, a vibrant and historically rich region of Mexico, a treasure trove of Mayan culture boasting stunning natural wonders, colonial history, known for its Gulf of Mexico beaches, breathtaking landscapes and unique culinary offering is establishing itself as a benchmark for community tourism in the region and also internatioannly inspiring Honduras, a Central American country situated between Guatemala and El Salvador to the west and Nicaragua to the south and east to replicate its successful model.
The Secretary of Tourism of Honduras, Yadira Gómez Chavarria, led a Honduran delegation that visit Yucatán, in a sort of educational trip touring various municipalities of the Mexican state to learn first - hand about the successful experiences in the community tourism segment of the Mexican state and to implement practices in her country.
Yucatán is actively working on community - based tourism, particularly among its Mayan communities. This approach aims to ensure that local communities benefit directly from tourism revenue and cultural exchange, rather than just providing labor with several organizations and initiatives in Yucatán are very active to promote this sustainable and inclusive form of tourism.
CBT, Community - Based Tourism in Yucatán is a clear example operating in this tourism segment, empowering Mayan communities to control their narratives, share their knowledge, and benefit from tourism within their own cultural context.
The community tourism model of Yucatán moves away from mass tourism schemes prevalent in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, focusing on respectful and sustainable practices.
During her stay in the Mexican state the Secretary of Tourism of Honduras held a meeting with Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena, with whom she discussed the vision and tourism actions by the Government of the Mayan Renaissance, especially the "Mayan Villages program".
This is an example of community tourism with identity and living roots in the region, a programme that offers travellers the chance to experience authentic Mayan culture participating in daily life with local families, and potentially contribute to community development projects.
Subsequently, the Undersecretary of Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Tourism Development, Sefotour, Raúl Paz Noriega, accompanied ther Secretary of Tourism of Honduras on a tour of the municipalities of Maní, Progreso, Santa Elena, Tinum and Valladolid with the aim of exchanging experiences, unveiling strategies and processes that will contribute to the development of community tourism products in Honduras.
During the tour, the Honduran delegation and Sefotur team held strategic meetings and apart to strengthen cooperation in community tourism, they explored opportunities to improve air connectivity between both destinations and with other countries in the "Mundo Maya region" like Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala, through their shared cultural wealth.
The tour had as a significant stage Maní, small city in the central region of Yucatán Peninsula, about 100 kilometres to the south - east of the capital of the state Mérida. The Honduran delegation visited the Museum - Shop of Yucatán Mayan Embroidery, the Meliponario Lool Há, led by women from the community, participating in a traditional ceremony in the Mayan language and tasting typical dishes of the region.
The educational trip continued to Santa Elena, quaint town located roughly 95 kilometres south of Mérida, a centre known for its rich history and significance situated near the famous Uxmal archaeological site, which is a major attraction for tourists interested in Mayan history.
In this centre, the delegation of the Central American country lived the experience of the Xa' anil Naj village, internationally recognized for its model of indigenous and community tourism, which achieved the Silver Award for Responsible Tourism from WTM Latin America.
The visit continued in Valladolid, city located in the centre of the Yucatán Peninsula, offering a unique combination of cultural history, colonial architecture, authentic cuisine, and access to natural attractions like very relevant Mayan ruins and cenotes.
The Honduran Minister and her team reached the city aboard the Mayan Train to tour the Ek Balam Mayan Village, learning about artisanal techniques such as embroidery and hammock weaving, exploring the Xcanché cenote and enjoying the adventure activities offered by the local cooperative.
In the itinerary was also included the iconic archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, known for its well -preserved temples, pyramids, and other stone structure, rests of a major Mayan city that flourished between the 9th and 12th centuries, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World where the Honduran delegation witnessed the video mapping "Nights of Kuculcán".
The tour concluded on the Yucatán coast with visits to ecotourism and community fishing experiences on Isla Columpios, a swing island in the area of Chuburná Puerto, a tropical paradise with exuberant nature and crystal clear waters.
The last visit was dedicated to Progreso, bustling centre located on the Gulf of Mexico in the north-west of the state some 30 minutes north of state capital Mérida, a common stop for cruise ships, which dock at its landmark long pier and highlighted by the Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront promenade, lined with beaches and thatch - roofed restaurants.
As part of the actions to promote community tourism, Sefotour developed the Yucatán, Mosaic of Experiences catalog, the result of a collaboration with UNESCO, Airbnb and the Co'ox Mayab Community Tourism Alliance.
This relevant tool integrates initiatives from ten municipalities of the state and will to expand to project the cultural and natural wealth of Yucatán.
With these strategic alliances, Yucatán as inspiration model also for Honduras reaffirms its commitment to consolidate sustainable and inclusive tourism, which generates real opportunities for local communities, while projecting the living heritage of the Mayan World to new international markets and elevating itself as a benchmark of community tourism in the region.
Link
https://www.yucatan.gob.mx/saladeprensa/ver_nota.php?id=9108
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