We are grateful for the recognition we have received over the past 15 years.

Strengthening Community-based Nature Tourism in Mexico and Guatemala

Increasingly aware of the need to adopt sustainable and resilient practices, community-based nature tourism is emerging as an innovative and promising solution. Thus, on July 23 of this year we celebrated the start of the second phase of the Triangular Project for the Consolidation of Community-based Nature Tourism as a Resilient Livelihood for Communities in Mexico and Guatemala. This joint effort, supported by GIZ Mexico and Guatemala, will promote the economic and social transformation of communities through the Market Ready Tourism model.

During the first phase of the project, we focused on collaborating with 24 tourism companies in Mexico and Guatemala with a clear objective: to develop tourism products that not only meet market demands, but also promote a positive impact on the destinations. This initial cooperation laid the groundwork for robust community-based tourism, aligned with local and global needs.

The Triangular Partnership between Mexico, Guatemala and Germany

In this second phase, we will focus on connecting these companies with their business partners through our B2B platform. Market Ready Network. This will facilitate the creation of strategic alliances and allow for a rigorous evaluation of their impact on their communities.

In our last article on impact measurement, we highlighted achievements in 2023 where we celebrated a 20% increase in full-time jobs compared to 2022. One of the most notable achievements was the significant increase in female employability: in 2022, 32% of the workforce in participating companies was comprised of women, and by 2023, this percentage increased markedly to 45%. This reflects the model's commitment Market Ready Tourism and companies to promote gender equity in tourism.

In addition, the model has been crucial in strengthening the entrepreneurial capabilities of participating companies. In 2022, only 18% of these companies were considered consolidated, and by 2023, this percentage grew significantly to 42%, demonstrating that more companies are achieving greater stability and success in their operations. (See impact measurement)

The power of alliances

This project will be implemented with the valuable support of GIZ Mexico and financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany. Their support has been fundamental in carrying out initiatives that seek to promote economic growth, but above all to care for the natural environment and the well-being of local communities.

We are starting a new story focused on regenerative tourism.

With this second phase, we hope not only to consolidate the achievements made, but also to expand the positive impact of community-based nature tourism. The connection between Mexico and Guatemala with its business partners promises a future where tourism becomes a true engine of resilience and sustainable development for local communities.

Acknowledgments and Collaboration

We would like to express our deep appreciation to the key institutions involved in this process:

Allied organizations in Mexico: Secretariat of Environment, Biodiversity, Energy and Sustainability, SEMAEDESO, Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca, UABJO, National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, CONANP, Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Development, SEMADET, Junta Intermunicipal de Medio Ambiente de Sierra Occidental y Costa, JISOC, Biocultural Landscape, Ministry of Tourism of the Government of the State of Jalisco, SECTUR, Centro Universitario de la Costa, University of Guadalajara, CUCOSTA, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusamme- narbeit / German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Allied organizations in Guatemala: Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), Association of Forestry Communities of the Petén (ACOFOP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusamme- narbeit / German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Their advocacy and participation have been crucial to create alliances that allow tourism to effectively contribute to environmental sustainability and community development.

This project has been facilitated thanks to the collaboration of the team at La Mano del Mono (LMDM)especially Karla Rivera y Ethel ÁriasWe always thank them for their commitment and passion.

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