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Sustainable Tourism Strategies in Protected Natural Areas of the Mayan Forest

The Selva Maya, for its cultural and natural wealth, offers several options of ethnic, archaeological, ecological and adventure tourism. In this region, together with civil society, municipal governments and Natural Protected Areas offices; the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Selva Maya Project, of the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), has developed strategies to boost Sustainable Tourism, particularly in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (Mexico) and the Maya Biosphere Reserve (Guatemala). The support has been to provide advice during the consolidation of regional certificates (Sello Q Verde & Sello Colectivo Calakmul), facilitate workshops to improve and diversify the tourist offer and produce disclosure material.

During the International Summit on Sustainable Tourism, held from June 23 to 25 in Cancun, Mexico; representatives of the tourist and educational sectors of Calakmul and GIZ staff presented such strategies. The summit was also an opportunity to talk with representatives of federal and state tourism bureaus, so there is conviction that the Sustainable Tourism strategies of the Selva Maya were heard by decision makers on public policy and development issues.