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Mayan and Mexican community-based tourism model displays the cultural power for sustainable development
Madrid, Spain—. The Government of Yucatán, Mexico, launched the "Yucatán: Mosaic of Experiences" catalogue at the 2025 International Tourism Fair in Madrid. The initiative is one of the outcomes of UNESCO’s collaboration to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous rural communities to design and manage their own tourism model and foster a renewed responsible tourism, rooted in environmental harmony, and respectful of the territories and cultural heritage.
The Yucatán Governor, JoaquÃn DÃaz Mena, unveiled the catalogue at Mexico’s FITUR 2025 pavilion, with the National Culture Officer of UNESCO in Mexico, Carlos Tejada. The publication highlights the Yucatan great cultural and natural heritage and the positive impact of community-led tourism in Maya rural communities, bringing their essence and traditions to a global stage.
FITUR is one of the world’s leading summits for tourism professionals, a key marketplace for both inbound and outbound tourism, and serves as a benchmark for emerging tourism trends, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. The presentation of Yucatán’s cultural and community tourism model reinforces the global movement toward an ethical and respectful travel.
DÃaz Mena stressed that everyday traditions, such as milpa farming, embroidery, meliponicultura (stingless bees apiculture), and ancestral cooking techniques become immersive visitor experiences. These initiatives safeguard living heritage and foster sustainable economic opportunities. The 14 experiences featured in the catalogue highlight the cultural legacy passed down through generations and its potential to improve local livelihoods.
Visitors can take part in a variety of activities and enjoy tours through protected natural areas:
- Casa de Barro (house of mud), in Uayma, Kanxoc Community
- Meliponario Lool-Ha: The World of Bees, in ManÃ
- U Najil Yilk’il Kaab, in Yaxcabá
- Yaax, in Tekit
- Ya’axche Halachó Ethnogastronomic Center
- Pachpakal Solar Maya, in ManÃ
- Manà K’oóben Traditional Kitchen
- Unajil Ek Balam
- Caminos del Mayab, in Mérida and Yunkú
- Discover Sisal
- Guardians of the Dzinintun Mangroves, in Celestún
- Mundo Maya MTB, in Sacalum
- San Antonio Dzodzil, San Marcos, and Mucuyché
- Sheartail, in Celestún
The catalogue is also a strategic tool for promoting cultural and sustainable tourism, developed through a collaborative effort between UNESCO, Airbnb, and the Co´ox Mayab Community Tourism Alliance. This initiative aligns with the government’s "Capacity Building for Community-Based Tourism" programme, reinforcing a long-term commitment to empowering local communities.
The Government of Yucatán, through the State Secretariat of Tourism Development, continues to champion a sustainable approach to community tourism. In partnership with UNESCO, it presents a model that places local communities at the front line to benefit from the sustainable development, proving that the Maya people and their traditions endure and thrive.
