It is necessary to answer this question because as consumers we seek the maximum benefit at the lowest cost, applying it in a general way in all our purchasing modalities.
Our objective in writing these lines is to sensitize the reader of the importance of generating income for the receiving communities that base their economy on the practice of Ecotourism, Rural Tourism, Adventure Tourism, and Alternative Tourism (encompassed as sustainable tourism).
Sustainable tourism implies the practice of ecotourism, rural and alternative tourism, this is how these are carried out mostly in protected or unexplored natural areas (Wearing Stephen, 1999), -although the differentiation of these new practices may be conflicting according to the context where they are practiced and the activities that are carried out-, generating some of them the so-called passive rest (Zamorano Casal, 2008).
An intensely rich option is found in our state, such as the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, whose extension covers 383,567 hectares, which represent 32% of the state territory, the main biological characteristic of Sierra Gorda is its eco-diversity, which makes it unique due to the large number of ecosystems it presents. For this reason, it is the richest, most conserved and most diverse sector in the state of Querétaro. It ranks first among ANP's in Mexico in terms of eco-diversity (Sierra Gorda, 2009).
In this destination we find natural tourist products positioned as: Mirador Cuatro Palos, Río Escanela, Chuveje, Presa Jalpan, Adjuntas de Ayutla and Santa María, Marine Fossils (in danger due to the looting of locals and visitors), to name a few. In them, business options have been generated for visitors through which micro-businesses operated by the locals have been derived, which have guided their lifestyles through a long process of environmental awareness and education by the organization in charge of manage the biosphere reserve for over 22 years,and whose objective has been concretized in the fact that these people can choose tourism as a source of income that allows them to respect the environment and also have a choice from which to live.
But what happens when they face tourists who do not know the concept of sustainability, the latter then refuse to make use of the services that the receiving community proposes, such as: guided tours, consumption in rural dining rooms, paying access fees to the main attractions reason for the transfer of people, thus losing the few income options that the locals have to maintain the lifestyle that demands the privilege and responsibility that living in an ANP implies.
We can say then that a committed tourism is one that does not leave an ecological footprint, but does use the means that are provided to generate profit from what you are enjoying.
The local population owns these spaces, because tourists are only spectators and appreciators of wealth.
We can then be part of sustainable development, avoiding generating poverty that in these areas leads to the predation of forests to be used as firewood, in the capture of endangered birds or animals that are sold as pets.
Visit Sierra Gorda and take advantage of the services that are offered here, commit the locals to quality and respect the attractions that are offered to you.
Bibliography
Sierra Gorda, R. d. (August 10, 2009). Sierra Gorda Official Site. Retrieved on October 8, 2009, from Sierra Gorda Official Site:
Wearing Stephen, NJ (1999). Ecotourism. Impact, trends and possibilities. Spain: Synthesis.
Zamorano Casal, FM (2008). Alternative Tourism, Differentiated Tourist Services. Mexico: Trillas.
