A. The Problem: Achieving the development of more sustainable tourism is a challenge for the Government of Mexico. Although tourism growth continues to be an important source of income for the country, it is not significantly impacting the lower-income sectors to reduce inequality, particularly in Campeche and Coahuila. Despite having significant cultural and natural assets, tourism is not a strong source of income for low income population.
Simultaneously, cultural heritage is rapidly diminishing (Maya in Campeche and Ndé in Coahuila). The loss of roots is also accompanied by a reduced capacity for job creation in rural areas, which has an important effect on migration to densely populated urban centers. Moreover, natural heritage is under pressure from climate change, population growth, and extractive resource activities in two emblematic reserves in each state: Cuatrociénegas (Coahuila) and Calakmul (Campeche).
B. Solution:
Generating income in rural areas near established tourism flows through environmentally and socioculturally regenerative tourism. Raise awareness and funds to conservation actions using astronomy as an entry point. To address these issues effectively, it is necessary to establish agreements between relevant public-private actors, resulting in a roadmap for promoting astrotourism with an economic, environmental and cultural focus.
To this end, the Desert Museum of Coahuila (MUDE), along with the Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) of the Government of Campeche, have built this proposal to address these issues with astrotourism as the central axis.
Both entities have already worked together during 2023/2024, achieving an international network and the preparation of a short agenda on how to proceed to boost astroturism at local level (Coahuila & Campeche). Lessons learnt from that project show that building up on an increasing group of actors are key to generate best results in astroturism. A way to do this is through joint diagnosis and roadplan definition.
This project will help to push the astroturistic agenda adapted to local needs in both territories. Thus, some other entities have already agreed to support this project: Astronomical Association of Saltillo (SAS), Technological Institute of Calakmul, Reserves of Calakmul and CuatroCiénegas, Cuatrociénegas Municipality, and the group of community level tourism in Campeche.
C. Activities to adress the problem:
– Diagnosis and roadmap (2) for the development of astrotourism in Coahuila and Campeche, and the creation of the necessary alliances to promote it.
– Training guides (40) on the development of astrotourism experiences in both territories to start concrete steps in the short term in both territories.
– Raising awareness & fundraising for the conservation of cultural and environmental heritage through regional exhibitions (2) to show the connection of both territories to astronomy (modern and ancestral).
