Social adaptation ecotourism in the Lacandon forest

Abstract

Social and economic adjustment processes were analyzed in relation to the introduction of ecotourism in a community of the Lacandon rainforest, Mexico. Data collection was achieved utilizing structured and semistructured interviews applied to a sample of members and employees belonging to an ecotourism organization. The establishment of this activity is the result of local and regional economic processes as well as environmental and cultural characteristics. Although it represents an alternative productive activity, it can lead to conflict within a rural community. This study contributes to the understanding of local adjustment processes related to ecotourism and provides evidence of household and community responses to new social and environmental conditions.