The Tourist Carrying Capacity as a Basis for the Sustainable Management of Ecotourism Activities in the Southern Mexican Caribbean: Case Study

In the Mexican Caribbean, the demand for tourism services led to the expansion of the hotel industry from the coast inland. This caused rural and urban communities in the region to become involved in tourism activities, initiating the formulation of an international model of sustainable development with a focus on cultural tourism. Some studies have estimated the tourism carrying capacity (TCC) for environmental management units in communal land areas of Baja California, Mexico, and the Huagapo cave in Peru. Considering the tourism potential that the study area can offer to nearby rural communities, the present research conducts a social diagnosis and describes the study area, estimating the tourism carrying capacity in the southern region of the Mexican Caribbean. It was found that the area can support a tourism carrying capacity of 538.33 visits per day. In this initial assessment, it was estimated that the implementation of an ecotourism project in a rural community would not alter its environmental conditions. The estimated indicators provide appropriate tools for designing and planning long-term sustainable tourism proposals. Moreover, they integrate environmental, economic, and social aspects in a balanced manner, generating tangible and lasting benefits.