Contribution of Tourism to Sustainable Development: Samalayuca Dunes (Mexico)

Abstract

Tourism is vital for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in Protected Natural Areas where it is necessary to promote the conservation of the area’s natural and cultural heritage. Taking into consideration this premise, the objective of this study is to potentiate a low-impact tourism model with the participation of the local community in the Samalayuca Dunes, Mexico as a way to achieve the SDGs by 2030. To this purpose, a participatory low-impact tourism strategy was built with community stakeholders, specifically gateway communities, based on three pillars: natural and cultural heritage; economic community development; and social well-being.