Les activités écotouristiques à Les activités écotouristiques à Rio Lagartos: un « modèle vertueux » ?

Abstract

Ecotourism is understood as a “virtuous model” internationally given its ability to conserve nature in addition to generating economic and social benefits for local populations. However, local issues of redistribution, participation and subjectivity can be raised in the case of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in Río Lagartos in Yucatán (Mexico). It is therefore through an analysis through the prism of development myths and protected areas as well as neoliberalism that the pernicious nature of ecotourism will be exposed. Thus, by moving from theory to practice, it is possible to understand that ecotourism perpetuates logics of power of domination of the global north over the global south by attempting to reconcile capitalism and nature conservation through sustainable development.