Xel-Ha Blog

Within the context of the “Tourism for Sustainable Development” course issued by the Institute of Economic Investigation, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Xel-Ha’s experience as a model project of sustainable development was acknowledged by university alumni and professors alike, after a thorough study of the modus operandi which this Natural Wonder undergone these last thirteen years.

During the work session in which Xel-Ha’s management philosophy was revealed, it was clear that scientific investigation and publication is instrumental for the success of sustainable tourism projects, to the point of risking their very viability if these facets are overlooked.

Throughout his explanation, Ricardo Saenz, Xel-Ha’s Sustainable Development manager, showed how the factors that guarantee Xel-Ha’s sustainable exploitation have been put through scientific scrutiny. Xel-Ha –a natural reserve constituted by inlets, lagoons, cenotes and caves spread about an 84 acre reserve, contains valuable biodiversity unique to this area because of its idiosyncratic sea and freshwater combination, and therefore, must be considered a un exceptional natural resource. He mentioned that, within this marvellous environment, Promotora Xel-Ha is constantly committed to fulfilling all applicable ecological regulations, preventing and reducing pollution, and continuously improving the efficiency of its ecological programs.

Ricardo Saenz explained how water is this tourist attraction’s most important natural resource, and therefore, guaranteeing its preservation is a priority to the organisation. Also, he reported that since 2003, Xel-Ha has encouraged the investigation of the network of underground rivers found in the Riviera Maya, particularly those within its territory: a project undertaken by the Centre for Scientific Investigation of Yucatan, in cooperation with the UNAM itself.

He established that learning the behaviour of underground waterways in the Peninsula represents an important support tool not only for the region’s tourist industry, but for authorities at all government levels, since it will allow a better planning of infrastructural work and services for regional development, with a better knowledge of the vulnerability of the hydrological resources within the area. These studies are in their final phase and will be published shortly, given their importance, Saenz mentioned.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 6:46 pm and is filed under Awards and acknowledgements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.