Tourism and Commodification of Nature in Holbox, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Although the growth of developing countries has become evident, the natural landscapes remain a necessary asset for the configuration and conformation of the tourist destinations; communities that were previously engaged in primary activities make this tertiary activity their ally, which is why investors set their sights on new natural spaces that preserve their scenic beauty, seeking to strengthen the hegemonic model and capital accumulation. However, in recent years the appropriation of pristine places, as well as the purchase and sale of the territory have generated various conflicts in which the commodification of nature is seen as a starting point and the fact that happens before the imposition of the capitalist system in search of the consolidation of a project and the benefit of a minority. For this reason, this document explains the social reality related to the sale of the territory in Holbox, Quintana Roo, Mexico through collective action. This qualitative research used the in-depth interview as an instrument for getting information, as well as non-participant observation to account for the actions undertaken by the population related to the object of study, resulting in the identification of two groups, the first linked to the hegemonic process of the mode of production and another in resistance to the loss of common goods.