A Systems Science Approach to Sustainable Water Management in Rural Tourism Communities

Abstract

In the face of the growing water crisis and current environmental pressures, rural communities with a tourism vocation face significant challenges in preserving their ecological and cultural integrity. These communities, whose livelihoods depend on their interaction with tourism dynamics and their territory, constitute a complex system in which sustainability challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. This study develops a systemic diagnosis of La Magdalena Atlitic, a rural community located in the south of Mexico City, through the application of the Viable System Model (VSM), complemented by the principles of agile governance. The objective is to understand how social enterprises contribute to sustainable water management through their tourism products and services. Drawing on field visits, semi structured interviews and participatory workshops, three operational units sustaining the system in focus were identified. The findings show that although these units are dynamic, weaknesses persist in coordination, control and auditing, which limits the feedback capacity of the system under study. The integration of agile governance reveals the community’s potential to transform reactive practices into efficient mechanisms, strengthening collaboration and participatory decision-making. This approach demonstrates that the synergy between the VSM and agile governance promotes water sustainability and the resilience of socio ecological systems.