Cenotourism and Sustainable Tourism Development in Karst Regions: Linking Demand, Environmental Vulnerability, and Governance
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Tourism development in the Yucatán Peninsula has long been dominated by coastal mass tourism, resulting in environmental pressure and pronounced spatial imbalances. In response, increasing attention has been directed toward diversification strategies based on inland and nature-based attractions. Among these, cenotes—karst sinkholes connected to regional groundwater systems—have emerged as a distinctive tourism resource. This paper introduces the concept of cenotourism as a form of nature-based and geoculturally embedded tourism centred on cenotes and their associated karst environments. The analysis combines conceptual development with empirical evidence from a large-scale tourism survey conducted in Yucatán (n ≈ 2800). The findings suggest that cenotes constitute a meaningful component of tourists’ activity portfolios, with 24.6% of respondents declaring an intention to visit them. Cenotourism contributes to diversification and appears to support the redistribution of tourist flows toward inland areas, while simultaneously increasing exposure to highly sensitive groundwater systems. These results point to a clear sustainability trade-off, although its magnitude may vary depending on local governance conditions. While cenotourism may strengthen local economies and reduce pressure on coastal destinations, it also introduces risks related to groundwater contamination, cultural commodification, and uneven benefit distribution. Such outcomes depend strongly on governance conditions, including visitor management, environmental monitoring, and community participation. By conceptualizing cenotourism as an integrative framework linking tourism demand, environmental vulnerability, and governance processes, the study contributes to understanding tourism development in groundwater-dependent systems. The findings emphasize the need for context-specific management approaches and situate cenotourism within broader water-sensitive tourism planning.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su18094317
Author: Anna Winiarczyk-Raźniak
Institution: Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
Language: English
Subfield: Geology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7158208526