Mexico Launches World’s First Certification for Eco-Tourism

Mexico's Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) has launched the world’s first certification for sustainable community-based tourism, designed to promote authenticity and cultural integrity in local tourism experiences. Sebastián Ramírez Mendoza, head of the National Fund for Tourism (FONATUR), explained that the certification applies to individuals, collectives, and communities offering tourism services with a focus on sustainability and continuous quality improvement.

This designation is part of Mexico’s National Tourism Quality System and sets a benchmark for authenticity, helping prevent cultural appropriation or misrepresentation. Ramírez highlighted that this is SECTUR’s first certification since 2017 and the first globally to recognize sustainable community tourism.

He emphasized that communities will have control over visitor numbers, timing, and capacity—citing shared villages in Oaxaca that manage tourism on their own terms. “We will be listening to them,” he said. According to Ramírez, “When visitors see this certification, they know it represents a genuine community experience and a commitment to ongoing quality improvements.”

Officials are also developing a National Guide to Community Tourism to identify and support communities engaged in authentic, locally rooted offerings. This initiative will be coordinated with UNESCO to enhance visibility and promotional strategies.