RELEVANCE OF STAKEHOLDERS FOR TOURISM MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF THE EL CHICO NATIONAL PARK, HIDALGO, MEXICO

Abstract

El Chico National Park (ECNP) is one of the most important protected areas in the state of Hidalgo. Tourism management of this protected area involves numerous stakeholders with different needs, resources and perceptions of nature. There are four forest communities that are involved in the tourist use of this park, but other stakeholders are also behind tourism activity in this PA: federal government agencies, state government agencies, municipalities, unorganized smallholder entrepreneurs. Tourism management of this protected area is a complex issue, particularly, when decision-making process is centralised by government bodies. This study explores the relationships’ structure among government agencies and community tourist associations (CTA) based on the tourism management of El Chico National Park.  It presents a descriptive analysis of collaborative networks among ECNP’s stakeholders, using a qualitative research.