• The scheme encouraged proposals from communities whose culture and work were minor known due to the centralization of conventional tourist circuits.

• Environmental education activities, heritage safeguarding, sustainable agricultural production and even improvements in roads and accessibility are strengthened by their inhabitants through the projects.

Mexico City, April 3, 2023 - Communities and groups in Mexico City generated 24 new creative, cultural and community tourism projects through a pilot model that seeks to counter negative tourism impacts, by promoting knowledge and protection of heritage and cultural diversity, and a direct economic redistribution towards local people outside of traditional tourist circuits. For example, in the municipalities of Iztacalco, Iztapalapa, Tlalpan, or lesser-known areas of Xochimilco and Cuauhtémoc.

The proposals generated by the communities themselves were strengthened with a pilot model of sustainable tourism that recovered the strengths of Airbnb together with the UNESCO Mexico guide, which built six selection and management criteria for the initiatives, such as sustainable social impact and local economic flow, and encourage visitors to be responsible and respectful of heritage, culture and territory. More than 1,000 national and foreign people have participated in the tours and activities at this time, and the benefits are already present.

The model also has the objective of mobilizing neighbours and locals, transcending the conventional perspective of tourism so that, for example, people return to buy their groceries in markets or with producers on some of the routes, to consolidate a local circular economy, such as the people who produce tortillas in the upper part of the mountain in Xochimilco.

Other ventures and proposals for the heritage and cultural and natural diversity of Mexico City that are part of this initiative are:

• Original flavours of Coyoacán with a gastronomy expert. A tour of Coyoacán markets guided by Rodrigo to taste street food in familiar and contemporary places, such as tostadas, tlayudas, esquites and quesadillas. Rodrigo tells the stories that make Coyoacán a special place and why it has been chosen by writers, artists, filmmakers, and intellectuals as his home.
• Tour a lakeside town. This tour is led by Paulina and begins by bike, from the historic Arco de Tlaltenco towards the centre to see the architecture of the Mazatepec, Tlaltenco and El Calvario churches until reaching the centre of Tláhuac. There, travellers move to Lake de Los Reyes for a trajinera tour to appreciate the natural ecosystem in a chinampa, where they learn about ancestral agricultural techniques and can even taste vegetables from the same chinampa. Upon return, visit the Tláhuac community museum and the church of San Pedro. Finally, an artisan workshop is given by locals from Jardín del Arte, using natural elements from the area.
• River, wellspring and pulque in Tlalpan. Together with Sebastián, visitors can get to know the largest wellspring in Mexico City in the Fuentes Brotantes National Park, a unique place in the city. They also go to the neighbourhood of La Fama, where they can taste the traditional pulque and the curados while learning about the history of the yarn factory in the place. Finally, they walk to the Center of Tlalpan to learn about its history, and architecture and relax in its main square along with lunch before leaving.
• Jewels of a Porfirian neighbourhood. A tour to visit Santa María la Ribera with the youngest hostess of the group, Natalia, and taste the most traditional dishes in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Mexico City.

The 24 experiences pursue to contribute to how tourism is carried out in Mexico City, with a focus on a more equitable redistribution of its benefits, which is responsible and dignified for the host communities, and that visitors act with appreciation and respect for diversity and cultural assets, the identities of the inhabitants and the territories they visit, also paying attention to diversity so that all people can also enjoy tourism.

The full catalogue of proposals for this project is available on the UNESCO website. To reserve a place, you have to enter the Airbnb platform, go to the link for each one, check availability and choose the desired date.

^{About UNESCO}

^{UNESCO is the specialized agency of the UN for education, science, culture and communication and information. In the cultural sector and through its six cultural conventions, UNESCO promotes the integration of culture as a factor for peace, inclusive economic development, social cohesion, and sustainable management of biodiversity, in addition to the exercise of cultural rights and gender equality, to mention a few examples. UNESCO promotes the development and implementation of policies aimed at promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes culture and local products based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8 and 12 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.}

^{About Airbnb}

^{Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests into their home in San Francisco and have since grown to more than 4 million hosts who have welcomed 1.4 billion guests in almost every country in the world. Every day, hosts offer both unique stays and experiences that allow guests to connect with communities more authentically.}