With a call to defend the natural wealth of Yucatán and in particular, the mangroves, undertake actions to contribute to the fight against climate change and join collaborative networks that promote change in favor of the environment, all for sustainable tourism, the past The 2023 Jaguar Tourism Awards ceremony was held this weekend.
“Times have changed, science has changed, so we have to change and make people understand that, without the conservation of mangroves, man will cease to exist,” warned Hilda Uc Crespo, representative of the Gedeon Tourist Cooperative and the Ejido Sisal, winner of the Sustainability in Mangroves Award.
“It’s like they say about bees: without bees, man dies. Thus, without mangroves, tourism would not exist, because the people who come for walks, to the hotels and restaurants, come for our nature, for our culture,” he explained.
“I assure you that without it you will not come to see skyscrapers or cement buildings, because that is why they are fleeing the city; That is the value that Sisal has,” the activist stressed in her message, which moved those attending the ceremony.
“If my town was named Pueblo Mágico it is because of my identity, but if they take away my identity, my traditions, and customs, then I will stop being a Pueblo Mágico. That’s why I raise my voice, so that they pay attention to us: Sisal is in the middle of two nature reserves and we have to take care of it, because without mangroves there is no tourism!”, emphasized Hilda Uc, followed by the applause of the attendees.
The ceremony of sixth awards ceremony was headed by Rosa Isela García Pantoja, CEO of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Award; Jorge Carrillo Sáenz, president of the Tourism Business Council (Cetur) of Yucatán; Raúl Paz Noriega, technical secretary of Sefotur, representing the State government, and José Luis Martínez Semerena, director of Economic Development and Tourism, representative of the Mérida City Council.
The winners of this sixth edition who received the award are Jorge Escalante Bolio, president of Cetur, Golden Jaguar for his outstanding Tourism Business Career of more than 50 years in this industry; Guillermina Pech Pech, founder of “Environmental Voices” and liaison of the Kybernus Collective of Quintana Roo, winner in the Woman of the Year category.
Also José de la Cruz, representative of Pachpakal Solar Maya of the Magical Town of Maní, in the Social and Responsible Tourism category, and Hilda Uc, in the Mangrove Sustainability category.
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