Quintana Roo and Airbnb collaborate to boost tourism diversification in the Mexican Caribbean

Within the framework of the Second Extraordinary Session of the Quintana Roo Gastronomy Promotion Committee, in coordination with Airbnb, and as part of the State Government's commitment to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage and the promotion of regional identity, the Quintana Roo Gastronomy Promotion Committee invited women and men of Mexican origin, residents of the municipalities of Benito Juárez, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto and José María Morelos, to participate in this important initiative that seeks to recognize and strengthen the state's traditional culinary knowledge.

This call, supported by Airbnb's donation for the certification of traditional cooks through the Conservatory of Mexican Gastronomic Culture (CCGM), is part of the efforts aimed at preserving, recognizing, and disseminating our state's culinary legacy, thus promoting the safeguarding of our gastronomic heritage through certification processes that boost its transmission, visibility, and sustainability.

The Quintana Roo Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2030 recognizes the gastronomic sector as an alternative for tourism diversification in the state. This requires the coordination of the public, private, academic, and social sectors to promote actions that improve the state's competitiveness in this area. Through the Gastronomy Promotion Strategy, employment, cultural pride, and local economic development are fostered through actions such as culinary promotion, strengthening gastronomic identity, and creating a regional inventory that includes traditional products, establishments, and chefs. In the new era of tourism, spearheaded by Governor Mara Lezama, gastronomy is one of the key pillars of tourism success, which translates into shared prosperity for the people of Quintana Roo.

The certification was open to individuals who met the following criteria: being born in the state of Quintana Roo, being between 18 and 65 years of age at the time of registration, residing in one of the aforementioned municipalities, being direct descendants of individuals recognized as traditional cooks, demonstrating a genuine interest in continuing the family culinary tradition, having demonstrable experience preparing traditional dishes from their region, and meeting the established administrative requirements.

This session highlighted the inclusion of people from the Caste War Route in the Maya Ka'an destination. This has helped the cooperatives that make up the route receive certification for the gastronomic experiences they offer, thus contributing to providing quality services and strengthening the capacities of the Maya Ka'an communities.

"For us, the accreditation of the skills of our traditional cooks from Quintana Roo is essential; they are key to consolidating our culinary identity and a development opportunity for the communities of our state," said Bernardo Cueto, Secretary of Tourism.

“Mexico is a melting pot of flavors, knowledge, traditions, customs, and traditions that are woven into a unique culture. Within this universe lies a large community of women who are bearers of our culinary heritage. They carry in their hands the ancient knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation, and thanks to them, the great cuisine of this country lives on today. This standard of competency endorses this knowledge and supports it through a document issued by the Mexican government. This document opens the doors to economic, employment, and social advancement.” —Dr. Gloria López Morales, president of the Conservatory of Mexican Gastronomic Culture (CCGM).

“At Airbnb, we know that the best way to help diversify tourism in the Mexican Caribbean is to open our doors to its people and its cuisine. Data from CONCANACO (National Council of the Caribbean) reveals that, in Quintana Roo, local businesses receive 60% more customers thanks to direct recommendations from our hosts, well above the national average, and that six out of ten MSMEs that grow their turnover by more than 10% point to Airbnb as their key channel for attracting visitors. These figures confirm that certifying traditional cooks not only preserves a unique culinary legacy but also boosts the community economy and expands the revenue of a sector that already represents 87% of the state's GDP. Tourism can and should be an engine of inclusive and sustainable development.” —Sebastián Colín, Director of Public Policy at Airbnb Mexico.

With this initiative, Quintana Roo reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development, cultural inclusion, and the dignification of our culinary roots, positioning itself as a leading state in the professionalization of its culinary riches.

Source: Government of Quintana Roo.