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Tourism has been considered a tool for sustainable development (SD) of rural/indigenous communities living within natural protected areas (NPAs) since the 1980s. This article examines the use of tourism as a SD intervention in the management of NPAs. Based on the theory of social change and on the realist methodological approach to social research, the study focuses on the case of Mexico. It seeks to establish causal chains to identify mechanisms that trigger (un)expected outcomes within a specific sociocultural context. The research distinguishes between development of tourism, and SD through tourism. Preliminary findings from on-going research in the indigenous community of Sta. Cruz Tepetotutla in Oaxaca, Mexico point to the necessity for an alterna-tive approach to the design, application and assessment of tourism interventions. It is argued that specific contextual features trigger mech-anisms which lead to (un)expected outcomes. Considering traditional social organization is fundamental to achieve improvement in collective well-being, biodiversity preservation and cultural heritage. The article seeks to help decision-makers improve their outcomes from interven-tions, and to generate further discussion on the use of tourism for the management of NPAs, and on the role tourism can play in the improve-ment of the living conditions of the communities.

Este é um artigo de acesso aberto, licenciado por Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 3.0), sendo permitidas reprodução, adaptação e distribuição desde que o autor e a fonte originais sejam creditados. Resumen. Las instituciones internacionales promoviendo el "desarrollo sustentable" han ampliado sus visiones para incorporar el ecoturismo como un nuevo campo para promover la acumulación capitalista. Como parte del proceso están ofreciendo fi nanciamiento y "asistencia técnica"' para la incorporación de comunidades rurales e indígenas en la provisión de estos servicios, generalmente en sociedad con organizaciones internacionales promotoras de la actividad quienes están organizando de alguna manera los mercados. Considerando la enorme brecha cultural y económica entre los oferentes y los demandantes de los servicios, es evidente que la mayor parte de los encuentros implicarían una incapacidad de comprensión mutua de la situación y una apropiación de los benefi cios por personas ajenas a la comunidad. En el proceso, las comunidades terminan sacrifi cando partes importantes de su propia existencia y de su organización para la reproducción social, cultural y productiva, así como para la protección de sus ecosistemas. Sin embargo, hay ejemplos alentadores donde prevalecen esfuerzos autogestionados.Palabras clave: ecoturismo, sustentable, autogestionado, autonomía, explotación.Abstract. International institutions promoting "sustainable development" have broadened their scope of action to incorporate ecotourism as a new fi eld to promote capitalist accumulation. As part of the process, they are off ering fi nancing and "technical assistance" to incorporate rural and native communities in providing these services, generally in partnership with international promoters of these activities that are organizing the markets. Considering the enormous cultural and economic gap between the groups of service providers and consumers, it is evident that most of the encounters imply a lack of mutual understanding of the situation and an appropriation of the benefi ts by people outside the communities. In the process, the communities end up sacrifi cing important parts of their own existence and their social, cultural and productive organization along with their ability to protect their ecosystems. There are, however, hopeful examples of where self-management prevails.

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