Ciclo de vida de experiencias comunitarias de turismo en la cuenca del Lago de Pátzcuaro

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This research is aimed at analysing community tourism experiences in the Lake Patzcuaro basin, based on Butler’s theory of the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) adapted to the rural tourism context. The experiences of Yunuen, La Pacanda and Cerro Sandio were analysed. The information was obtained by literature research and field work. This was systematised by experience and by categories of analysis. The categories corresponded to community development processes and key factors identified in the development of Mexican community tourism experiences. In total, four processes and ten factors were recognized. To determine the phase of each factor in the TALC, the systematised information was contrasted with the adaptation made from the Butler model. The results show that Yunuen is the experience with the greatest consolidation. In terms of processes, those for physical development are in the development and consolidation phases, while those for environmental development are in the exploration and involvement phases. Additionally, it was determined which phase had a greater number of factors. The result shows that the majority are in the development phase. It is concluded that this adaptation of Butler's theory can serve as a guide to visualize challenges and potentialities of community tourism experiences and stands out as a tool for comparison and contrast between similar destinations.