Resumo: It is beneficial to strengthen communities close to tourist destinations using alternative approaches in the process of the smooth functioning of sustainable development models as an incentive in the inequality gap that is mainly affecting the local population of tourist destinations. The objective is to identify the relationship between tourist-receiving communities in Quintana Roo and alternative structures (human development, communality, new rurality, labor economics and good living) based on the vulnerability and socio-environmental impacts that they suffer. The methodology is focused on an analysis based on a theoretical-methodological framework and on the application of 23 semi-structured interviews of tourism workers from 17 communities close to the tourist destinations. The discussion highlights the attributes of alternative structures based on solidarity, identity, culture, autonomy, security and comprehensive planning as determinants for overcoming the potential challenges of the community in receiving the benefits of the tourism activity. The results show that the communal attributes are still present in the communities, which constitutes a good opportunity to differentiate themselves from the other already established destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Riviera Maya and a good tool for be strengthened through their conservation.
