Impacts of US Residential Tourism in Northwest Mexican Coastal Destinations: the cases of Mazatlán, Sinaloa; Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Puerto Peñasco, Sonora

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present an analysis of the social and environmental impacts generated by residential tourism in three destinations in northwestern Mexico. In the theoretical framework a critical review of this tourism modality is presented, as well as its main statements. To achieve the objective, non-participant observation was made, and official sources of the federal government were consulted. The results show that residential tourism in this region generates important negative social, cultural, political and environmental effects, such as social polarization, hoarding of natural resources, privatization of public spaces and degradation of the ecosystem. The study allowed to identify these effects and compare them between the three destinations.
 Keywords: Residential Tourism. Social and Cultural Impacts. Political Impacts. Environmental Impacts. Mexico.
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 Environmental: In many cases these tourists demand spaces near the coast and places where biodiversity is very fragile.
 In this paper the objectives were to analyze some impacts of residential tourism from United States in three coastal destinations in northwest Mexico: Mazatlan, Sinaloa; Puerto Penasco, Sonora and Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Using a non-participant observation methodology we describe the social and environmental impacts in the region. Using a quantitative methodology (survey) and relying on data provided by the National Migration Institute in each of the three entities, we also describe the demographic composition of these residential tourists.