The tourist conformation of Mahahual, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Mahahual, a former fishing community located in the state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatán Peninsula, faces socioeconomic challenges stemming from its progressive tertiary transformation into the tourism sector. Since 1974, the expansion of various economic activities, primarily tourism, has significantly transformed the local landscape and social structure. This article aims to analyze the productive processes linked to tourism, revealing the power relations operating in a given time and space, as well as identifying the particular interests to which they respond. The methodology used is qualitative with a critical approach; interviews and life stories were used to understand how actors reflect and reproduce dynamics imposed by those who operate tourism. The results reveal social inequality and socio-environmental degradation driven by political and economic interests in the area. It is also observed that cruise tourism has displaced traditional activities, generating dependency and labor exploitation. Tourism development has also led to the privatization of resources and an increase in poverty and exclusion of the local population.