An indicator-based evaluation of sustainability in a coastal region of southern Mexico transitioning from traditional activities to tourism

Abstract

Implementation of measures favouring sustainability is often a low priority in poorly developed countries and regions where resources are more often focused on subsistence. Assessing sustainability at a regional scale is vital to evaluating and implementing affordable processes using local data and diagnosis. A comprehensive evaluation of sustainability status was done in three small coastal towns on the south-east coast of the Gulf of Mexico. These towns are transitioning from traditional fishing to tourism as their primary economic activity and are in or near a high-biodiversity natural protected area. Data were collected via questionnaires, field surveys, official data and documentary research. Based on these, nineteen social, economic and environmental indicators were selected based on established United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) guidelines and methodologies. Information on perceptions of tourism was collected from residents and visitors using United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forms. The results showed that social indicators exhibited relatively positive values, except for income, since half of those sampled lived below the national poverty line. This result consequently affects some other social and economic indicators. The environmental indicators reflected a relatively good condition. Residents perceived that tourism provides more positive than negative outcomes, highlighting the relevance of healthy natural environments. Most visitors perceived tourism activities as a promising option for regional development. The results suggest tourism is a potential principal economic activity for the study region and can take advantage of the core value offered by the natural protected area. Approaches like that used here, which integrate tourism into sustainability assessments and regional planning while prioritising social participation and ecological integrity, hold promise for creating development plans in coastal regions with similar conditions.