Alternative Development Models and Good Practices for Sustainable Coastal Tourism: A Framework for Decision Makers in Mexico Prepared by: March 2012 Washington DC Office: Stanford University Office: 450 Serra Mall, Building 50, Room 51D 1333 H Street, NW Suite 300 www.responsibletravel.org Washington, D.C. 20005 Stanford, CA 94305 Tel: 202-347-9203 Tel: 650-723-0894 Copyright © 2012 Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) Alternative Models and Best Practices for Sustainable Coastal Tourism: A Framework for Decision Makers in Mexico was created by Center for Responsible Travel, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC and at Stanford University, in order to share knowledge and encourage a wide adoption of good practices. When quoting or referencing material contained in this Framework, please cite as follows: Martha Honey and David Krantz, editors, Alternative Models and Best Practices for Sustainable Coastal Tourism: A Framework for Decision Makers in Mexico, Washington, DC: Center for Responsible Travel, 2012, plus page numbers. 2 Acknowledgements The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) would like to thank the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and program officer Richard Cudney for proving financial support to produce the Framework for Decision Makers in Mexico, as well as for their ongoing support for promotion of sustainable tourism in Mexico. CREST Co-Director Martha Honey and Program Director David Krantz took the lead on this project, and received vital support from a variety of collaborators. We would like to thank Jorge De Vicente, Sustainable Tourism Consultant, who researched and drafted the sections on Coastal Resorts, Residential Tourism, Marinas, and Golf Courses. We are also grateful to Esteban Biondi for his contributions to the section on Marinas, and Rene Cordoba for his input on the Ley General de Turismo. Tourism expert and Climate Change Professional Fellow Anaite Seibt researched and drafted the section on Climate Change and Tourism Development. Thanks to CREST’s Catherine Ardagh for her competent research, edits, and multiple contributions over many months. We are grateful as well to Kimberley Player, Anne McEnany, Sandra Guido, and Martin Goebel who read and commented on the draft report. Incorporating their comments and insights has helped to strengthen the final report. Finally our thanks to Katiana Murillo for translating the publication into Spanish, and to CREST interns Lizzeth Montejano and Reed Eisenhaur for their contributions in putting together the final English and Spanish versions. 3 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 3 Introduction: Achieving Competitiveness and Sustainability in Mexico’s Tourism Industry ........................................................................................................................ 7 Key Findings and Recommendations ........................................................................... 13 Reglamento de la Ley General de Turismo .................................................................. 17 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 17 The Reglamento of the General Tourism Law ...................................................................... 18 Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) .......................................................................... 19 Inter-American Development Bank Tourism Sustainability Scorecard ................................ 21 Additional Resources ............................................................................................................ 23 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 24 Consumer Demand for Responsible Tourism .............................................................. 25 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 25 Current Demand and Future Trends ..................................................................................... 25 Financial Sector’s Interest in Sustainable Tourism ............................................................... 28 Case Study: The Willard InterContinental Hotel, Washington, DC ....................................... 31 Site Selection .............................................................................................................. 33 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 33 1) Commercial viability ......................................................................................................... 34 2) Beyond Legal Compliance ................................................................................................. 34 3) Scale .................................................................................................................................. 34 4) Environmental Significance .............................................................................................. 35 5) Cultural Heritage and Social Context ................................................................................ 38 6) A More Accurate Environmental Impact Assessment and Cost-benefit Analysis ............ 39 Case Study: Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands .............................................. 41 Climate Change and Tourism Development in Mexico ................................................ 42 Definition and Challenges Posed by Climate Change ........................................................... 42 Consequences of Climate Change for Coastal Tourism in Mexico and the Caribbean ......... 42 Mexico’s Coastal Tourism and Addressing Climate Change ................................................. 46 Good Practices for Addressing Climate Change in Coastal Tourism: .................................... 47 Coastal Resorts ........................................................................................................... 51 Overview of Mexico’s Coastal Resort Sector ........................................................................ 51 Environmental Impacts ......................................................................................................... 53 Certification Programs and Good Practices for Coastal Accommodations .......................... 54 Case Studies .......................................................................................................................... 58 “Residential Tourism”: Vacation and Retirement Homes ............................................ 66 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 66 Overview of Mexico’s Residential Tourism Sector ............................................................... 67 Negative Consequences of Residential Tourism................................................................... 71 Good practices and certification for residential tourism...................................................... 73 Case Study: Villages of Loreto Bay, Baja California Sur ........................................................ 76 4 Marinas ...................................................................................................................... 79 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 79 Marinas in Mexico ................................................................................................................ 79 Consumer Demand ............................................................................................................... 81 Environmental and Social Impacts ........................................................................................ 82 Mexican Laws and Regulations for Marinas ......................................................................... 85 Good Practices in Site Selection, Design, Building, and Operation of Marinas .................... 86 Certification Programs for Marinas ...................................................................................... 88 Case Study: Paradise Village Marina and Yacht Club, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico: Environmental Management ................................................................................................ 90 Golf Courses ............................................................................................................... 92 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 92 Consumer Demand ............................................................................................................... 93 Real Estate Speculation ........................................................................................................ 94 Environmental and Social Impacts ........................................................................................ 95 Good practices in site selection, design, building, and operation of golf courses ............... 96 Certification Programs .......................................................................................................... 97 Case Study: El Camaleón, Mayakoba Resort, Playa del Carmen