The phenomenon of socio-spatial segregation in two Mexican destinations: Cabo San Lucas and Cancún
Keywords:
Tourism, socio-spatial segregation, poverty, tourist destinationsAbstract
Tourism has consolidated itself as one of the main economic activities worldwide, driving regional development through the creation of infrastructure and the use of comparative advantages that evolve into competitive ones. However, this growth has also generated socio-spatial asymmetries evident in tourist destinations, where the tourist city emerges as an unequal space in social, economic, and environmental terms. In Mexico, mass beach destinations developed over more than six decades reveal a stark contrast: urban areas with high-quality infrastructure coexist with peripheral zones marked by social disadvantages. This scenario highlights a strong relationship between tourism and poverty, with socio-spatial segregation serving as the core of the analysis focused on Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, and Cancún, Quintana Roo. Through a documentary approach, descriptive statistical analysis, and the cartographic method, common patterns in urban development across both destinations were identified. Findings reveal the segregation of population groups distant from privatized coastal areas, exposing how economic inequalities and poverty materialize into persistent social imbalances. The discussion emphasizes that these dynamics are not isolated phenomena but rather inherent to tourism development models that prioritize profitability over the needs of local communities. The research concludes that socio-spatial segregation not only highlights the tension between tourism and poverty but also demands greater attention to human development policies that integrate host populations into the benefits of tourism.
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