ConfuZIHón de Identidad

https://youtu.be/zNEE7TjIqyU

Though he keeps making different excuses for all the cement he pours, the current mayor and apparently everyone at Zihuatanejo's ayuntamiento of this and previous administrations remain quite confused about what Zihuatanejo's main attraction is. They keep thinking it's painted cement and megaprojects: a beach shorn of old and tall trees and half covered in cement cubes, a coastline devoid of natural trees with more cement cubes, overpruned sickly palm trees and endless condo developments. I keep trying to tell them it isn't. That it's our natural beauty: green hills, blue water, leafy trees, slow and easy lifestyle, lack of overdevelopment. They keep saying that our tourists come because we have Blue Flag beaches: that Blue Flag rules are the only way to keep them clean. I keep telling them their Blue Flag rules are driving away visitors, not attracting them: no one wants their bags searched or their picnic taken away from them because they brought products in glass or styrofoam or want to sit around a fire in the evening and sing and dance. And all that's needed to keep our beaches clean is the will: sufficient workers to pick up the trash, plentiful wastebaskets emptied regularly, and fines for infractors. They keep saying allowing new developments on the tops of our hills is progress. I keep reminding them the development of each hillside is a nail in the coffin of Zihuatanejo's tourism. So far I believe my predictions from over 15 years ago have proven true. The decay of Ixtapa from the abusive exclusivity of All-Inclusive hotel packages is the most obvious evidence. Zihuatanejo's main attraction that has historically attracted repeat respectful tourists who make the community prosperous is that it ISN'T like Acapulco, Cancún, Vallarta or Los Cabos. But our current mayor more than anyone has endeavored to imitate those places and convince locals that a Disneylandish faux Zihuatanejo is good for our future. And over the years the folks seeking Zihuatanejo's culture more and more stay at lodging outside of Zihuatanejo or go to other destinations altogether. And the people taking their place are just like the tourists at the box-like hotels in any other destination. They have no loyalty to Zihuatanejo, no interest in its community, no knowledge of or respect for its culture, a culture being lost and diluted. But most important is the community. More people than ever paying more than ever to live here while earning less than ever as the gentrification that tourism brings drives up the cost of housing and living, and slowly but surely locals find themselves unable to afford local housing or the accompanying increased cost of living. I'd like to avoid what's happening in other tourist destinations and what I've witnessed and experienced in places I've lived where tourism killed the community. But people seeking to satisfy only their own selfish interests have other ideas, and sometimes I feel like a lone voice shouting into the wind, though I know I'm not. Like any problem, the hardest part is always admitting and identifying the problem, and that's where the greatest disconnect seems to be, and it's allowing Zihuatanejo to be led down the same tragic path of mistakes as Acapulco. But no, I'm not alone. There is a growing number of people like me in tourist destinations around the world. Better to come alert and snap out of our collective slumber late than never. A movement is underway. This is what standing up for one's community against an addiction to tourism looks like. Tourism, like anything else, can be fine in moderation. But there needs to be limits and an alternative economy for everyone's sake. We need to diversify our economy more than diversify our tourism offerings.
https://skift.com/2024/06/10/the-town-behind-mallorcas-mass-overtourism-protests-a-summer-of-discontent/

Hotel occupation remained high all weekend. I believe it's a continuation of the Efecto Acapulco: Acapulco's tourists seeking an alternative vacation destination since much of Acapulco remains destroyed by Huracán Otis.

Huracán Beryl is apparently barreling down on some of the Caribbean islands while making a beeline for Mexico, according to most forecast models. If we get blasted by two storms again, it could be bad. Many communities along the Gulf of Mexico are already waterlogged. I hate to think of what the convergence of Pacific and Atlantic storms could do again. This coming week could get very interesting for much of Mexico.

Casa Tropicana is a nice little hideaway in Troncones located on the street across from the beach within easy walking of the village shops and restaurants. They offer a lovely 2-story vacation home made up of two spacious 1-BR modern apartments with fully equipped kitchens, and a pool. Rent the bottom apartment individually or the entire home.
Luxury Vacation Rentals in Troncones

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
#MásSeguridadPúblicaMenosCemento
#NoQueremosBlueFlagEnLasPlayas
#PreservemosPlayaManzanillo
#DenunciaElEcocidioEnLaRopa

Un atardecer hermosa en la bahía de Zihuatanejo apreciada por unos visitantes a Playa Principal.