Cancún’s Hidden Crisis: Tourism Pushing Locals Out

Cancún, Mexico — The unchecked growth of tourist cities has brought to light an increasingly visible and contentious phenomenon: gentrification. In Cancún, where tourism drives urban development, this process intertwines with another key concept—touristification—according to Dr. Priscilla Sosa Ferreira, a professor at the Universidad del Caribe.

A City Designed for Tourism

Unlike other cities where tourism emerges after residential urban development, Cancún was conceived from its inception as a tourist project. This, Sosa Ferreira explained, makes traditional definitions of gentrification insufficient.

“Cancún cannot be understood outside of tourism. It wasn’t touristified—it was born touristified. Its economic and urban dynamics have always been subordinated to the needs of tourism,” she stated in an interview with Radio Fórmula.

However, displacement is still occurring. One example is the transformation of the city center, particularly in areas like Supermanzanas 2A and 4, where long-time residents have been replaced by businesses catering to visitors or Airbnb-style developments.

Residential Tourism: The Case of Puerto Morelos

Another emerging trend is residential tourism, as seen in Puerto Morelos, where communities of Canadian retirees have purchased properties, driving up land values and indirectly displacing original residents.

“Many sold their properties due to rising values, but in some cases, they were pressured by developers who offered below-market prices or warned of tax increases,” Sosa Ferreira explained.

These dynamics, often framed as economic growth, frequently involve coerced decisions and the erosion of community identity.

Rural Areas at Risk

The academic warned that these processes are no longer confined to urban zones. Rural areas with tourism potential are also becoming targets for displacement.

“There are fraud cases, land seizures, and artificially created conflicts in communal lands to facilitate land grabs by developers. It’s alarming,” she cautioned.

Recent data shows the Yucatán Peninsula has the highest number of agrarian disputes in Mexico, highlighting the growing tension between real estate interests and community rights.

A Call for Equitable Urban Planning

Facing this reality, Sosa Ferreira advocates for urban and tourism development planning based on principles of equity, sustainability, and inclusion.

“We must stop planning solely for tourism. The destination must be seen as a whole, where residents and visitors have equitable access to services, public spaces, and natural and cultural assets,” she emphasized.

She also called for stricter regulation of the real estate market and platforms like Airbnb, which have shifted from a collaborative economy model to being dominated by large corporations replicating unregulated hotel operations.

Finally, she warned of cultural loss and the urgent need to protect the region’s intangible heritage.

“Our identity and our communities must be at the center of decision-making. If we don’t act soon, what makes us unique could disappear under a tourism model that prioritizes profit above all else,” she concluded.