The end of the Covid-19 lockdown did not bring an immediate return of visitors to Mexican tourism destinations such as Atlixco, a town in the state Puebla. (Photo by Alina Martina Madarasz/Shutterstock)
Mexico’s jungles, deserts and coral reefs dazzle even the pickiest visitors, but development of the country’s tourism industry has rarely proceeded with the best interests of the environment in mind. Some experts hope lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic might alter this state of affairs. Araceli Domínguez, founder of the Cancún-based environmental nonprofit Grupo Ecologista del Mayab (GEMA), says the answer appears to be no. “The beaches are clean, far more sea turtles landed and we’ve seen species we hadn’t seen in a long time, such as jaguars, howler monkeys, toucans, deer and more crocodiles,” says Domínguez, whose group is active in the state of Quintana Roo. “Local ecosystems have had a much-needed respite, but now tourists are returning. I’m seeing them go right back to their old habits, which is worrying. They don’t seem to be demanding sustainability. It’s the locals and the wildlife that are... [Log in to read more]
