Mexico | Huatulco

The Bahias of Huatulco or simply Huatulco, located on the pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Oaxaca, is known for its 9 paradisiac bays. Before 1984 there was a small fishing village, and the area was self sufficient with coffee growing and fishery. Though in 1984 the Mexican tourism industry changed the situation. They bought 21 000 hectares of land, chased away or like they would say "relocated" the local indigenous population, to make place for a beach resort complex. Out of nothing, Huatulco was created. There came problems with the native population, as they weren't given jobs in the tourism industry, there came pollution and other hazards. Nowadays there are still some virgin bays, while others are filled up with hotels. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful place to be, as you can see!

Back in 2005 i visited Huatulco for the first time, remembering wild horses playing in the sand in a more remote bay. Nowadays the horses have vanished, and made place for boats going from one bay to another dumping tourists on the beaches. I remember low prices, now everything has skyrocketed. In 2006 i wrote a paper on tourism destination development, analyzing Huatulco. That's how i got to know the "Dark side of the Moon". Everything can look beautiful at first sight, but as the Chinese would say: "Every story has two sides". Tourism has changed everything we can say, but for the best of the (new) locals: much more business than in the past, modern roads, better hospitals and schooling. Sadly, this is a bad example of tourism development. All will speak about the economic side of tourism, but will forget the human and ecological aspect.

Exif: 24mm, 30 sec, F4, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 24-70mm, B+W UV Filter, B+W ND Filter, Tripod.

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