Why does Cozumel, Mexico, attract cruise ships: tourism beyond the Caribbean

Abstract

The localization of the island of Cozumel (Mexico) in the Caribbean Sea has endowed it with natural resources that are ideal for tourist activities. The infrastructure about hotels and other attractions, is all of high quality. However, there are ports on the coasts of Mexico that are relatively similar but that are nowhere near competing with Cozumel. This shows that a favourable physical environment and innovative installations are not always sufficient to achieve a place on the circuit of international cruise ships. The main objective of the present work was to identify other factors that would explain the supremacy of Cozumel, on the basis of specific models such theory of Circular Cumulative Causation combined with the spatial spread effects of development. It is suggested here that an economic structure that is specialized in tourism would be an additional and decisive factor in explaining the importance of this port. Analysis of the case of Cozumel from various perspectives confirmed a functional economy that is specialized in the service industries. In addition, the presence of a population with advanced training in dealing with tourists has also been a substantial factor in the prominence that Cozumel has achieved about tourism attraction.