Tourism and sustainable local development in the city of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 1990-2015

Since the early eighties, tourism has become the dominant axis of economic development in the city of Cabo San Lucas. The aim of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to assess the impact of tourism on the local sustainable development of Cabo San Lucas. The methodology applied is analytical-descriptive, based on economic, social, demographic, and urban infrastructure variables. The temporary evaluation corresponds to the period 1990-2015. The quantitative analysis is complemented by qualitative information obtained from focus groups (group approach) to identify the valuation of local tourism performance by main stake-holders in the area. The results allow to identify a number of imbalances and deficits currently affecting the city; for example, the accelerated process of immigration, coupled with an urban sprawl, promotes important lags in urban and social infrastructure. At the same time, the lack of a diversified productive base, capable of providing alternative employment and income, is generating excessive pressure on natural resources for tourism, which alienates this city from a model for sustainable tourism development.