Cancun and the Riviera Maya, and more recently, the Costa Maya, is a rapidly growing destination which is becoming increasingly popular with British tourists. From just 1,500 guest rooms in 1995, the Riviera Maya now has more than 23,000 rooms and receives over 2 million tourists annually. Cancun receives a further 3 million tourists.

One of the most significant characteristics of the region is the ‘cenotes’. The Yucatan Peninsula has no surface rivers or streams – instead, the freshwater supply runs underground through an extensive network of limestone caves.  As the limestone erodes, the cavern roof collapses in, forming a water-filled sinkhole, or a ‘cenote’.  Traditionally, cenotes were sacred places of worship for the Mayans. Today, they are popular swimming and snorkelling attractions for visitors.

Although a unique selling point for the destination, this geological feature is also a significant sustainability issue. Fresh rainwater seeps through the rock, into the caves and flows out to sea and over the coral reef; conversely, seawater flows back into the caves. This means that any deposited waste or waste water has the potential to seep through the porous rock into the water system.  There is a need to avoid any pollution and keep the sea, the reef and freshwater supplies clean and safe. 

The destination’s other unique feature is its population. Before the ‘masterplan’ development of Cancun 30 years ago, the local inhabitants consisted of only a few, small fishing and ‘chicle’ (gum) producing communities.  As the destination developed, people migrated from different areas of Mexico, and further afield, and now the current population is over 700,000 - and still growing.  This lack of a long established community has meant that there is a lack of identity and ‘ownership’ of the region, and consequently, a lack of understanding and concern for its conservation – an issue which The Travel Foundation’s programme is aiming to address. We are also working to ensure that as tourism develops in the region, there are opportunities for the local people, and particularly the Mayan population, to benefit economically.

Awareness campaign – an awareness campaign is being developed, focusing on the unique features of the cenote system and the importance of effective waste and waste water management.  This campaign includes the production of a set of DVDs, targeting tourism developers and other businesses, local communities, and tourists. Arrangements have been made to show these DVDs on the regional TV channels, on excursion buses, at reps’ welcome meetings,  and at tourists attractions, the airport and ferry terminals.