internal and external factors, yet a large portion of the blame must be laid with the
tourism authorities for their complacent attitude.
We thought the tourists would always continue coming here. We thought we were unstoppable. We did not think ahead at all. We were frozen in the 1950s and 1960s. They thought in
those times that tourism would continue the way it was. The sector didn’t adapt to what was
coming in the future. (Participant 3, personal communication, January 19, 2016)
The Diamond Zone was an attempt at reinvention, but the project has not been as
successful as the authorities had hoped for, and the proliferation of luxury condominiums and gated communities does not contribute significantly to Acapulco’s
tourism revenues. The decline has worsened since 2006 to the point in which
international tourists are barely noticeable in the resort.
4.8 Methodology
The research adopted a qualitative methodology, with the case study method
employed as a means to explore the relevance of Sharpley’s model within the setting
of the Acapulco tourism industry. A purposive sampling technique was adopted
which recognised a total of 30 possible interview participants, all of whom were
stakeholders in Acapulco’s tourism industry. Eighteen of those identified gave their
permission, and consequently the interviews were conducted in various locations in
Acapulco between January and May, 2016. Various documents available online and
in Acapulco’s historical archive were reviewed as a means to support the primary
data, and finally the data were analysed by means of the coding techniques proffered
throughout the literature (Jennings 2010; Miles et al. 2013).
4.9 Destination Capitals Model Applied to Acapulco
The following section will apply Sharpley’s model to Acapulco. It begins by
examining the needs of the destination and local community and then assesses the
present condition of each capital in turn. The potential of each capital to be exploited
and form development opportunities is then considered before possible markets,
products, sources of investment and external support are determined. A brief contemplation of the external forces that can serve to both jeopardise and encourage
development brings the section to a conclusion.
4.9.1 Local Community/Destination Needs
Acapulco’s local authority is aware that measures need to be taken to deal with the
serious issues affecting the community and that strategies need to be devised with the
aim of reviving the struggling tourism industry. Consequently, the municipal
4 Regenerating the Pearl of the Pacific: A Destination Capitals. . .
49
tourism authorities for their complacent attitude.
We thought the tourists would always continue coming here. We thought we were unstoppable. We did not think ahead at all. We were frozen in the 1950s and 1960s. They thought in
those times that tourism would continue the way it was. The sector didn’t adapt to what was
coming in the future. (Participant 3, personal communication, January 19, 2016)
The Diamond Zone was an attempt at reinvention, but the project has not been as
successful as the authorities had hoped for, and the proliferation of luxury condominiums and gated communities does not contribute significantly to Acapulco’s
tourism revenues. The decline has worsened since 2006 to the point in which
international tourists are barely noticeable in the resort.
4.8 Methodology
The research adopted a qualitative methodology, with the case study method
employed as a means to explore the relevance of Sharpley’s model within the setting
of the Acapulco tourism industry. A purposive sampling technique was adopted
which recognised a total of 30 possible interview participants, all of whom were
stakeholders in Acapulco’s tourism industry. Eighteen of those identified gave their
permission, and consequently the interviews were conducted in various locations in
Acapulco between January and May, 2016. Various documents available online and
in Acapulco’s historical archive were reviewed as a means to support the primary
data, and finally the data were analysed by means of the coding techniques proffered
throughout the literature (Jennings 2010; Miles et al. 2013).
4.9 Destination Capitals Model Applied to Acapulco
The following section will apply Sharpley’s model to Acapulco. It begins by
examining the needs of the destination and local community and then assesses the
present condition of each capital in turn. The potential of each capital to be exploited
and form development opportunities is then considered before possible markets,
products, sources of investment and external support are determined. A brief contemplation of the external forces that can serve to both jeopardise and encourage
development brings the section to a conclusion.
4.9.1 Local Community/Destination Needs
Acapulco’s local authority is aware that measures need to be taken to deal with the
serious issues affecting the community and that strategies need to be devised with the
aim of reviving the struggling tourism industry. Consequently, the municipal
4 Regenerating the Pearl of the Pacific: A Destination Capitals. . .
49