development plan of 2015–2018 (Ayunamiento de Acapulco 2014) lists a number of
policies that the authority wishes to implement, which inadvertently reflect the
necessity to exploit Acapulco’s capitals in order to attain the transformation that
the region requires. For example, the idea to establish a municipal tourism advisory
committee, promote resident (and children) tourism awareness campaigns and
develop tourism programmes for residents of Guerrero is related to social capital.
The plan to promote cultural, gastronomic and sporting events, conferences and
festivals aims to improve cultural capital, while the intention of improving waste
collection services and cleaning the beach and sea aspires to enhance environmental
capital. Meanwhile, the notion of setting up a training workshop to specifically focus
on the attitude of tourism service is directly linked with human capital, and the intent
to negotiate with the federal and state governments in an effort to improve infrastructure, communications and public services endeavours to heighten political
capital. The policies forwarded in the municipal development plan serve to emphasise various areas in which Acapulco’s capitals are clearly lacking and therefore not
contributing sufficiently to the needs of the community and destination. The following section will consider each capital individually and assess the extent to which they
are either being exploited or insufficiently utilised by the authorities.
4.9.2 Destination Capitals
4.9.2.1 Social Capital
Since Acapulco began its development as a tourism destination, there has been a
considerable chasm between its residents and those responsible for and benefitting
from development. Indeed, federal, state and municipal governments have been
repeatedly criticised for a negligent attitude towards the local population (Gomezjara
1974; Sackett 2010). Perhaps the most explicit example of this is the forced
displacement of whole communities that occurred between the years 1928 and
1980, “a process in which the interests of hotel developers and tourists were
paramount, and those of the people of Acapulco were secondary” (Sackett 2010,
p. 161). At the same time, the chronic inability to accomplish the directives of
tourism-related plans (Speakman and Diaz Garay 2016) has resulted in inadequate
services, poor infrastructure and scant community funding in a city in which one in
three residents are classified as being destitute (Kastalein 2010, p. 320). The desperation arising from such poverty has led to an increase in crime and opportunism
which, in turn, has affected the social cohesion within Acapulco’s community,
resulting in a situation in which attempts to cultivate forms of community cooperation in respect of tourism development are often met with resistance by a society
which is inherently fearful, cautious and sceptical. Meanwhile, those tourism-related
committees that do exist in Acapulco (facilitated by Mexico’s General Law of
Planning which was established to support community involvement) tend to be
discreet and closed affairs attended by the same select few:
50
M. Speakman and A. D. Garay
policies that the authority wishes to implement, which inadvertently reflect the
necessity to exploit Acapulco’s capitals in order to attain the transformation that
the region requires. For example, the idea to establish a municipal tourism advisory
committee, promote resident (and children) tourism awareness campaigns and
develop tourism programmes for residents of Guerrero is related to social capital.
The plan to promote cultural, gastronomic and sporting events, conferences and
festivals aims to improve cultural capital, while the intention of improving waste
collection services and cleaning the beach and sea aspires to enhance environmental
capital. Meanwhile, the notion of setting up a training workshop to specifically focus
on the attitude of tourism service is directly linked with human capital, and the intent
to negotiate with the federal and state governments in an effort to improve infrastructure, communications and public services endeavours to heighten political
capital. The policies forwarded in the municipal development plan serve to emphasise various areas in which Acapulco’s capitals are clearly lacking and therefore not
contributing sufficiently to the needs of the community and destination. The following section will consider each capital individually and assess the extent to which they
are either being exploited or insufficiently utilised by the authorities.
4.9.2 Destination Capitals
4.9.2.1 Social Capital
Since Acapulco began its development as a tourism destination, there has been a
considerable chasm between its residents and those responsible for and benefitting
from development. Indeed, federal, state and municipal governments have been
repeatedly criticised for a negligent attitude towards the local population (Gomezjara
1974; Sackett 2010). Perhaps the most explicit example of this is the forced
displacement of whole communities that occurred between the years 1928 and
1980, “a process in which the interests of hotel developers and tourists were
paramount, and those of the people of Acapulco were secondary” (Sackett 2010,
p. 161). At the same time, the chronic inability to accomplish the directives of
tourism-related plans (Speakman and Diaz Garay 2016) has resulted in inadequate
services, poor infrastructure and scant community funding in a city in which one in
three residents are classified as being destitute (Kastalein 2010, p. 320). The desperation arising from such poverty has led to an increase in crime and opportunism
which, in turn, has affected the social cohesion within Acapulco’s community,
resulting in a situation in which attempts to cultivate forms of community cooperation in respect of tourism development are often met with resistance by a society
which is inherently fearful, cautious and sceptical. Meanwhile, those tourism-related
committees that do exist in Acapulco (facilitated by Mexico’s General Law of
Planning which was established to support community involvement) tend to be
discreet and closed affairs attended by the same select few:
50
M. Speakman and A. D. Garay