August 31, 2010

National Geographic Traveler Rates 133 Places...

And the Cabo San Lucas region scores a 37. Here is what they had to say:

Mexico: Cabo San Lucas Region
Score: 37

Sleepy fishing villages have been transformed into places "where drinking tequila shots upside down is the number one tourist attraction and gated communities are the main economic activity."

Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:

"A tourism catastrophe. Total focus on money, lack of environmental attention, lack of local benefit except in menial jobs. Entire coast bought up by developers destroying turtle beaches and places that should remain natural and protected. Very little authentic local culture presented."

"Suffering under unregulated mega-development and all of the related environmental, cultural, and geographic impacts. This being said, the East Cape extending up to La Paz and the Pacific coastline up to Todos Santos are exceptional and relatively authentic and unspoiled. Due to the limited supply of water in these areas, it is likely to stay this way, although cheaper desalination could change this in the mid- to long-term."

"This can only really be seen as an extension of the United States, and not even its more admirable parts. Although not quite to the same level of Cancún, it's still terribly gringofied and bears little resemblance to the rest of the wonderful country."

"Cabo San Lucas and the Corridor are tourist playgrounds, but Cabo Pulmo around the bend on the Sea of Cortez is wonderful (if a little touristy)."

More about this soon. Here is the link to the whole article.

1 comment:

Conor said...

Although I have not been to Cabo, I have been to many other beachy tourist destinations in Mexico. I think that in this rating, NatGeo forgets that many people travel to these areas simply because they are regarded as "safe" destinations where you can have unrestricted fun in a foreign land. You can feel at home in America while being physically outside of the country. Its not about the actual place, its to be able to say that "I did this while in _______..." Additionally, after years and years, who is to say what "authentic local culture" is if it continually changes to current demands?