The growth of the tourist poles brings with it the increase in the population and, in parallel, the supply and demand of housing, products and services, a situation that is reflected in the economic boom. They become gold mines and for a while everything is hunky-dory. However, either due to ignorance or excessive ambition, sustainable development is left aside and the inexorable debacle ensues. Each region has its own characteristics to apply this concept, which includes a wide spectrum of activities and situations.
In the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta, sustainability is no longer a romantic stance for outdated environmentalists. It has been understood what is really at stake: the preservation of life and the future of the new generations. But in addition, it is known that in the field of facts, harmonious and orderly development generates economic benefits in the short, medium and long term. Consequently, authorities and the population jointly assume their responsibility.
The region’s real estate is a clear example. For some time, urban planning programs have been implemented aimed at containing the proliferation of constructions that, without proper regulations, generate a harmful environmental and socioeconomic impact. The rational use of land, water and biodiversity are essential in any real estate project, be it tourism or housing.
La Riviera has become an efficient laboratory for new construction technologies. It uses materials such as reclaimed wood, steel and recycled aluminum. Irrigation is done with wastewater and energy is supplied by solar panels, among other advances that demonstrate the viability of new architectural criteria based on the care and preservation of natural resources.
Currently, hotels and developments include the preservation of the environment as one of their most important promises in their marketing offer. Such is the case of Casitas Maraika, nestled in the middle of the tropical jungle, the Gruyo Naturista Boutique & Wellness Center, or the Xinalani Resort hotel, which offers its clients retreats for the practice of yoga and meditation, to name just a few examples.
Another item that adds assets to the culture of sustainability in the Riviera and Puerto Vallarta is ecological tourism, which enjoys an increasingly large market of national and international visitors. Through perfectly designed routes and tours, areas are visited where the main attraction is to enjoy the abundant biodiversity of the region. Also included are visits to native communities that have the opportunity to show and share their cultural richness and participate in the benefits of this variety of tourism.
The consequences of not growing according to the criteria of sustainable development are extremely dangerous. It is about creating a profound paradigm shift and the challenge is enormous. As everywhere on the planet, the ecological balance on the Riviera is fragile and subject to endless threats.
The good news is that there are more and more people working in favor of environmental care and their effort transcends borders. This new awareness is present in the region. Various international institutions and organizations intervene in the preservation of the environment through the allocation of resources and the exchange of knowledge and experiences. With it, agreements and programs to promote and support sustainability have been implemented with excellent results.
This is the case of ADAPTUR, a project financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety (BMU) for its acronym in German, which is part of the global Climate Change initiative. Through perfectly structured programs ADAPTUR collaborates in measures of enormous relevance such as the generation of sustainable productive activities, energy transition, comprehensive waste management, conservation and management of ecosystems, to name just a few.
Living in a tourist paradise like the Jalisco-Nayarit Riviera is a privilege. Beyond the fact that its visitors represent the main engine of the economy, sharing with them the wonders of the region reaffirms one of its most recognized values, hospitality.
Until now, the natural wonders of the region have been kept in good condition. But lowering their guard would mean endangering the survival of these, their most valuable capital.
