Residential tourism and environmental dynamics in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico: Case study “Las Palmas”

The central purpose of this study was to expose in a synthesized way the characteristics of residential tourism and environmental dynamics in the housing subdivision “Las Palmas” of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. The applied methodology consisted of cabinet and field work, that included participant observation and application of 600 questionnaires to residents and residential tourists, this questionnaire was formed by 14 items. Results: a) an updated plan map of “Las Palmas”, b) characterization of the local residential tourism, c) environmental dynamic of the studied area and d) diagnosis of environmental character and residential tourism at an infra-local level. Conclusions: 1) second homes involves: a) the tourist as consumer of the house; b) the real estate market that offers in an attractive way this beach as destination and c) the entailment between the emitting and receiving space through "el Sol" highway (Cuernavaca-Acapulco); 2) use of the soil change from agriculturist to residential, has brought the modification of habitats; migration of birds and minor coverage of low deciduous forest and 3) “Las Palmas” represented favorable economic balances for real estate with the detonation of residential tourism through the West of the center of Acapulco.