History of Cancun as a Holiday Destination
The transformation of Cancun from a small, forgotten fishing village into a global tourism powerhouse is a remarkable story of planned development.
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Ancient Roots: Long before it was a tourist hub, the area was home to the ancient Mayan civilization. Archaeological sites like the El Rey Ruins within the Hotel Zone and the famous Chichen Itza site nearby serve as reminders of this rich history. After the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the region was largely abandoned.
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A Planned Resort: In the late 1960s, the Mexican government, through the agency INFRATUR (now FONATUR), initiated a plan to develop new tourism destinations. Using computer modeling and extensive research, they selected a remote, uninhabited sand strip on the Yucatán Peninsula—Cancun. At the time, it had a population of only three caretakers.
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The Launch of Modern Tourism: Construction began in 1970 with the building of a road and an airstrip. Since private investors were reluctant to take a chance on the unknown location, the government financed the first nine hotels. The first commercial flight arrived in 1974, and by the late 1970s, Cancun's pristine beaches and ideal weather began to attract a large number of visitors, particularly from the United States.
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Rapid Growth and Development: The 1980s and 1990s saw a building boom that transformed Cancun into a major resort city. It became a popular spring break destination and expanded its offerings to cater to a wider variety of tourists. The city's success is a testament to its planned development, which provided essential infrastructure like an airport, roads, and water services to support the tourism industry. Today, Cancun is one of the most visited destinations in the world, generating a significant portion of Mexico's tourism revenue