Turquesa

ByGonzaloMeredizAlonso

There is no doubt that the most important characteristic of the Mexican Caribbean, what most attracts people’s eyes and triggers their dreams of vacationing on the beach, is the turquoise blue of the sea. I remember, in my adolescence, during my first visit to Cancun, that the view of the sea, from a corridor of the hotel, was truly amazing. It was impossible to take your eyes off one of the most intense colors one can experience in life. From the air, or sailing on its surface, and even under it, the blue and transparent Caribbean Sea is truly fascinating, not to mention the diversity of life and colors of its coral reefs. The most emblematic photographs of Cancun are those that highlight its architecture framed by that spectacular blue product of the combination of several delicately balanced factors: the white background of calcareous sand, in a relatively shallow sea, and with crystal clear waters thanks to the natural absence of nutrients that inhibits the growth of algae and microorganisms. It is logical that a place with these idyllic characteristics is chosen as the main tourist destination in Mexico. However, it is also paradoxical that the way we have developed it has been altering, and even destroying, the paradisiacal features of the eastern Yucatan peninsula. And this, without a real need or justification. The construction of infrastructure on the beach, as well as the replacement of the natural vegetation of the coastal dune with palapas and coconut palms, has caused us to lose those very wide beaches that were the envy of the entire world.

More recently, climate change and ocean pollution have produced a new and disturbing phenomenon: the arrival of large amounts of sargassum on our coasts, bringing with it great impacts that we are all familiar with. However, there is one that is rarely talked about. At various points and for certain periods of time, each year we lose the turquoise blue color of the sea, our emblem as a Caribbean tourist destination due to the high concentrations of both living and decomposing algae. If ocean temperatures continue to rise and human beings persist in their habit of throwing fertilizers and organic matter into rivers and the sea without control, it is very likely that the arrival of sargassum will increase and that our turquoise treasure will be increasingly at risk. This should lead us to reflect on converting Quintana Roo, one of the first places most seriously affected by climate change, to become a national and global champion in favor of the environment. For that to happen, the public and private sectors could focus policies and investments on treating wastewater, restoring and preserving the vegetation of beach dunes and mangroves, and industrially exploiting sargassum. Thus, Quintana Roo would have the moral authority to build alliances with the world’s large companies and collaborate for low-carbon tourism, lead global initiatives to reduce the causes of excessive sargassum growth, and promote tourism promotion based on sustainability. All of this would not only favor our own economic interests, but would also make us much more competitive in world markets that are increasingly oriented towards environmental care.

What is proposed here implies changes in tourism and economic paradigms, leaving a comfortable circle as a result of the success of Quintana Roo as champions of global tourism. However, other countries have succeeded. There are many tools such as those offered by Friends of Sian Ka’an on its website to develop good environmental practices in the construction and operation of hotels, in the use of cenotes and ecotourism activities, in the management of wastewater, and the promotion of clean energy. Doing things differently implies learning, greater efforts and redirection of resources, but the turquoise blue of our beautiful Mexican Caribbean and the great benefits it represents are well worth it.

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