Evaluation and management strategies of tourist beaches in the pacific coast: A case study from acapulco and huatulco, Mexico

The tourist beaches of Huatulco and Acapulco on the south Pacific coast of Mexico are being overstressed from the high number of tourists visiting the region. Human-induced activities not only contaminate the water, but also the beach sediments and aquatic organisms that are housed in the environment. Various multidisciplinary aspects such as socioeconomical, geochemical, and management issues were studied on almost 40 tourist beaches to evaluate the pollution status and enrichment of different geochemical elements. In addition, the promoting and depromoting factors of each tourist destination were assessed. Beach management practices and several laws put forth by the Mexican government were also emphasized for a better construal of the study regions. Thus, the present chapter defines an integrated approach for defining the tourism status and coastal management of high impacted tourist destinations for a better sustainable conservation of the ecosystem and its services.