Quote:
Originally Posted by Kami
I think it's very bittersweet but growth is inevitable. Alot of us began going to Playa when there was not much in Playa. I remember when the Moon Palace first opened up outside of Cancun and I thought that that place was so remote! Playa seems to have done so many things right in terms of restrictions and regulations because it has still maintained a small town atmosphere/feel. Yes, the traffic sucks in Playa and will probably get a little worse but if I had to guess, the authorities will attempt to keep up with the infastructure (unlike where I live and they bring the population into a new town and years later decide to build new roads to accommodate them!). The people are what make Playa what it is. There are alot of great people there now and we can only hope that Playa will continue to attract great people. Everyone that I have ever had a conversation with, whether a local or a tourist, they all have one thing in common...their love of Playa and the people in it. A city should not be defined by it's buildings, location, accommodations or anything material or structural...it should be defined by the people that live and visit there. Just my two cents.
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Nicely said. And let's not forget that group of people so often forgotten in the "is Playa going to hell with so much development" debate: the Mexican nationals who live here.
Quintana Roo now has the highest per capita income of any Mexican State. The development of Playa has allowed the people who live here, and have always lived here, a chance to become part of the middle class we all aspire to. Walmart is full everyday not with tourists or expats but with real locals. People here are beginning to make money and are beginning to be able to enjoy some of the things it can buy. For example, most of the staff at our hotel own their homes, something that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. And some have recently purchased their first car. Yeah it means more traffic, more congestion, etc. The charming dirt roads with folks pedaling bikes to work may be gone, but it also means a better, easier way of life for their families.
We agree with Mark, Playa ain't ever gonna be Cancun, but if it's controlled development means a better life for folks down here, we think the trade off with the "charm" factor is a good one.