Mexico Advances Sustainable Coastal Tourism at Huatulco Forum

Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) held a tourism forum in Bahias de Huatulco, Oaxaca, aimed at developing concrete proposals to improve the management, use and conservation of Mexico’s coastal ecosystems. The “Solutions Forum: Tourist Beaches and Coastal Ecosystems” took place on Feb. 3–4 as part of SEMARNAT’s broader push to advance a national tourism model centered on sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and social responsibility. The event was coordinated by the federal government in partnership with the National Tourism Promotion Fund (FONATUR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), local governments, and national and international experts.

The forum’s agenda included keynote addresses, expert panels, technical roundtables, and field visits to Huatulco National Park. Discussions focused on key areas such as beach and visitor management, tourism-linked environmental education, financing for sustainable tourism projects, ecosystem restoration, coastal land-use planning, interagency coordination, social participation, and private-sector commitments. Organizers emphasized the need for tourism development that generates economic benefits without compromising natural assets.

Mexico has more than 12,000 kilometers of coastline, and its maritime territory represents 62% of the country’s total area, making coastal regions strategically important for both tourism development and environmental conservation. In response, federal authorities have launched several initiatives to protect these ecosystems and promote their responsible use.

Chief among these initiatives is the National Strategy for Beach and Coastal Cleaning and Conservation 2025–2030, which set a target of eliminating 100% of plastic waste from beaches and coastal areas by 2030. The initiative, announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum in June, has advanced along 561km of coastline, with 121 beaches adopted across 15 states, 48 municipalities and 90 adopting groups. The 2025 target is to cover 1,200 km of coast. 

Marina Robles, Deputy Minister of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration, SEMARNAT, highlighted the scale of plastic pollution in the oceans. “Each year 13Mt of plastics end up in the sea. This is equivalent to dumping a truckload of plastic into the ocean every minute,” she said. She emphasized the risks plastics pose to marine life, including entanglement and ingestion, as well as the health impacts of microplastics consumed through water, food, and air. 

Complementing these efforts, SEMARNAT launched the Playas Mx mobile application in August, in coordination with the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFREPRIS). The app was developed as part of Plan México’s digitization efforts and will offer timely updates on water quality monitoring results for 289 recreational beaches in 76 tourist destinations.