Real Estate developments brings feeling of dispossession to inhabitants of Vallarta

According to a doctoral study from the University of Guadalajara (UdeG ), real estate developments contribute to segregation and generate feelings of dispossession among the inhabitants of Puerto Vallarta.

These urban changes transgress the traditional image of Puerto Vallarta and causes a remarkable separation between the local inhabitants and tourists, according to Dr. José Alfonso Baños Francia, academic from the University Center of the Coast (CUCosta), who carried out the study on residential segregation in the tourist area of the city, as part of his doctoral thesis in City, Territory and Sustainability of the University Center of Art, Architecture and Design (CUAAD).

According to data from the Department of Tourism of Jalisco (Secturjal), 2016, national tourists said that the destinations of interest in Puerto Vallarta are its beaches (indicated 22.59 percent of respondents), its natural heritage (15.01) and Historical Center (13.09). Foreign tourists said they were interested in their squares and monuments (25.09), the beaches (22.01) and the piers (7.9).

These figures reflect that the imaginary of tourists with respect to this coastal city involves both natural and urban elements.

The academic does not rule out the possibility that the municipality can grow vertically, but in the case of the Historic Center and the two surrounding colonies that make up the Romantic Zone and 5 de Diciembre, they should maintain a more human scale and not one of towering buildings, because the traditional image is broken.

The modification of the urban image from the creation of apartment towers also brings a feeling of dispossession in the inhabitants of Vallarta.

Baños Francia puts into context that this situation is like when a host holds a party in his home and can not enjoy what belongs to him. In this case, the tourists are the guests.

The investigation of Baños Francia proposes a model that could reduce the gap of unequal spaces with the help of public policies. One of these is that a percentage of housing developments facing the sea were social housing.

Currently, of the 329 hotels in Vallarta registered by the Secturjal, the Gaceta de la UdeG identified that close to a hundred are facing the sea, in a range of 12 kilometers between the Ameca River and the Conchas Chinas area.

According to a doctoral study from the University of Guadalajara (UdeG ), real estate developments contribute to segregation and generate feelings of dispossession among the inhabitants . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • raw-sewage-playa-los-muertos-puerto-vallartaMore Raw Sewage Dumping at Playa Los Muertos Appear to Come From Local Hotel Business owners in Puerto Vallarta are demanding action after raw sewage was discovered leaking onto Playa Los Muertos, raising public health and tourism concerns. A raw sewage leak at Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta has sparked outrage among local tourist service providers and business owners, who say the contamination is driving away visitors and…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • José Luis Velázquez RodríguezSEAPAL Official Reported Missing in Puerto Vallarta Authorities in Puerto Vallarta have launched a search for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, SEAPAL's head of transparency, who has been missing since June 30. Family and officials are urging the public to report any information. Local authorities and civil protection units have launched a search operation for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, head of the Transparency…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • no-damage-jalisco-hurricane-flossieNo Damage Reported in Jalisco as Hurricane Flossie Moves Away While Mexico's Weather Service predicted heavy rains, Hurricane Flossie causes no damage along Jalisco’s coast. The Category 3 storm brings light rain and moderate waves as it moves away from the region. The coasts of Jalisco remain calm and largely unaffected following the passage of Hurricane Flossie, a powerful Category 3 storm that is now…
Scroll to Top