Ixtapa - The Man-Made History of the Resort Setting

Prior to the 1970s Ixtapa was a sleepy coconut plantation located on the coast of Mexico. In the early 1970s the National Fund for Tourism Development came up with the idea to develop a portion of the area into an exclusive tourist center while allowing the other half of the are to remain 'green;' an ambitious plan to be certain. This sparked the beginning of what would become one of the glossiest and most popular resorts in Mexico.

While Ixtapa does not have an extensive history and certainly does not offer the same historic cultural sites as many other locales in Mexico, Ixtapa does have its own unique charm enjoyed by visitors each year as well as strong ties to the rich history of Mexico.

One of the main attractions in the development of Ixtapa as a resort center was the largely untouched bay that had provided protection of the area for years. Located 210 km northwest of Acapulco, the beautiful beaches in the area as well as the ability for international tourists to access the area easily by plane also contributed to the selection of the site.

Although plans were originally conceived to develop the rural area into a resort in the late 1960s, it was not until 1972 that the government began to plan the resort community in Ixtapa. Interestingly, the resort area of Ixtapa was planned at the same time as Cancun.

The resort was to be strictly zoned and quite deluxe. The structures in the area were developed and built in proportion with the natural terrain and land area in order to preserve the land. Eventually, a two mile strip of luxury hotels were constructed along the main beach area. The original goal in the planning of Ixtapa as a resort destination was to equip the area with all of the structure and infrastructure that would be needed to meet the discerning standards and needs of tourists from around the world.

It would certainly seem that the goals in developing Ixtapa as a highly competitive international resort destination have been met. Nearly $150 million have been generated per year in the last ten years through tourism in Ixtapa. Each year, more than 300,000 tourists flock to the resort area even during the slowest season with the peak season receiving nearly half a million visitors each year.

Foreign tourism comprises nearly 50% of the visitors that make their way to Ixtapa each year. This is certainly evidenced by the fact that in the state of Guerrero, the same state in which Acapulco is located, the highest hotel occupancy rate is in the Ixtapa area. Furthermore, the Ixtapa area consistently has some of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the entire country.

With beautiful beaches, stunning views and an active nightlife it is little wonder that so many tourists take advantage of the opportunity to partake of the amenities that were so painstakingly planned for them more than thirty years ago.