Given the notable increase in the number of visitors that Progreso usually receives not only temporarily but also permanently, the head of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services, and Tourism (Canaco Servytur) of Progreso, Manuel Contreras Alcalá, made a call to citizens in general to prevent gentrification and to protect local culture and customs altogether so these are not lost.
Contreras pointed out that Progreso is receiving more and more people who like the state and its coasts, who come from other parts of the country and other countries to live in Yucatán, which results in traffic and housing problems.
“We are already seeing apartment buildings popping up everywhere, which was uncommon in Yucatan and on the coast,” stated the business leader.
“Of course, all this is very good, but there is a fine line that the authorities have to take care of, especially because we are trying to satisfy the needs of people who are not native, who bring other customs,” he said.
“We are adapting to these changes very quickly, but they are irremediably leading to an increase in the prices of Real Estate, rentals, and many other products. The question at this point is: Are the Yucatecans prepared for these significant changes?” he continued.
Contreras did not rule out that the arrival of foreigners could be productive in terms of economic spill for the region. However, he stressed that they must be aware of the phenomenon known as “gentrification”, which can cause the Yucatecan essence to be lost in the port of Progreso.
“There are people who come from central Mexico who see with amazement that we can go out to the door of our houses to cool off in the afternoons, something that they are not used to doing, and begin to modify our lifestyle. They begin to build their completely closed houses and create their private communities, where they have swimming pools, paddle tennis courts, and tennis courts, among others, which makes us think that gentrification is just around the corner in Progreso”.
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