Potencial regional del turismo en la zona metropolitana de Tampico, México

Abstract

This paper examines the territorial features of tourism in the metropolitan area of Tampico,one of the less promoted coastal resorts of Mexico. The basic assumption of the study isthat, while not having the natural lure of other tropical tourist destinations in the country, suchas those in the Caribbean, Tampico is a fundamental centre for tourism attracting persons livingin a hinterland that comprises the semi-arid and arid lands of Northeast and Northern Mexico,and represents the only option for these people to get to know and be in contact with the sea. Inthe first part of the paper, we present the geographical features of this city, followed by theexplanation of both natural and cultural resources found in that area. In the last part of the studywe proceed with the analysis of our questionnaire-survey basically aimed at drawing the territorialshape of tourism in this coastal resort; worth mentioning, among our major research findings,is that this sea-port attracts a particular type of tourists, local and regional, with limitedspending capacity