Original version

BBC World Service Online

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: How Cancún became a tourist destination

Documentaries

How Cancún became a tourist destination

18/06/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, How Cancún became a tourist destination

In 1969, Antonio Enríquez Savignac started building Cancún

How a strip of secluded Mexican island was transformed into one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Cancún now welcomes more 20 million guests every year.

In 1969, Antonio Enríquez Savignac was given the go-ahead to transform a secluded Mexican island into a world-beating tourist destination.

The technocrat believed tourism was a cost effective solution for fixing the country's faltering economy. 

He was given funding from the Mexican federal government to create infrastructure on the island, including an airport. 

The resort would be called Cancún.

More than 50 years later, Cancún welcomes more than 20 million guests to its shores every year, with over 30,000 hotels scattered across the island.

However, the island has become a crime hotspot and there are major pollution problems in the area.

Antonio's son, Juan Enríquez, shares his memories with Matt Pintus. 

(Photo: Cancún. Credit: Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

How Cancún became a tourist destination

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service