Cozumel, Q.R. — More than 2,800 signatures have been collected on a petition against the up-and-coming Royal Caribbean Beach Club. The petition, spearheaded by activist María González, warns of the environmental and social impact that the beach club would have on the island.
“Cozumel is a natural paradise famous for its spectacular beaches and rich biodiversity. However, the construction of Royal Caribbean’s new beach club threatens to destroy the balance of this pristine island.
“This new facility will not only privatize the last public beach on the west side of Cozumel, but it will also severely impact local businesses, which are the lifeblood of our community,” part of the petition reads.
In her petition, she says “according to studies conducted in other locations where similar phenomena have occurred, there has been a decrease of up to 40% in the profits of small local businesses, leading many to close their doors.”
She also expresses concern for the possible privatization of the beach and says “This beach club does not benefit the people of Cozumel in any way. The government should not allow this type of project.
“We call on local authorities and the government of Quintana Roo to listen to the voices of their people and take a clear stand against the construction of this beach club. Cozumel already has enough infrastructure to welcome tourists while preserving its natural charms and supporting its community.”
Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean submitted its environmental impact study for approval to begin construction of its $75 million USD Royal Beach Club Cozumel project.
According to the statement, the beach club will not include hotels, but rather pools, eating and shopping areas that will make up its recreational area to accommodate an anticipated 4,000 visitors per day and will be open to both cruise ship passengers and the general public.
To date, more than 2,800 signatures have been collected on the Change.org petition.
Riviera Maya News serving Quintana Roo Mexico since 2014
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