History of Cancun – Cancun Airport

Fifty years ago, people had never heard of it cancún. It’s amazing to think about it in just five decades. Cancun has become one of the best vacation spots in the world. We know people look for relaxation, adventure and even partying when they come to Cancun. But little do they know what Cancun was just fifty years ago … Just so you know, and if you’re willing to do it, here’s a quick history lesson. If you want to know more about what Cancun was like and how it became the ultimate tourist attraction!

We go back in time

If we traveled back in time, five decades ago, Cancun was a desert island and few knew of its existence. Located in an almost forgotten region of the Caribbean and Yucatan Peninsula, consisted of a series of sand dunes, some of which were only 20 meters (66 feet) wide. Two narrow canals that opened onto a huge system of lagoons were the only ones that separated them from the mainland.

The coast was made up of unexplored mangroves, pristine jungle and beaches. It will surprise you, but it was initially called in Cancun “Kan Kun”, which means “snake’s nest” in Mayan. Despite this, when the official documentation was written, the government occasionally wrote “Can Cún” which was the Spanish way of writing it. Over time, people adopted its phonetic form: Cancunjust a word because it was easier to pronounce.

The Master Plan

It was in 1969 that the Mexican president, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, commissioned the National Bank to create a National Tourism Plan. This plan needed to guarantee the payment of externally granted loans and create opportunities for future private investment. The idea was also to create more jobs for the Mexican people and build self-sufficient cities, making the tourism industry the way to get there.

The Cancun Project was officially approved in 1969, but did not begin until January 1970. The initial objectives of the project were to open a road from Puerto Juárez to the island, design a Development Master Plan, and build a runway. of provisional landing (located in the area designated for the development of the city, in the place of the present Kabah avenue, in front of the Ecological Park).

The basic master plan provided for three elements:

1) build a tourist area without permanent residential areas, such as a tourist corridor (the characteristics of the country itself),

2) Build a residential area for permanent residents. This included residential and commercial areas, roads, public buildings, schools, hospitals and markets.

3) build on International airport

Build tourism

The first drinking water infrastructure project (sinking of 16 wells, at a distance of 30

The first hotels opened in 1974 (Playa Blanca, Bojorquez and Cancun Caribe).

The international airport was inaugurated with 2,600 meters of runway and an operational capacity for wide cabin aircraft. The government agencies of Infratur and Foqatur merged to form the National Foundation for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur).

The same year, Quintana Roo received the status and the project of Cancún (under the government of the district of Isla Mujeres) happened to comprise of the district of Benito Juárez.

Cancun these days …

From that date until today Cancun has been the most dynamic city in Mexico. It is responsible for a large part of the income of the National Tourism Industry and is the most prosperous city in the world Yucatan Peninsulait has about 500,000 inhabitants in its urban area, and is the leading destination in the Caribbean, with more than 27,000 hotel rooms and more than 2,000,000 visitors a year, surpassing the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

Like any destination, Cancun offers a mix of culture, tradition and modernity, which is easily noticeable in its colorful city center, where you can find first-class services in housing, shopping malls, flea markets, hospitals with English-speaking doctors, movie theaters and the best restaurants, as well as bars and nightclubs for all tastes and ages.

All this mixed with a friendly and welcoming attitude of the local people invite you to experience the The Caribbean in the biggest citythis attitude is true, as the inhabitants know that originally the city was created for them and for the tourist, as you can also see in the city of Cancun the flag formed by a circle formed by the sun, sand and turquoise sea water. .

sources: History of Cancun | Development in the Mexican Caribbean