Geomorphic Impacts of Resort Evolution along the Gulf of Mexico Coast: Applicability of Resort Cycle Models

Abstract

Conceptual models of resort evolution have been used to document pat-terns of tourist flows, social and economic impacts, and changes in resort morphology. Tourism/environment relationships are often perceived as being linear, with greater levels of tourism development correlated to greater negative environmental impacts. Documentation of Gulf of Mexico coastal resort evolution by application of a resort cycle model reveals a more complex human-environment relationship. Minimal geomorphic disturbance characterises initial tourism ‘exploration’, although a subsequent ‘rapid development’ stage is usually accompanied by the greatest negative impacts upon the dunes and shore zone. During more advanced stages of the resort cycle, accurate perceptions of environmental degradation lead to increasing efforts at environmental preservation, e.g. shoreline armouring, beach nourishment, dune stabilisation, etc. However, because of prevailing adverse physical parameters as well as previous human- induced environmental degradation, these efforts are usually costly and rarely successful. Resort cycle analyses are useful in understanding both the evolution of Gulf of Mexico resorts and also the corollary geomorphic and related environmental impacts. Such analyses for forecasting evolutionary trends and geomorphic impacts are greatest at sites of ‘spontaneous’ unregulated tourism development, such as in the lesser developed countries.