Finding Mexico's Middle Class in Ixtapa

Mexico’s beach resorts have long been a favorite for foreigners seeking warm, carefree vacations.  Simply book an air/land package that includes hotel, decide whether to include all food and activities, and show up at the airport with your passport.  No research required, only sunscreen. The Mexican government recognized a good thing when they saw it, and in the 1960’s,  Cancun and Ixtapa were developed to attract tourists on the East and West coasts of the country.  Not included in those developments were many private ones, including Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.  Over the years, the number of hotel rooms outpaced foreign travelers and more visitors were needed.  Enter the emerging Middle Class of Mexico.

Ixtapa was chosen for a Thanksgiving family reunion as one of my brothers has had a time share there for many years.   November is considered part of the off-season for Mexican resorts and during the week, the resort was quiet and space readily available.  Because of the low census, the hotel made needed repairs in anticipation of the approaching high season.  All employees talked of “poca gente” – few guests.  But all that changed on Friday. 

As we walked out of the hotel lobby that morning, three tour buses arrived, carrying families from Mexico City.  More came through the morning.  Some children wore sweat pants, indicative of the colder climate of their hometowns.   The hotel, restaurants and pools filled up.  As the closest resort to Mexico City, a metropolis of 26 million inhabitants, Ixtapa is the obvious choice for a week-end of sun and sea.

Mexico has been enjoying a surge in the ranks of its middle class.

Thanks to the booming free trade with the United States, Mexico has the 13^th largest economy in the world.  Education has been emphasized with almost all children between ages 5 to 14 in school.  As the fertility rate has dropped dramatically to two per mother, more women are working.   In a series of articles on the middle class of Mexico by Washington Post writers Nick Miroff and William Booth, they found admiration for our southern neighbor from economists.  It has controlled inflation, balanced its budget and managed debt.

The middle class has also been helped by entrepreneurs who have returned from the United States, bringing saved money to start their own businesses.  They were illegal in America but heroes at home – sending money back for food and shelter but saving enough to return to use their acquired business acumen.  Their reclaimed lives will not look like the middle class of developed countries but they are no longer in poverty and can now be assured their children will not want to cross the northern border to find jobs.

I visited with Michael, our resort’s time share supervisor about the uptick in the week-end census.  Most guests come on week-end packages costing about $300 per couple for three nights with food.  Children would cost a bit extra.  While economic by our standards, only the middle class of Mexico could afford such an excursion.

Beginning in December, Ixtapa’s resorts attract more American visitors, especially from the Mid-West, as well as many from Canada.  The closer to Mexico a U.S. state was, the fewer visitors came.  Michael laughed and said they never get anyone from Arizona.  Newspapers from border states carry more drug cartel stories, scaring many away.  Yet, the “tourist bubble” still holds in almost all Mexican resorts and Mexico works very hard to keep them safe.

The new crowds didn’t affect our schedule much.  We’re that kind of American tourist who get up early, are the first to walk on the beach, and retire after dinner.  Restaurants were often just opening when we arrived.  But later, lines would be out the door as our Mexican friends enjoyed dining at their traditional, later hours.

It was a pleasure to witness a part of the transformation of Mexico.  With such beautiful beaches and resorts, its citizens should be visiting them.  I only wish more in the United States could realize that not every Mexican wants to come to our country.  Millions are content to be a part of Mexico’s emerging economy, especially when it comes with a beautiful beach.