More Than a Vacation Destination

Mexico

Mike, Alfredo, Allie, Rachel and Jessica (Left to Right) enjoy singing Feliz Cumpleanos (Happy Birthday) to Mike and Alfredo and get ready to enjoy delicious banana cake at the home of a Cozumel local! Photo by: Jenna Rathke

   
  Mexico
 

Jenna (Left) and Allie (Right) stop to enjoy a beautiful view of crystal blue ocean water on the rocky beach front of Cozumel.

  Mexico
  Jessica, Rachel, Jenna and Allie (Left to Right) enjoy the clear, warm water of the Caribbean right off of the Hotel Barracuda's dock. Photo by: Rachel Russell
   

May 26, 2008
By Jenna Rathke

White sandy beaches, clear blue water, radiating sun, and thrilling water adventures all add up to a perfect vacation destination. You can scuba dive, snorkel, and swim - even with dolphins - in the gorgeously transparent ocean waters. You can also stay on land and visit ancient Mayan ruins or find a great restaurant to enjoy a meal. Even after the sunsets, the warm temperature adds to the perfect venue to find your favorite genre of live music. Welcome to Cozumel, Mexico!

As an island that is immensely devoted to the service industry through tourism, the citizens of Cozumel kindly welcome those visiting their city whether stopping for a day as a cruise destination or staying awhile at one of the island's hotels. While the residents are inviting and grateful to the thousands and thousands of tourists who visit their island each year, it is remarkable to see that this island of tourism is home to so many people. To talk to locals - in restaurants or taxis, on the streets, in the ocean or the grocery store, anywhere - contributes to an experience that cannot be understood as only a tourist.

As a small group of students studying mass communication for two weeks in Cozumel, we have an opportunity to see the island through the lens of a visitor. In comparison to a tourist, a visitor is viewed as one who sees the location as a new country and culture to learn from. During our stay thus far, we have had the opportunity to interact with citizens during a dinner with students from a Spanish/English Academy in Cozumel as well as a relaxing dinner party with locals and expatriates that consisted of birthday cake and salsa lessons. Activities such as these are what make Cozumel feel more like a community rather than a vacation destination. While the residents have been sincere and entertaining, they have also offered us students a lot of information that is applicable to our course of business and communication. While the weather, industry, and culture of Mexico differ from the homelands of its many visitors, there have been many surprising parallels as well.

Have you ever thought about up and leaving the cold winters to open up your own boutique on the warm beaches of Mexico? It may not be as easy as you had thought because obtaining a permit to legally work in Mexico has similar obstacles that Mexicans face when trying to start work in the United States. The realization of business practice similarities between Mexico and the US became apparent after a meeting with successful accountant Luis Mac of CEI Consultores. There are corporation rules such as the Sociedad Responsibilidad Limitada, which is similar to L.L.C. (Limited Liability Corporation) as well as strict and lengthy business regulations that need to be abided by. Seeing the similarities of challenges and successes of the Mexico business industry added to my new vision of Cozumel as a residential identity comparable to my own country.

While the vast majority of those who leave footprints on this beautiful island are here in hopes of enjoying some relaxation and fun on vacation, looking beyond the apparent beauty has offered me even more than that. A goal of this trip was to understand the business strategies and more specifically the marketing approaches in Cozumel. What I didn't expect was that learning from the people and achieving an understanding of day-to-day life here is what would be the best lesson to learn by.