Villagers Concerned New Swingers Resort Will Hurt Tourism FOX News
go to original April 11, 2012

Desire Resort (foxnews.com)

PUERTO MORELOS, Mexico - Residents of a small fishing village on Mexico's Riviera Maya are up in arms about the expansion of a hedonistic swingers club in their town.

Puerto Morelos, a hamlet of just under 10,000 people located about 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, is known as a tourist hotspot for its secluded beaches, world-class scuba diving and water sports.

But since news broke last year that the town's family-friendly wedding destination Ceiba del Mar Resort and Spa would be transformed into Desire Resort and Spa -- a couples-only, clothing-optional swingers resort -- locals have been concerned that tourism will take a hit.

Desire has another location in Puerto Morelos in a more secluded area six miles (10 kilometers) from town, but the new space, which opened this month, is on the strip of beach in between the town center and a hotel zone that is frequented by locals and vacationers.

The opening of the second Desire location comes as Mexico, and the Yucatan Peninsula in particular, prepare for Dec. 21, the date in Mayan mythology that marks the end of a 5,125 year-long cycle, which some believe could mark a doomsday-like scenario.

The day has been a big tourist pull, and the Mexico Tourism Board estimates that 52 million domestic and international tourists will visit the southeastern part of the country in 2012.

Tourists already began flocking to sites that are catering to all types of visitors, from luxury seekers, to foodie types, to those looking for a more spiritual break.

But local restaurant owners and tour operators say they are not interested in getting the type of tourist Desire is expected to attract and do not want their businesses exposed to the potentially tawdry goings-on at the resort.

"People in Puerto Morelos don't like the idea of Desire. People here are conservative," Wilmo Zetina, the co-owner of Pelicanos, one of the town's largest restaurants and beach clubs, told FOXNews.com.

"You shouldn't have to walk by the beach and see that," Goyo Morgan, an American ex-pat who has called Puerto Morelos home for more than three decades, said. "This is a family-oriented town ... I want my grandkids to enjoy that beach."

The Cancun Visitors Bureau, which oversees Puerto Morelos, had no comment.

According to Don Hughes, who is in charge of Desire's operations in the US, there will be security guards posted at each end of the beach to keep people moving along, but because the beach is public, there is no way to keep anyone from it. Currently, there is nothing shielding pedestrians from viewing the activities in the resort.

Hughes said he was unaware of any complaints.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!