The demographic study for the Region of Quintana Roo with the objective of researching the economic and social development with the aim of setting up a restaurant in the area of Chetumal.

1. Regional Demographic Study<br />Quintana Roo State<br />Quick overview of the Costa Maya development<br />Chetumal 1- Walmart 2- Chedraui Super Store 3- Parque Zoologico Biouniverzoo 4- CLIDDA 5- Escuela de Medicina 6- Other main developments a. OXXO b- Cinepolis c- Centro Internacional de Negocios y convenciones<br />Already functioning projects<br />Conclusion<br />The State of Quintana Roo is considered to be the youngest amongst 31 others. It was created in 1902, and it wasn’t until 1960 that the government started a planned tourism development for the region that began in Cancun in the early 1970’s. At that time, not many investors were ready to risk their investment in that new region, so the government financed the first 6 hotels of the area. From there on the regional growth have been improving every year (economic growth 2006-2007 as we see in chart is around 5.5%), the population have been growing, and the touristic movement going further to the south of the state, from Cancun to Playa del Carmen to Tulum, and soon to include other areas like Mahahual, where the signs of touristic development have already flourished and of course the capital of the State, Chetumal. <br />In the first graph we can notice the tertiary position of the State of Quintana Roo amongst its sister states. In the 3rd position for both PIB per capita and total growth for 2006-2007, the State keeps on growing, with all the new projects coming after 2007.<br />In the following graph we can see the top position of the State of Quintana Roo in the chart for the growth of the PIB within the federal entities. Quintana Roo holds a 9.57% rate while the national average is 3.43%.<br />In 2000, the state's population consisted of 874,963 inhabitants; by 2005 the figure rose to 1,135,309 inhabitants. In just five years the population of Quintana Roo grew by 261,346 representing an average annual growth rate of 4.70 percent. A sustained growth of 5% was expected until 2010.<br />The different types of tourists that come to visit the region for its natural beauty, Caribbean Sea, breath taking monuments or for the night life, have been migrating along the coast to the south. The latest area that has been experiencing that movement is Mahahual, in Costa Maya, Mexico's newest tourist destination and a jewel of the Mexican Caribbean. Costa Maya is the coastal region of the Mexican Caribbean delimited from the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in the north, to Xcalak National Reef Park in the South. The area offers a combination of tropical forests, lagoons with mangroves and kilometers and kilometers of uncontaminated white shores and crystalline waters especially in the south area of Mahahual and the second biggest coastal reef in the world of approximately 900kms.Mahahual, at 90km from Chetumal, is the main town on the Coast and the start center for all the activities. It's a small fishermen's village with shops and a nice waterfront walk and at the same time is the Mexican second important port welcoming cruise ships since December 2002.<br />Quick overview of the Costa Maya development:<br />The Costa Maya is a government sponsored investment to rejuvenate the economy of the southern part of the State of Quintana Roo. As government improvements along the Costa Maya progress, real estate prices continue to rise, but are still well below the prices to the north. Improvements include new roads and highways, fiber optics, electricity, marinas, and three airports. Major private sector improvements include a cruise ship dock, an oceanfront shopping mall, resort hotels, a beach club/marina, and professional golf course. Between 1997 and 2002, Playa Del Carmen became the fastest growing city in the world with over 5,000,000 tourists each year. In its 2003 Summer Report, AMDENTUR reported an increase in real estate sales values that almost tripled for this time period. The Costa Maya is being developed by the same Federal and State Development Agencies that developed Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. As we approach 2009 we have already seen a spike in real estate transactions in the Costa Maya region and it is estimated that real estate values in the Mahahual area will outperform those of its northern counterparts.<br />Mahahual real estate is an unusually good value, especially compared to coastal living in many other parts of the world. Mahahual has retained its natural beauty, even with its close proximity to Cancun just to the north. Environmental regulations protect Mahahual and the surrounding Costa Maya from becoming a badly managed tourist spot in the Caribbean. Real estate in the area is, for the most part, zoned for residential living to preserve its natural beauty. Real estate prices along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline fluctuate dramatically based on location. Properties in well known tourist spots like Cancun and Acapulco consistently sell for more than one million dollars while plots in lesser known spots like Mahahual and the surrounding Costa Maya region sell for as low as $60,000 USD.<br />Mahahual and the surrounding Costa Maya area are fast becoming the focus of those wishing to purchase Caribbean real estate and achieve a life of purposeful relaxation. The average monthly temperature in the area ranges from 22 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius; warm enough to leave the windows open all year long and let the sweet tropical breezes fill your beachside home. With new foreign-friendly real estate ownership options and an increased willingness for American banks to write loans for homes in Mexico, anyone can own a tranquil plot of Mexican Caribbean real estate by searching in the gorgeous natural regions like Mahahual. <br />As the Caribbean’s newest cruise ship destination, Mahahual is now home to a new cruise ship dock and mall. A new power station and water plant were recently completed. New roads and electrical lines are now being installed on Costa Maya both north and south of Mahahual. To further attract nautical tourism, several marinas have been targeted for completion along Costa Maya at Xcalak, Mahahual and El Uvero.<br />Chetumal<br />The population of Chetumal was small (about 5,000 in 1950) until the construction of highways linking it to the rest of Mexico in the 1960s and 1970s; the city then boomed with substantial migration from other parts of Mexico. The last official census that was made in 2005 indicates that the population has grown to 136,825.<br />Chetumal's economy has been influenced by its proximity to the border with Belize. A goods and services tax-free zone (Corozal Free Zone) established on the Belizean side attracts many visitors to Chetumal and also provides a ready market for Chetumal's retailers and traders. Chetumal itself was also once a free zone and a notable destination for people from other parts of Mexico seeking to purchase high-value and bulk goods, free of government duty charges. The city retains a significant retail trade for the region, which supports many local businesses. Many Belizeans come to shop and buy from Chetumal spending at least 24 hours and using other services such as hotels, bars and restaurants.<br />Several modern malls have been built, such as the Plaza de Américas mall, which houses a modern movie theater (which belongs to the Mexican chain Cinepolis), various department store chains, fast-food outlets, and supermarkets. In addition to its retail economy, Chetumal is also the capital of the state of Quintana Roo. Since it is the location of all of the state's central offices, there is a large population of government employees whose consumption of local goods and services injects additional revenue into the Chetumal economy. Several others important projects are being accomplished such as:<br />Walmart:<br /> Even though it already has its presence with two if its chains, Sam’s club and Bodega Aurera, Walmart is programmed to open soon, with its construction accomplished within a few months.<br />Chedraui Super store: <br />Mexico's fourth-largest retailer, the supermarket giant sells groceries, apparel, and non-perishable items in about 113 Chedraui stores operating in 13 eastern and southern Mexican states. Chedraui also owns about 15 La Hogaza bakeries and it has a large stake in Bodega Latina, which has half a dozen El Super supermarkets in the Los Angeles area.<br />Already present in Chetumal, the Mall is opening its second outlet including in it the second cinema complex for Cinepolis.<br />Parque Zoologico Biouniverzoo: <br />For the political and social importance as the capital of the state and its strategic location near major tourist attractions in the south, as for its own natural and cultural wealth, the city of Chetumal represents the ideal place to house Biouniverzoo, focusing on preservation of wildlife, especially endangered species that inhabit the southeastern Mexico.<br />With an opening date set for the 27th of November 2010, this project will be a major tourist attraction in regional and international levels, with the aim of strengthening the identity of the local population through the assessment of their socio-cultural structure and its environment.<br />Total investment: 90,000,000MXN equivalent to 7,200,000USD.<br />Within the park boundaries a center for real-time monitoring of global climate changes is being erected for the state of Quintana Roo, putting Chetumal on the national forefront with the installation of the School Climate Theme Park facilities.<br />3456940-4445<br /> <br />CLIDDA - Clínica de Detección y Diagnóstico Automatizado:<br />The soon to open Clinic for Automated Detection and Diagnosis (CLIDDA) in Chetumal, unique in its kind in the Southeast, would be completed next December and operating in the middle of this month. The only other clinic of this type is located in Mexico City DF and is around 32 years old. <br />It will be equipped with state of the art technology according to the governor of Quintana Roo.<br />Escuela de Medicina:<br />With a total investment of 278,000,000MXN (22,240,000USD), the Medical school is set to officially open its doors beginning 2012, while it will start taking in students as soon as January 2011. Equipped with state of the art technology, it will be the main medical school of the Quintana Roo State. <br />3358515136525<br />Other main developments in Chetumal:<br />OXXO convenience store:<br />A municipal authorization has been given to open up 20 OXXO’s convenience stores in Chetumal. OXXO having remarquable integration in all of Mexico, with 7,334 Stores nation wide, follows a similar pattern as the American convenience store 7-Eleven.lefttop<br />Cinepolis:<br />Cinépolis is the biggest cineplex chain in Mexico with 205 theaters in 65 cities. They became the largest chain in Latin America with 230 theaters, 2,160 screens and over 13,000 employees throughout Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil and Peru.Opening its 2nd Cineplex within the new Chedraui complex, Chetumal.<br />Centro Internacional de Negocios y Convenciones de Chetumal:<br />With an investment of 200 million pesos (16 millions usd) the first part of the center has been built. The 2nd part will be the result of the remaining 101 million Pesos. One of the main goals of the centre is to give Chetumal its place in the Conventions tourism that is well implanted in the state of Quintana Roo. <br />Already functioning projects:<br />Chedraui<br />Coppel<br />Office Depot<br />Bodega Aurera (Walmart)<br />Vacunologia Estatal:The new and modern laboratory will identify and prevent damage and risks to the health of the population and the environment.Total investment: 28,000,000 MXN (2,240,000 USD).ListenRead phonetically3425190-13970<br />Chetumal came a long way, from a small city of 5000 people and no developments to a city of 256,000 with the major developments of the State. Just like Cancun, Playa de Carmen and Mahahual, the capital city’s growth is visible with every passing day. Taking advantage of this economic development is a crucial point at this time. <br />Tourist migration has been shifting more and more to the south because people are looking for something local and cultural, with a big number of the tourists being:<br />Empty nesters that are characterized by being parents whose children have flown the family nest, between 45 and 55 of age, well educated and with a high disposable income.<br />SINKs and DINKs that are characterized by being between 25 and 35 years old, single or married but without children, meaning not yet burdened with the usual expenses associated with raising a family, SINKs & DINKs have their unique set of financial needs brought about by their equally unique lifestyle and priorities.<br />As for the local community of Chetumal, the social status is advancing seeing that the new projects are and will be bringing a better and higher social class, that is more in tuned to its needs, better educated and willing to spend.<br />Map of Quintana Roo<br />References<br />http://www.askbiography.com/bio/Chetumal,_Quintana_Roo.html <br />http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a907092114~frm=abslink <br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize_Barrier_Reef <br />http://www.mahahualhotel.com/<br />http://www.bocadelmarmex.com/mahahual.htm <br />http://www.opb.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1664%3Aboiuniverzoo&catid=3&Itemid=110<br />http://www.noticaribe.com.mx/chetumal/2008/05/anuncian_carrera_de_medicina.html <br />http://www.oxxo.com<br />http://www.cinepolis.com/index.aspx <br />http://www.noticaribe.com.mx/chetumal/2007/01/autorizan_centro_de_convenciones_de_chetumal.html <br />http://www.chetumail.com/?c=120&a=2095 <br />http://www.quintanarooaldia.com/noticia/presenta-laboratorio-estatal-de-salud-avance-de-70-por-ciento./5232m<br />http://www.laverdaddiario.com/index.php/ciudad/12351-Crece-poblacin-anual.html<br />http://www.sefoe.yucatan.gob.mx/esp/estudios_economicos/Crecimiento_%20economico_%20en_%20Yucatan.pdf <br />