Can Tourism Outrun the Shadow of Crime in Acapulco?
Acapulco's tourism rebounds (Dorada zone sizzles), but organized crime casts a shadow. Extortion and shutdowns plague businesses. The mayor fights back, tackling violence and aiming for a happy ending.
Acapulco, the city that once shimmied with Frank Sinatra and splashed with Elizabeth Taylor, is facing a two-step recovery. Hurricane Otis left a mess, but tourists are dipping their toes back in the emerald waters.
Official numbers say Acapulco's hotel rooms are shimmying at 75% occupancy. That's just the tiny bubble of 4,534 rooms that survived Otis' wrath. Compared to the pre-hurricane salsa party of 19,600 rooms, the real occupancy rate is 17.3%.