The golden beaches of this Mexican resort attracts around 12 million tourists every year

Cancun Cancer: The dark side of the Spring Break capital of the world.

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Cancun,
the famous resort and Spring Break capital of the world has become a
magnet for mass tourism. But with a threatened environment and
marginalised employees, this party comes at a price.

The golden
beaches of this Mexican resort attracts around 12 million tourists every
year. American students go wild, celebrating the end of exams; here
anything goes. Yet behind the scenes workers endure challenging
conditions in order to support their families. "They allow themselves to
do what they would never do at home", says housekeeper Raquel. With
tourists staying within the bounds of their hotels, local commerce has
collapsed. The ecological system is also under threat, with 50% of
mangroves being replaced by building sites. "In 50 to 60 years, the
turquoise colour of the sea that we see today will disappear", warns an
environmental expert. For how long will this tropical paradise retain
its allure? As Raquel’s grandfather describes "Life is not sweet in
Cancun. Life is hard".