Population and economic units as potential elements for sustainable development of a tourist destination. COMONFORT Case

This paper presents the results of an analysis of the potential of the population and establishments of tourist services in a city in the state of Guanajuato (Mexico) in order to determine the potential of these for sustainable tourism development of the place. This study is part of a diagnosis to assess the possibilities of tourism of a destination for which -even though there is not any official information on the prospects of development in this municipality (Comonfort)- conducting an assessment of possibilities of tourism is an important tool for agencies working on this field, in order to minimize possible risks in future investments (Zimmer and Grassmanni, 1996). Initially, on a first attempt, his study uses official data generated by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) in order to know the characteristics of the population and the evolution of tourist establishments listed in the city of Comonfort. It can be concluded that even if there are not any defined lines within the Tourism Development Plan of the State of Guanajuato that include the potential for sustainable tourism development in the city of Comonfort today, the city has potential management factors (human resources) and supporting factors and resources (enterprises and infrastructure), likely to be developed in the municipality to be integrated into the planning of a sustainable tourist destination