In 1969, Antonio Enríquez Savignac was given the go-ahead to transform a secluded Mexican island into a world-beating tourist destination.

The technocrat believed tourism was a cost effective solution for fixing the country's faltering economy.

He was given funding from the Mexican federal government to create infrastructure on the island, including an airport.

The resort would be called Cancún.

More than 50 years later, Cancún welcomes more than 20 million guests to its shores every year, with over 30,000 hotels scattered across the island.

However, the island has become a crime hotspot and there are major pollution problems in the area.

Antonio's son, Juan Enríquez, shares his memories with Matt Pintus.

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(Photo: Cancún. Credit: Getty Images)

How Cancún became a tourist destination

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