The aim of this paper is to define the polycentric structure of the tourist region of Puerto
Vallarta-Bahia de Banderas, which is located between the Mexican States of Jalisco and
Nayarit, as well as define the role of its urban areas with a focus on economic specialization and
to the flows of people across the region.
We used different sources of statistical information, field observation and direct surveys in order
to recognize the mobility flows induced by work, supply and leisure activities from each urban
area of the region. The results were integrated in a Regional Geographic Information System.
Some of the data source we used are from the National Statistic Directory of Economic Units
(DENUE), from Economic Census 2009, from the General Census of Population and Housing
1990, 2000 and 2010 and the Counting of Population and Housing 1995 and 2005, all edited by
the National Institute for Statistics and Geographic Information (INEGI).
The results show that the urban areas in the region of Puerto Vallarta – Bahía de Banderas can
be classified into five different types, according to their function, and are organized as an
interconnected network of people and economic flows.