Ordenamiento y gestión del territorio en zonas costeras con turismo residencial. El caso de Región Este, Uruguay

Sun and beach tourism associated with residential modality, is one of the most import-ant activities in Uruguay. The urban occupation characteristics of the East Region coasts (Maldonado and Rocha departments) generate from the beginning impacts of great mag-nitude. Between 1997 and 2003 the first two instruments of land planning and management, involving the defence, protection and sustainable development of coastal areas, were created: the Environmental Impact Assessment (of national application) and the Coastal Ordinance of the department of Rocha. This paper analyzes their current results, through the transformations in the territory and their socio-environmental impacts. By means of quantitative, qualitative and spatial analyses, the successes and failures in the conception and implementation of these instruments are revealed.