Chichén Itzá, Yucatán — A group of 121 tour guides from the Confederación de Guías Nativos de Chichén Itzá were removed from the archaeological site after the opening of a new visitor center, sparking protests and raising concerns about the economic impact on local families.
Affected guides said Cultur staff notified them of the removal despite previous agreements to respect their workspaces during the transition to the new Centro de Atención a Visitantes (Catvi), which began operations yesterday.
According to the protesting guides, only 55 of the 176 guides in their association were authorized to continue providing services within the site, leaving 121 workers without access. Luis Flores Chay, one of the representatives, noted that approximately 400 guides work in the area across various groups.
The protest began in the community of Pisté, where demonstrators walked more than two kilometers to the tourist stop near the site. There, they demanded that authorities honor previously established agreements and called for an immediate solution to prevent economic vulnerability for dozens of families.
This conflict adds to recent discontent at Chichén Itzá, where artisans have also expressed dissatisfaction, creating tension at one of Yucatán’s primary tourist destinations.
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