Boost Quintana Roo Tourism Amid Economic Slump

Cancún, Mexico — The Business Coordinating Council of the Caribbean (CCE) has raised concerns over Quintana Roo’s declining economic performance, attributing the downturn to three key factors impacting tourism this year. Javier Carlos Olvera Silveira, president of the CCE, cited the depreciation of the U.S. dollar, reduced airline seat capacity, and large-scale sargassum arrivals as the primary challenges affecting the region’s economy.

Economic Pressures Demand Stronger Marketing Efforts

Olvera Silveira emphasized the need for intensified promotional campaigns to counteract the drop in visitor numbers. “We have received reports on the state’s economic performance, and tourism has not had an encouraging year,” he stated, according to Sipse. “The exchange rate no longer favors us, as the dollar has depreciated again. This, combined with fewer available flights—which makes the destination more expensive for domestic travelers—and massive sargassum influxes, creates a highly complex situation.”

Meanwhile, the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex), Cancún chapter, warned of a nationwide economic slowdown, with Quintana Roo particularly vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on tourism. As previously reported by REPORTUR.mx, Coparmex identified risks stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies, which could further reduce domestic tourism to Quintana Roo, where 80% of the economy depends on the sector.

Coparmex Highlights Risks to Quintana Roo’s Stability

María Jovita Portillo Navarro, president of Coparmex, underscored the urgency of addressing economic stagnation. “The recent alert issued by Coparmex regarding Mexico’s economic stagnation has profound and urgent implications for Quintana Roo,” she said. “As a state where tourism drives over 80% of the economy, any decline in domestic consumption, investment, or legal uncertainty directly threatens its primary engine of growth.”

Criticism has also mounted against the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ), led by Andrés Martínez Reynoso, with industry representatives and associations calling for improved marketing strategies to revive the sector.

Visitor Complaints Reflect Broader Challenges

User comments on the article highlighted additional frustrations, such as hotels charging inflated exchange rates for dollar-denominated bookings and declining service quality at high-priced resorts. One commenter noted, “Hotels are still pricing in dollars and converting at 22 pesos per dollar—this is exploitative, just like the taxi fares. Naturally, travelers cancel these reservations.” Another criticized the declining standards at Cancún’s all-inclusive hotels, stating, “Nine out of ten reviews for these overpriced hotels are negative. The lack of accountability is staggering.”

The article underscores growing concerns over Quintana Roo’s ability to compete with emerging destinations like the Dominican Republic, which have capitalized on strategic planning and investment.