Playa del Carmen’s New Economic Strategy

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — The municipal government of Playa del Carmen is collaborating with business leaders and federal agencies to diversify the local economy and attract new investments in response to a contraction in U.S. tourism. This was confirmed by Antón Bojórquez McKay, the Secretary of Economic Development and Investment Attraction, while outlining upcoming projects and ongoing negotiations with the private sector.

The official explained that the city's reliance on North American tourism has been negatively impacted by external factors, including political uncertainty in the United States, which has reduced the arrival of visitors and, consequently, income for the city.

Facing this scenario, business leaders and the government have agreed to reinforce international promotion using the city brand "Let’s Playa," designed by the municipal Secretary of Tourism, and to promote new events that position Playa del Carmen in emerging markets.

Bojórquez McKay stated that one of the top priorities is to diversify the economic base. Among the strategic projects is the potential installation of a renewable energy plant. A Spanish consortium has expressed interest in developing a wind farm in the region, though a lack of available large tracts of land has limited progress.

Simultaneously, a Canadian company is proposing a technology that would reduce the space required for a solar plant, which could supply energy directly to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

"We are in talks so that, if the Spanish investment is finalized, it can be complemented with the Canadian technology and we can manage to have a solar plant in Playa del Carmen. It would be a key step towards the energy transition and, at the same time, would generate jobs and local economic benefits," he explained.

Another area of work involves the establishment of a development hub linked to the federal government's Corredores Económicos del Bienestar (Economic Corridors of Well-being) program. According to Bojórquez, discussions have been established with Carlos Candelaria, the program's head, for Playa del Carmen to join this scheme, which includes tax incentives for companies.

"Companies that set up operations would have benefits in the reduction of their Income Tax (ISR) and taxes associated with establishing their businesses, which is very attractive for attracting capital," he detailed.

The secretary emphasized that logistics and product distribution are central themes for the region, as Playa del Carmen has favorable conditions to become a strategic hub. Its proximity to a port with connections to the United States and Central America, coupled with a robust internal market of over 46,000 hotel rooms, represents competitive advantages for the installation of new industries.

In this regard, Bojórquez reported that conversations have begun with the Asociación de la Industria Manufacturera y de Exportación (INDEX), whose representatives will visit the central wholesale market located near the Tren Maya to evaluate if that space can host new operations.

"The idea is for companies to be able to supply the local market and, subsequently, export from Playa del Carmen to other destinations," he indicated.

Finally, the head of Economic Development urged calm among citizens in the face of the current global contraction.

"We are living through an economic winter, but after winter comes spring. We are confident that 2026 will be a much better year for Playa del Carmen and for Mexico," he concluded.