Tulum Artisans Shut Down as Tourism Dries Up

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Fifty percent of the commercial establishments in the artisan market of the Tulum archaeological zone have closed following the modification of the main entrance by the Grupo Aeroportuario Ferroviario de Servicios Similares y Conexos Olmeca Maya Mexica (Gafsacomm), which administers the Jaguar National Park.

In an interview, artisans from Tulum stated that they are experiencing the worst crisis in the site's history, making it necessary to modify the access points to the beaches of the aforementioned municipality, which are currently controlled by the state-owned company founded by the Army.

“Locals have closed because with no people, you have to shut down as there is no money to pay the rent for the premises, which is at least about 12 thousand pesos per month. That is the reason for the closures happening right now,” said Nora Elena Palacios.

What was once the bustling entrance to the archaeological zone has not fared well. The site now features closed shops, little tourism, and in some areas, weeds have grown as a consequence of abandonment.

In December of last year, Gafsacomm took control of the Jaguar National Park and, with it, modified the access points to the beaches and the entrance to the Tulum archaeological zone. The official entrance is now located on the west side of federal highway 307, where a fee must be paid starting from 105 pesos, in addition to the 100 pesos charged by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

With the modification of the entrance to the archaeological zone, the artisans, tour sellers, and even taxi drivers in the former commercial center of Tulum are the most impacted. All of them currently express their dissatisfaction and are already planning to move to other areas of the state due to the lack of employment.

“There are no people because of the excessive charge by the Jaguar National Park. I wish they would leave it at 100 pesos,” elaborated Nora Elena Palacios. She has been an artisan merchant in the space for over a decade and, along with her husband, hopes for a resolution to the document sent to the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) to enable the new access through the so-called "ruins."