“Discover Bacalar’s Slow Summer Start: What’s Happening in the Magical Town?”

The summer vacation season in Bacalar, known as the "Magical Town," has had a slow start, with hotel occupancy rates only reaching 30%. This is a significant decrease compared to last year's 60% occupancy rate at the start of the season.

Saul Rodolfo Gutiérrez Ochoa, Vice President of the Hotel Association of Central and Southern Quintana Roo, attributes this drop to several factors. Among them are traffic issues caused by the construction of the Mayan Train and the circulation of negative news regarding crime and deficiencies in basic services such as water and electricity.

To combat these challenges, the hotel sector is promoting the town through influencers and YouTubers. They are also informing tourists about potential complications they may encounter when visiting Bacalar, even during the hotel booking process.

"We are currently facing a critical situation due to the changes and damage to infrastructure caused by the Mayan Train construction and crime," said Gutiérrez Ochoa. "However, we are working hard to improve our image and assure visitors that Bacalar remains a beautiful vacation destination."

In addition to addressing these issues, the hotel sector is taking a private initiative to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists upon arrival at the vacation destination. Despite the challenges, Bacalar, with its main attraction, the Lake of the Seven Colors, continues to offer a variety of activities. These include aquatic activities, stromatolites, water births, cultural experiences, the archaeological area of Chacchoben, hiking, and zip-lining.

"We have an eight-day activity agenda so that tourists know what to do and are encouraged to stay longer in Bacalar," added Gutiérrez Ochoa.

According to the Secretary of Tourism of Quintana Roo (Sedetur), Bacalar's hotel infrastructure includes 132 lodging centers, offering a total of 1,379 rooms.