Akumal’s Bid for Alcaldía Status to Boost Local Services

TULUM — The community of Akumal could take a significant step in its development by becoming a alcaldía, a move that would grant it greater autonomy and an increase in resources dedicated to improving public services. The proposal is currently under analysis by municipal authorities.

The community delegate, Tony Ferre, stated that Akumal already meets the requirements to advance to this scheme, considering its population and tourism growth in recent years. He explained that although the official population registry is approximately 3,000 inhabitants, the number increases with the floating population linked to tourism activity.

One of the main problems facing the delegation is a lack of resources. The assigned budget barely covers payroll, limiting the possibility of addressing the population’s basic needs. “The delegation has only six employees, including the secretary, which is insufficient to cover all areas. To work efficiently, a team of at least 20 people would be needed, especially in the beach area, where the workload is very high,” Ferre pointed out.

Among the most urgent deficiencies, he mentioned public lighting and street pothole repair. A large part of the roadways lack lamps, which represents a security risk, while the main avenue and several alternate streets have severe damage that hinders mobility. “The request to improve these services is already being processed, but we are still waiting for a response. The lack of a budget forces us to depend on management through the municipality,” he explained.

If the conversion to a mayoralty is finalized, Akumal would have its own budget, which would allow it to address local problems in a more agile and direct manner. “As a mayoralty, the resources would stay here and be invested directly in the community, which would guarantee better management of public services,” added Ferre.

The growth of Akumal and its relevance within the Riviera Maya tourist corridor have strengthened the demand for greater autonomy. Meanwhile, the community continues to await responses to the submitted requests, with the expectation that improvements in infrastructure and services will arrive soon.