Playa del Carmen beaches face erosion and sargassum threat

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — Authorities must focus their efforts during 2026 on improving the beaches in the city center, which have been affected by sargassum and erosion in recent years, to prevent losing the preference of national and international tourists.

Lenin Amaro Betancourt, president of the Tourism Commission and coordinator of the National Association of Business Councils (ANCER) in the Southeast, stated that erosion has accelerated at a rapid pace in Playa del Carmen since last year, apparently caused by climate change.

He considered that while it is positive that authorities seek to diversify the tourism offering by promoting cenotes and attractions in communities, it is of utmost importance that they prioritize beach treatment.

“We lack good beaches in the center of Playa del Carmen. We must carry out the recovery of the beach area now if we want to reinforce it, because although we seek to diversify with alternative tourism, culture, etcetera, still 95 percent of those who visit Playa come for sun and beach,” he declared.

The businessman also indicated that the sector expects to have better economic spillover this year, especially in summer when vacations coincide with the Soccer World Cup.

He maintained that the destination has been affected by vacation rates, which according to estimates have been 15 percent in recent years, but said he hopes that the promotion work to be carried out this year at various tourism events will be reflected in more visits and, therefore, more benefits for the business sector.

Finally, Lenin Amaro added that since the pandemic, domestic tourism has become increasingly important in the destination, so he expressed confidence that, after the minimum wage increases made last year, there will be more visits and greater economic spillover from this sector of visitors.