Protest Grows Against Royal Caribbean’s Majahual Resort Plan

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — A digital petition campaign has been launched on Change.org to oppose the construction of Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day México, a massive tourism development planned near the Costa Maya cruise port in Majahual. The initiative, spearheaded by Morgane Vainberg, a certified diving instructor and social anthropologist, warns of severe environmental and social consequences for the coastal community.

Environmental and Community Concerns

The petition highlights that Royal Caribbean’s project involves a 90-hectare aquatic park on protected mangrove land, a critical natural barrier for marine life and ecological balance. Majahual, a fishing village bordering the world’s second-largest coral reef, is described as "one of the last places where the jungle meets the sea, reefs still thrive, and sea turtles return annually to nest."

The Perfect Day México project includes:

• The world’s longest lazy river
• 10 swimming pools
• 12 restaurants
• 24 bars
• Private beach clubs with cabanas along 3 kilometers of coastline

Royal Caribbean has already acquired 34 adjacent plots totaling 93 hectares, primarily north of the port.

Threats to Local Rights and Ecosystems

Vainberg argues the development would:

• Restrict public access to beaches and mangroves
• Threaten local identity and livelihoods
• Endanger fragile ecosystems, including three species of sea turtles, resident manatees, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

The petition draws parallels to Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay project in the Bahamas, which allegedly led to:

• Privatization of coastal areas
• Mass destruction of biodiversity, including mangrove removal and reef contamination
• Disproportionate financial benefits for the corporation

Additional Environmental Risks

The campaign warns of:

• Daily influxes of up to 20,000 tourists, increasing chemical sunscreen pollution, plastic waste, and freshwater consumption in a water-stressed region
• Potential sewage dumping, citing alleged videos of wastewater discharges near existing facilities

Calls for Action

The petition demands:

1. Immediate cancellation of Perfect Day México in its current form
2. Rigorous, independent, and publicly accessible environmental impact assessments
3. Recognition of local communities’ rights to decide their future
4. A national debate on Mexico’s tourism development model

Economic Benefits Questioned

While many Majahual business owners and residents view the project as an economic boon, critics note its exclusivity—only Royal Caribbean passengers will have access, limiting benefits for local vendors. The "all-inclusive" model may further reduce visitor spending in the town itself.

Regulatory Gaps

The petition notes that Mexican authorities are not legally required to consult local populations, and environmental safeguards remain weak. Royal Caribbean has yet to submit an environmental impact statement to Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) for approval.

As of now, the campaign remains a vocal but isolated challenge to the project, which proponents believe will elevate Majahual’s status as a premier cruise destination.