Cancún Hotel Wants Sun Loungers on Public Beach

Cancún, Mexico — A hotel in Cancún has submitted a request to install sun loungers and other beach furniture on a section of the shoreline, reigniting concerns over private use of public beaches. The Emporio Hotel has filed an environmental impact assessment with Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), seeking approval for the project under the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) regulations.

Project Details Under Public Review

The proposal, titled Complementary Tourist Activities in the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone, is currently open for public consultation as part of Semarnat’s environmental evaluation process. According to the submitted documentation, the hotel plans to place 80 plastic sun loungers, 20 wooden beach chairs, 40 canvas umbrellas, and 40 round service tables along a 3,346.38-square-meter stretch of beach.

The hotel emphasized that all furniture would be removable, with items taken down each evening and reinstalled at sunrise. "The goal is to provide shaded resting areas for guests while ensuring no permanent structures remain overnight," the environmental impact statement noted.

Controversy Over Beach Access

The request follows years of disputes over private encroachment on Cancún’s public beaches. During the previous federal administration, authorities conducted operations to remove unauthorized structures—including sun loungers, palapas, and fences—that restricted public access. Critics argue that concessions, while legally permitted, have been exploited to effectively privatize beachfront areas, barring non-guests from entering.

The Emporio Hotel’s project is based on Concession Title No. DGZF-063/18, which designates the area for tourism use. However, activists and local residents have long contested such concessions, alleging they disproportionately benefit businesses at the expense of public access.

Public Consultation Ongoing

The full environmental impact statement is available for review on Semarnat’s transparency portal (http://www.semarnat.gob.mx) under project code 23QR2025TD024. The public has until the consultation period closes to submit feedback or objections.

The outcome of the request could set a precedent for future beach-use concessions in Cancún, where balancing tourism development with environmental and public access rights remains a contentious issue.