Cancun Market 23 Vendors Report 40% Drop in Sales

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Market 23, one of Cancun’s most iconic markets, is reporting a 40% drop in sales. During the current summer season, tourists are arriving with tighter budgets, which is reflected in the weak demand for handicrafts and souvenirs.

The overall decline in visitors is also taking a toll on foot traffic, leaving vendors across the market with significantly fewer sales than usual.

Manuela Lopez Herrera, a handicraft vendor, said the downturn is unlike anything she has seen in years. “People are spending around 500 pesos on souvenirs and looking for deals, but they’re not buying crafts like traditional clothing or hammocks,” she said.

She said vendors had hoped August would bring some relief, but business has remained slow. As a result, many have turned to “two-for-one” promotions and price cuts to attract customers, especially domestic tourists traveling with limited budgets.

The slowdown is not limited to souvenirs. Food stalls, restaurants, and other eateries in the market that used to be packed during vacation season are now seeing at most 60% occupancy, and mainly on weekends. Vendors acknowledged that while they expected a difficult summer, they did not anticipate numbers this low.

“You don’t even see tourists on the streets like in previous years; it feels like a normal low season,” one vendor said. Local customers are also spending less, since reduced tipping means they have less to spend on their own purchases.