Costa Mujeres Maintains Lead in Hotel Occupancy Despite Tourism Slump

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Costa Mujeres has held onto its standing as Quintana Roo’s leading hotel destination, keeping occupancy rates eight to ten points higher than the rest of the state even as the region feels the effects of a broader tourism downturn.

July closed at 75% occupancy, six percentage points below the same month last year, according to Marissa Setién, executive president of the Costa Mujeres Hotel Association. She said the destination is currently averaging 70-72% occupancy but expects August to finish around 65% as the typical low-season lull sets in.

The association is working with the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council and the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council to shore up demand, Setién added.

She attributed the drop in visitor numbers to widely cited factors, including a shortage of airline seats and reduced flight schedules, as well as issues that influence travel decisions across the state, such as sargassum. Although seaweed accumulation on Costa Mujeres beaches is minimal and intermittent, Setién said the generalized reporting of sargassum problems still hurts bookings.

Setién said there are no plans for temporary hotel closures in Costa Mujeres this autumn, unlike reports about some properties in Tulum. Hotels may use the slower period for early staff vacations, she said, but that decision rests with each property.

Despite the decline, Costa Mujeres has proven the most resilient destination in Quintana Roo amid factors like sargassum and security concerns that have hit other areas harder, according to association data. Forecasts suggest occupancy will hold at least 60% during the weakest months, supported by steady last-minute reservations, while U.S. and domestic travelers continue to drive annual demand.