Why a Councilman Wants Tulum Out of the Airport’s Name

Councilman Eugenio Barbachano, who recently joined the National Action Party (PAN), has proposed removing the name Tulum from the Tulum International Airport Felipe Carrillo Puerto and renaming it “Aeropuerto Municipal Felipe Carrillo Puerto de Felipe Carrillo Puerto.” Barbachano said the terminal’s situation could harm the image of the tourist destination and create a mistaken impression among visitors.

In an interview, Barbachano questioned the airport’s air connectivity and said difficulties in maintaining domestic and international routes could cause dissatisfaction among visitors arriving in the region. He argued that associating the terminal with Tulum creates expectations that, in his view, do not correspond to the airport’s location or the transport options available for reaching the tourist destination.

Distance and Confusion Concerns

Barbachano said the terminal is located in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, more than 30 kilometers from Tulum, and argued that the current name can confuse travelers about the distance they must cover to reach the city. He also questioned transport alternatives and flight availability, warning that a reduction in routes could complicate tourists’ plans and affect the destination’s perception.

From his perspective, keeping Tulum’s name linked to the airport could transfer the negative consequences of the terminal’s operational and connectivity problems to the tourist destination. The proposal remains only a proposal by the councilman and is not a formal initiative approved to modify the airport’s official name.

Airlines Announce Suspensions

The proposal comes amid a complicated context for the airport’s air connectivity. The terminal began operating in December 2023 and experienced an initial period of growth. At the end of September, Aeroméxico and Volaris announced the suspension of their flights to the terminal, while American Airlines reported the cancellation of its service from and to Miami. Those moves represent a challenge for the airport’s available air connections and have revived questions about its capacity to attract and retain commercial operations.

Effects on Tulum’s Tourist Image

Flight availability, fares, ground transport options and the ease of reaching the destination are factors that influence the visitor experience. When a route disappears or connection alternatives decrease, some travelers may be forced to modify their itineraries, seek other airports or reconsider their travel plans. In an international destination such as Tulum, these conditions can also influence the perception of tour operators, agencies and visitors who organize their vacations in advance.

The discussion raised by Barbachano poses two related but distinct issues: the convenience of using Tulum’s name to identify the terminal and the measures needed to recover its air connectivity.