Cozumel Boardwalk Renovation Aims to Extend Cruise Ship Stays, Mayor Says

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The planned renovation of Cozumel’s waterfront boardwalk is designed to make the island more attractive to cruise passengers and encourage them to spend more time ashore, Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez said.

The project includes restoring beach areas, upgrading nighttime lighting, retaining two traffic lanes, and renovating public spaces along Rafael E. Melgar Avenue. Chacón said the plan remains in its preliminary phase, with a public presentation expected later to detail block-by-block improvements.

The boardwalk will not close entirely during construction. The mayor said work would be carried out in stages and by city blocks, following an approach similar to the one used on Décima Avenida.

“We don’t plan a direct, total intervention that would close Rafael E. Melgar completely. That won’t happen. It would be done in stages,” he said.

After meetings with business owners, the project was adjusted to preserve two vehicle lanes. Initially, a single lane had been proposed, but local business representatives asked to keep two.

More than 10 working sessions have been held with business owners along Rafael E. Melgar and organizations including Canirac, the restaurant association; Canaco, the chamber of commerce; hotel associations; and business councils. Topics covered lighting, the flagpole, the diver fountain, children’s play areas, and changes to Benito Juárez Park.

The plan also calls for restoring sandy areas near the boardwalk. Chacón said details such as the origin of the sand are still being studied. “The study is underway; once it’s finished, we’ll know all these details,” he said.

He linked the project to beach erosion caused by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and said the goal is to restore public beach space in the downtown area.

Cruise industry representatives have called for a better urban image, improved nighttime lighting, and more public spaces, according to the mayor. The expectation is that a renovated tourist zone will encourage ships to stay longer in port and passengers to visit downtown shops, restaurants, and local services.

“We want cruise ships to stay longer, yes, but we have to be much more attractive for that to happen,” Chacón said.

He acknowledged that extending cruise stays does not depend solely on the boardwalk project. It will require coordination with cruise lines, business owners, the port captaincy, the Navy, and other authorities. Cruise schedules are typically set months to nearly a year in advance, so changes in port times would need advance planning.

The next step is a public presentation of the project, which the city government plans to include business owners, property owners along Rafael E. Melgar, and civil society representatives.