Playa del Carmen Restaurants Struggle Amid Inflation

Playa del Carmen — This year has meant an "aggravated crisis" for many restaurants in the downtown zone of this city, to the point that many now need to request support in order to survive, stated César Navarro Medina, the former president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (Canirac) for the southeast region.

In an interview, the businessperson indicated that although a small upturn is expected for the September 15 Independence Day holiday, the season in general is already low, a situation that is aggravated by the escalation of prices.

"The official inflation rate is far below what is felt in restaurants, and even in Mexican households, with strong increases in the basic food basket and in meats," he stated.

The Secretary of Tourism has several events prepared for the coming months, such as "Playa Spice," October Fest, and gastronomic festivals, designed to boost sales in the downtown zone; however, the outlook facing restaurants is harsh, at least until the end of the year.

"We are juggling personnel, so as not to lose this already trained productive workforce. This season will be complicated, although we hope to get some relief by the end of the year," he noted.

César Navarro recalled that economists anticipate a difficult 2026, which means the sector will have to see how it navigates the adversities predicted to begin in January.