Climate Change Threatens Quintana Roo’s Tourism Future

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The consequences of climate change in Quintana Roo remain a concern primarily for scientists and environmental activists, while the region’s booming real estate and tourism industries continue to expand across its 1,176 kilometers of coastline, mangroves, jungles, and waters. For over a decade, local residents have witnessed and suffered the environmental degradation firsthand.

A Deteriorating Ecosystem

Multilateral environmental organizations, academic institutions, and activist groups have long warned that the current tourism-driven economic model in Latin America—particularly in Cancún, a regional benchmark—is unsustainable. They argue that it leads to environmental destruction and, without the natural beauty of Quintana Roo, the tourism industry will collapse.

Carlos Choc Aguilar, a lifelong fisherman born in Cozumel with 50 years of experience diving for lobster in Punta Allen, a fishing community in Bahía de la Ascensión, described the environmental decline he has observed.

"It’s taking over the entire peninsula—Tulum, Punta Allen—and it’s going to disappear. I don’t know why the government hasn’t noticed. The water flows from one side to the other, from the river to the open sea… The warming of the earth has affected everything—not just lobster, but all fish. And not only that—it’s wiping out the seagrass beds, which are like underwater meadows that turtles and many marine species depend on for survival," Choc Aguilar said.

Rising Health Concerns

According to data from the Secretary of Health, as of Epidemiological Week 18 (April 27 to May 3, 2025), 27 cases of heat-related illnesses—including burns, dehydration, and heatstroke—had been recorded this year. In contrast, during the same period in 2024, only eight such cases were reported.

Dr. Julia Gamboa Díaz, deputy director of the General Hospital in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, noted a significant increase in medical consultations during the hot season.

"The number of cases rises sharply due to dehydration. Fortunately, Carrillo Puerto has two health centers and a hospital, so we have hydration plans in place, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly and children under five. But people outside that range are also at risk," Gamboa Díaz explained.

The National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change reported that, based on 2019 data, May and August are the hottest months in Quintana Roo, with average temperatures of 33.6°C and 33.5°C, respectively. The same agency noted that tropical cyclones between 1999 and 2018 were the climate-related disasters that required the most federal emergency funds (FONDEN) for the state. Storms were also the most frequent climate-related disasters during that period.

The Sargassum Invasion

For the past 12 years, climate change has brought millions of tons of sargassum—a brown macroalgae from the Atlantic—to Quintana Roo’s shores. Between March and October, the once-turquoise waters and white sands are now blanketed by the decomposing organic matter, damaging the environment, economy, and daily life for residents. Tourists are also deterred by the unsightly beaches.

In Playa del Carmen alone, authorities have removed approximately 6,500 tons of sargassum this year. The problem is equally severe in Mahahual, Xcalak, Cozumel, Tulum, and Puerto Morelos, where government and private-sector resources are insufficient to keep all beaches clean. Restaurateurs and hotel owners spend daily on labor to maintain at least the areas in front of their businesses.

Choc Aguilar shared his latest observations from Punta Allen:

"The turtles have no food left. They’re staying in shallow areas because sharks are killing them. I don’t know if anyone has noticed—I don’t think they even know."

The Kuxatur Project: A Sustainable Alternative

In response to these challenges, the Kuxatur project—led by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Amigos de Sian Ka’an (ASK), and Conservation of Mexican Island Territories (ISLA), and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—aims to integrate biodiversity conservation into tourism development.

The project identifies three key issues driving ecosystem degradation:

1. Lack of biodiversity safeguards in tourism development, leading to encroachment on fragile ecosystems.
2. Inadequate financial incentives for sustainable tourism, resulting in unchecked activities like fishing and diving.
3. Absence of replicable sustainable tourism models that could guide nationwide improvements.

Kuxatur proposes an alternative approach based on Biodiversity Integration in Tourism (BIT), which emphasizes conservation and sustainable resource use in tourism planning and policies. The initiative highlights the irreversible risks posed by unchecked infrastructure and real estate development, which violate national and international environmental regulations and threaten the very foundation of Quintana Roo’s tourism economy.

The situation underscores the urgent need for policy reforms and sustainable practices to preserve Quintana Roo’s natural assets—before it’s too late.