Quintana Roo Tourism Development Sparks Environmental Concerns

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Pressure on coastal ecosystems in Quintana Roo is reigniting alert signals. Conservation experts and environmental authorities warn of the urgency to reconsider real estate and tourism growth in areas of high ecological fragility, where impacts are already visible.

Protected Areas Under Threat: Mangroves, Wetlands, and Reefs

María del Carmen García Rivas, national director of Conservation for Conanp, explained that the state has historically received projects in places that cannot support urbanization without consequences.

“Construction has occurred in the most vulnerable locations. It is best to stop building hotels in sensitive zones; we must not continue affecting the water table or the reefs,” she commented.

In recent days, Semarnat denied environmental permits for three new tourism developments: two in Holbox and Puerto Morelos, and a hotel expansion in Cancún. The decision was made after detecting risks to mangroves, wetlands, and protected species.

New Rules for Growth: The Bet on Tourism Reconversion

While the environmental discussion gains strength, the state government maintains that urban planning is advancing with new criteria. Bernardo Cueto Riestra, secretary of Tourism, affirmed that expansion in destinations like Cancún responds to instruments such as the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2050, which defines limits and growth areas.

At this stage, he highlighted, the city is undergoing a transformation that diversifies its offerings:

“Cancún no longer only offers sun and beach; it has also consolidated as a cultural, religious, and business hub.”

The official acknowledged challenges, including maintaining constant tourist demand and balanced development with the environment.

“Never Closes”: Occupancies and Tourism Growth in Quintana Roo

Cueto Riestra emphasized that Quintana Roo maintains high levels of international competitiveness even in low season, with occupancies around 40% in the slowest months. For many destinations worldwide, he said, this figure would be highly profitable.

The state Tourism Secretariat counts 137,937 hotel rooms in the Mexican Caribbean and estimates that by the end of 2025 the number will rise to nearly 139,000 rooms.

A Balance Still Under Debate

While tourism projects advance with new sustainability rules, environmental organizations insist that the priority must be to halt developments in sensitive ecological zones. The challenge is finding the middle ground between economic growth and conservation of the ecosystems that support the state’s tourism industry.