Quintana Roo’s Vacation Clubs Face Flight Cuts

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Association of Vacation Clubs of Quintana Roo (Acluvaq) identifies several challenges heading into the winter season, with a continued shortage of flights expected to be a negative factor, mirroring the situation during the summer, according to Miriam Cortés, the association's president.

This year, the summer season for vacation clubs recorded figures below expectations, with an overall occupancy rate between 65 and 70 percent, while the timeshare segment reached between 80 and 85 percent.

Miriam Cortés specified that several factors influenced this decline, including: the reduction of flights due to aeronautical problems, the increased cost of domestic airfares, and the accelerated growth of vacation rental platforms.

"The issue with the airplanes was a strong blow: a two percent decrease equates to more than 170 flights. Furthermore, vacation rentals now total nearly 56,000 rooms and reported occupancy rates of 55 to 57 percent. We are not against them, but it is necessary to establish a level playing field to compete under fair conditions," she stated.

She expressed confidence that the Canadian market will help compensate for the decline in American tourism, which has been impacted by economic and political factors. "Canadians seek sun in December, and we have already seen a 30 percent increase in their arrivals, thanks to the differentiated promotion carried out by the CPTQ [Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council]," she emphasized.

Regarding year-end prospects, Cortés acknowledged that significant challenges persist: the aviation crisis, the cost of domestic flights, U.S. migration policy, sargassum seaweed, and the lack of resources for tourism promotion.

Ideally, she said, the growth in Canadian arrivals will continue in December, which is feasible because they experience extreme cold and want some sun. This is coupled with their maintained decision to not consume American products, as evidenced by them not shopping in American stores. "They responded very strongly to the issue of tariffs, and that gives an advantage to the Mexican Caribbean," she noted.

"We want to grow in competitiveness, but we need promotion. If there is talk of increasing the DNR [Tourism Rights Fee], we should at least guarantee that this money is truly allocated to promotion, because today tourism continues to be the economic engine of the state," she stressed.

The regulatory framework in Quintana Roo, she added, offers opportunities for improvement, as some residential areas are being converted into tourist lodging spaces without adequate safety conditions or services.