Why Holbox Tourism Just Hit a Year-Low 29.4% Occupancy

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Holbox has reached its lowest tourism occupancy and operations level of the year, reporting 29.4%, one of the lowest figures recorded this year, according to the Quintana Roo Tourism Information System (Situr-Q). The decline has unfolded week by week, and the latest report, covering October 17-23, places the island at its lowest point.

According to figures provided by Sedetur, the destination is facing its worst season, with only three out of every ten available rooms occupied. That placed Holbox last in operations in the Mexican Caribbean, where occupancy averaged 57.7% during the same week. Holbox was more than 40 points behind destinations such as Costa Mujeres, which continue to lead in occupancy.

The downward trend has continued week after week since last summer, when the destination maintained occupancy levels of 60% and 70%. This fall, Holbox has been one of the destinations most affected by the drop in tourist flow.

As an island, the destination feels the decline in operations more strongly. Without tourism, other service providers are severely affected, increasing pressure on restaurants, shops, transporters and others who depend not only on salary income but also on tips. The situation has led many businesses to implement solidarity days, reduced hours and labor adjustments—a scenario that cooperative service providers anticipated as they saw the fall coming with the drop in operations.

Reports from the Holbox Gastronomic Society already warn of a decrease in the number of diners and in consumption, so the group has refined promotional strategies to attract visitors to the region.

The 29.4% occupancy rate is becoming increasingly common. Between September 26 and October 2, Holbox reported occupancy of 27.8%, while a week later it reached 30.5%. In September, the island reached 27.5%, after accumulating four consecutive weeks of decline from the levels recorded during the summer.

Sedetur began issuing Holbox’s occupancy report in the last week of June. Although the first reports showed stability in ranges of 30% to 35%, with seasonal peaks reaching up to 75% occupancy, the destination has again experienced a drastic drop.

The trend highlights the extension of the low season and the pressure on the local economy, where a significant portion of income depends on daily tourist spending and the activity generated at the destination.

Despite these emerging indicators, the tourism sector is hoping that November will mark a reactivation in visitor flow, as other destinations in the Mexican Caribbean are also betting on greater air connectivity to achieve a better distribution of tourism.

For now, only Costa Mujeres, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and even Puerto Morelos have managed to gain ground in occupancy. Holbox has been overtaken and relegated to last place, even within Gran Costa Maya, which generally experiences the lowest occupancy.