Kantunilkin, Quintana Roo — As the July-August vacation period approaches, tourism businesses on Holbox Island are making final preparations to welcome thousands of visitors. But hotel and restaurant leaders are also issuing a strong call for tourists to take greater responsibility for their solid waste to avoid environmental strain on this Caribbean destination.
Christian Stenta, president of the Holbox Hotel Association, said the sector is training staff and readying facilities for the influx. “We expect a surge this summer, which together with the whale shark swimming season attracts tourists from Spain and Italy,” Stenta said.
According to the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat, the island has about 1,500 hotel rooms. Occupancy is projected to hit 100% during peak days in July and August.
Trinidad García Argüelles, president of the Holbox Gastronomic Society, stressed that recovery cannot come at the expense of the environment. She urged residents and visitors to properly separate waste and adopt circular economy principles, making recycling a hallmark of the summer season.
“It’s a great responsibility. From the restaurant sector, we know that much of the visitor experience involves our cuisine… Hotels and restaurants have stopped being spectators and become part of the solution,” García Argüelles said.
She called for shared responsibility, particularly from supplier companies that bring goods to the island. “The producer designs, the business separates, the citizen cooperates, and the authority facilitates,” she concluded, proposing that major brands that introduce plastics to Holbox should manage their final disposal.
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