Hotel Mogul Urges Revamp of Mexico Beach Fund

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Hotel entrepreneur José Chapur Zahoul has called on state and municipal authorities to review a trust fund created in 2010 for beach recovery in northern Quintana Roo and to strengthen sargassum prevention strategies.

He recalled that 15 years ago, hoteliers contributed an additional 25 percent on top of their payment for the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat), with these resources directed to a special fund for beach recovery. That fund has now completed its period of validity.

"We paid for 15 years, and I know a fund exists for the prevention of this type of problem; I hope they call upon those of us who were part of the beginning of that scheme again to review how the resources are being applied," expressed Chapur Zahoul.

A Scheme with Proven Results

The entrepreneur highlighted that the trust fund had the backing of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), which at the time produced a technical assessment that allowed for the recovery of up to 40 meters of beach through a project with proven results.

"It was a scheme that worked and should be taken up again, but now with resources from the State and the municipality themselves," he emphasized.

Reinforcing Sargassum Prevention

Regarding the sargassum phenomenon, Chapur considered that the installation of marine barriers remains the most effective measure to prevent the seaweed from reaching the shore and contaminating the sand.

"When sargassum mixes with the sand and is removed, part of the beach is also lost. Hotels in the Riviera Maya and Puerto Morelos are already investing in these barriers, and that is the most important thing for keeping beaches clean," he stated.

Urgent Need to Direct Resources to Sargassum Combat

Chapur Zahoul lamented that, although hotels continue to pay the Environmental Sanitation Right, the resources are not always directed specifically to combating sargassum.

"We continue to pay that right, and while the money is used for good things, the fight against sargassum should be prioritized. The season is already ending, but we must be prepared for next year," he pointed out.