Tulum, Mexico — While the downturn in tourism in Tulum is being attributed to economic factors and the international situation, the hotel sector in the tourist destination has acknowledged instances of abuse, particularly concerning mobility issues such as high costs and the matter of taxi fares, which are a constant complaint from the sector.
David Ortiz Mena, president of the Tulum Hotel Association, confirmed that he held a meeting with municipal authorities, which was also attended by the secretary general of the taxi union. It was agreed that working groups would be established to address these issues and provide precise follow-up on the commitments made.
“While unacceptable situations have occurred—such as excessive transportation charges or cases of police abuse—it is also true that many of the criticisms circulating on social media come from unverifiable or directly false events,” he explained.
In recent days, a campaign began on social media discussing the tourism downturn, as well as the opening of beaches in concessioned spaces. However, the destination has been feeling the drop in visitors since the summer.
Tulum's occupancy rate is at 54.7 percent, a decrease of 10 percent compared to the same period last year, when it was at 65.1 percent, according to data from the Secretary of Tourism (Sedetur). The destination's projections are to reach 80 percent occupancy.
Ortiz Mena acknowledged that since last summer, hotel occupancy has remained below expectations, partly due to external factors such as the global economic outlook and uncertainty in the United States. He noted that the U.S. government is currently in a shutdown, which has caused disruptions to flights and consumer confidence.
At the local level, he added, conditions also exist that have impacted the destination's competitiveness, such as the triple charge for access to the Jaguar Park, an issue that is already under discussion with state and federal authorities.
“We must improve our tourists' experience from their arrival at Cancún Airport, their transit on Highway 307, and, of course, during their stay in Tulum,” he explained.
Finally, he called on all sector stakeholders and the public to verify the truthfulness of information circulating on social media, as many posts come from unreliable sources or lack substantiation.
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