Hotel Boom Planned for Maya Ka’an Region

Chetumal, Mexico — Following the success of the Maya Ka'an project, the president of the Association of Hotels for the central and southern zone, Raúl Andrade Angulo, confirmed that they are analyzing the possibility of increasing the number of hotel rooms in the region to guarantee better service for visitors, "even though it is a concept of community rural tourism and travelers may overnight in traditional homes."

He explained that there are currently approximately 350 hotel rooms in the area that allow for the needs of tourists to be met, "but the Maya Ka'an concept is oriented toward generating economy and direct development among the inhabitants of the native communities attached to this tourism plan; eventually, greater services will be required," he indicated.

The gradual growth and projected success, combined with the promotion of this tourism offering, will make it necessary to expand hotel infrastructure in the medium term, in places such as Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Muyil, the Tihosuco area, and some localities in the Mayan zone of Tulum.

Andrade Angulo specified that the new lodging centers will have particular characteristics so as not to affect the social objective of Maya Ka'an, "but to diversify the offering in such a way that it attracts more tourists to the area, they consume what the native towns offer, and it contributes to improving development opportunities for the Mayan zone."

He added that the hoteliers, in congruence with the spirit of the project—which seeks to bring economic benefits directly to the Mayan communities—are analyzing the possibility of establishing lodging centers and tourism services for those visitors seeking additional overnight options.

Currently, the tourism offering is based on tours to the Mayan communities to learn about their culture, customs, traditions, and way of life, including their gastronomy.

Maya Ka'an records figures close to one hundred thousand tourists and an expectation of growth that, in the medium term, will require more hotel rooms and services in some of the areas, he insisted.