Locals in Mahahual face transport discrimination on cruise days

Mahahual, Quintana Roo — Residents of Mahahual have denounced discrimination by local public transport drivers who allegedly prioritize tourists over locals on days when cruise ships arrive in the coastal community.

According to affected residents, local community members have noticed that on days when cruise ships dock in Mahahual, drivers of collective public transport give preference to tourists over inhabitants who also need transportation.

One affected person stated that while tourists board the collective units with complete freedom, locals are left waiting until 11:00 a.m. to be able to board transportation. This delay causes them to be late for activities outside the community, and in some cases, they don’t even manage to reach their destinations.

The drivers reportedly take advantage of the situation by transporting tourists to surrounding tourist areas like Chacchoben, charging them special rates. This is the main reason why drivers prefer tourists over Mahahual residents, as they can charge higher fares.

This situation has become complicated for Mahahual residents and has generated significant annoyance among them. Even local business owners have condemned the drivers’ attitude, agreeing with residents that there is economic discrimination by drivers toward locals when it comes to units that should serve to transport Mahahual residents.

The concern is particularly acute given that Mahahual experiences constant cruise ship arrivals. Without intervention from authorities to regulate how collective transport drivers are operating, locals will face increasing difficulties leaving their community.